BROOKHAVEN — Ham Radio Operators from the Southwest Mississippi Amateur Radio Club will participate in the National American Radio Relay League Field Day this weekend. The public is invited to come watch them at the Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Office, 689 US 51N. 

AARL’s field day starts at 1 p.m. Saturday and lasts until Sunday at 1 p.m.

Ham radio operators across North America participate in the field day by establishing temporary Ham radio stations and demonstrating their skills. The Field Day highlights the Ham’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from any location and create an independent, wireless communication network. 

Across the ARRL, there are more than 750,000 amateur radio licensees and more than 26,000 Hams participated in the field day last year. 

Members in the Southwest Mississippi Amateur Radio Club will sometimes set up these stations in their homes or backyards to operate individually with families. 

According to the group’s press release, some Hams have the ability to be portable and use alternative energy sources such as solar panels, batteries or generators. It is predicted that there will be an active hurricane season so this year’s Ham event is special in showing how they connect communities, SMARC treasurer Scott Carpenter said. 

“Hams have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure including cell towers,” Carpenter said. “Ham radio functions completely independently of the internet and phone systems and a station can be set up anywhere in minutes. Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power source and you can communicate effectively with others.”