Amateur radio, also called “ham radio,” is a fun hobby. It’s also a lifesaver in times of crises that take down other communications.
The annual Amateur Radio Field Day will operate on June 28-29 in Prattville and 18 other Alabama locations. Operators from Montgomery, Elmore and Autauga counties will join together at the Prattville location. The public can watch, listen and even get on the air themselves.
Here is the official description of the event:
This is a collaboration with Montgomery Amateur Radio Club, Elmore County Amateur Radio Society, and Autauga ARES/Auxcomm. We will set up at the Louise M. Smith Developmental Center 298 Jay St, Prattville, setup between 8:00-9:00 am. General public welcome at 11:00 am. Come see how the world communicates when all other conventional communications fail. There will be a station for those who are not licensed but want to.get.on the air with a trained operator that will guide you to your first long distance contact.We will operate continuously through 1:00 pm Sun. We will be having Lew, K1AZE's famous chili. We will also have Alondra's food truck From EL MARIACHI RESTAURANT 1675 Hwy 31N, Prattville Al for the FINEST MEXICAN FOOD in Central Alabama. When you see me (Chris, K4LIA) You will know I KNOW GREAT FOOD.AND NEVER MISS A MEAL! THIS IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT AND ALL ARE WELCOME. Jerry from Mr. D's Tree Service will be bringing out the bucket truck with an 80' lift to get our antennas up to talk with the world.
Details on the Prattville event can be found here.
Amateur operators will also participate in field days at 18 other locations in Alabama. To find a location near you, go to: www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
Across Alabama and the nation, ham operators will take their equipment and hit the road. The event was organized in 1933 by ARRL, the American Radio Relay League.
Hams from across North America participate in field days by establishing temporary ham radio stations in public locations to demonstrate their skill and service. Their use of radio signals, which transcend borders, brings people together while providing essential communication in the service of their communities.
Field Days highlight ham radio’s ability to work reliably under most conditions from almost any location and create an independent, wireless communications network. It’s not all about work as the Hams compete for contacts in a variety of formats, and against other Ham clubs of their size all across the United States. It’s just a lot of fun and fellowship for everyone.
One well-known Alabama radio operator will be setting up and broadcasting on Field Days. He is Bill “Bubba” Bussey, the longtime celebrity co-host of the daily “Rick & Bubba” Show, which originated in Birmingham and was syndicated throughout the Southeastern United States.
ARRL Field Day is held on the fourth full weekend of June, starting at 1:00 PM CDT and ending on Sunday at 3:59 PM CDT. The theme for the 2025 field days is "Radio Connects".
ARRL Field Day is a popular annual event for amateur radio enthusiasts in the US and Canada. It's a combination of a contest and a practice exercise in emergency preparedness, where participants set up temporary communication stations to test their skills. The event encourages learning about radio operation in abnormal situations, practicing emergency preparedness skills, and connecting with the public about the capabilities of amateur radio.
Here's a breakdown of key details:
- Dates: June 28-29, 2025
- Time: 1 pm CDT Saturday to 4 p.m. CDT Sunday
- Theme: "Radio Connects"
- Location: Temporary stations set up by amateur radio operators across the US and Canada.
- Purpose: To practice emergency communication skills, learn about operating in challenging conditions, and promote amateur radio to the public.
- Key Activities: Participants make contacts with other stations on various amateur radio bands, practice setting up and operating portable stations, and engage in public outreach.
When all else fails, ham radio.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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