Ham radio operators plan field day Saturday

Modern technology makes communication so simple that most don’t give it a second thought — until it fails.
If your cellphone dies, you plug it in. If there’s no electricity, then what do you do?
Ham radio operators around the world can step in and establish communications in harsh conditions.
“We don’t depend on any of that. If everything goes down, if we have power, generator, battery or solar power, we can throw up a wire and talk anywhere in the world,” said Jackie Price, president of Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service.
The BEARS, as they are known, will participate in National Field Day for 24 hours beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday during which the public is invited to learn general information on ham radio and view a demonstration of Morse code.
While testing the equipment for emergency preparedness, the BEARS will take part in what has become a contest to see what group nationally can earn the most points and radio contacts in their respective categories.
Price said the most remote place she’s contacted is the Pitcairn Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. A British Overseas Territory, Pitcairn Island is roughly 1,350 miles east south-east of Tahiti and just over 4,100 miles from Panama. The Islands’ administrative headquarters are situated in Auckland, New Zealand, 3,300 miles away.
“It is a tiny dot in the ocean,” Price said.
Price said she made a very good friend on the island, Meralda Warren (VP6MW) whom she spoke to every Sunday at 6 p.m. and eventually sent care packages to. Those packages took three months to reach Warren due to the isolation of the island, Price said.
Ham radio was their only means of communication from the island for the 40 inhabitants.
“If you got sick, a radio operator would send an SOS and any ship within 100 miles would divert its course,” Price said.
Aside from contacting isolated locations, Price said ham radio operators can establish communication in a crisis such as hurricanes or be on standby “to help other people who may be out of commission and the only way they can get messages out is through ham radio and we can assist also.”
BEARS will be operating two HF stations on the second floor of the old Whitney Bank Building, 201 Everett St., across from City Hall in Morgan City. The demonstrations and guided tours are open to the public.
“It’s a demonstration because it’s really testing out all our equipment for 24 hours. We’ll use our generator and then switch to commercial power. Our antenna is already up at the radio station,” Price said.
The slogan used nationally is “When all else fails.”
“And that’s true,” Price said.