Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association of Margate Hosts ARRL Field Day

The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association of Margate. {courtesy}

By Sharon Aron Baron

Based in Margate, the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, Inc. is gearing up to participate in the highly anticipated American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day.

This annual amateur radio exercise, organized by the ARRL since 1933, takes place Saturday, June 25, at 2:00 p.m. until Sunday, June 26, at 2:00 p.m. at Quiet Waters Park — specifically at the Bald Eagle Shelter located at 401 South Powerline Rd. in Deerfield Beach.

The ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air event held annually in the United States and Canada. During the fourth weekend of June each year, thousands of radio amateurs assemble with their clubs, groups, or friends to operate from remote locations. 

This year’s event combines a picnic, campout, emergency practice, informal contest, and a celebration of the hobby.

The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, which is celebrating its 50th year in operation, is one of the oldest ham radio clubs in South Florida. 

Established in 1969 by Charles Ritchie (Chuck) W4BUG SK as its first Trustee, the club has witnessed remarkable advancements in amateur radio technology. While it once revolved around technical challenges such as amateur radio, VHF, UHF, and HF repeaters, the hobby has evolved into a multifaceted communication platform.

Nowadays, individuals are drawn to ham radio for various reasons, from conversing with astronauts and bouncing signals off the moon to engaging in slow-scan TV or digital communications using computers. Although Morse Code (CW) is no longer a mandatory requirement for licensure, many enthusiasts still learn and employ it today, keeping the tradition alive.

Whether you are an experienced ham radio operator or intrigued by amateur radio, the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association invites you to join them. Visit summer-field-day-june-24-25/ to learn more about the event and the club’s repeater frequencies.

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