Ham radio field day will give residents unique look into hobby

Published 8:34 pm Thursday, June 24, 2010

Think you might be interested in becoming a “ham” radio operator.

Well, if you would like to test the waters, you will get a unique opportunity on Saturday and Sunday at the community center at the intersection of Henleyfield-McNeill Road and Mississippi Highway 43 North when Pearl River County “hams” hold their annual field day.

The community center is 14 miles north of Picayune.

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One of the best things to watch is a 24-hour nonstop performance of continuously contacting other ham radio operators from throughout the United States, Canada and U.S. overseas possessions.

From 1 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday, local radio ham operators will alternate turns contacting, nonstop, as many operators throughout that area as possible during that 24-hour period.

It will show the emergency capabilities that ham operators have, says local ham Larry Wagoner, call letters N5WLW.