Sandhills_Sentinel

Field Day is the culmination of annual amateur radio club activities for virtually all amateur radio clubs.  Our local club is the Moore County Amateur Radio Society, MOCARS. 

Each club sets up a communications site to hone emergency communications skills by contacts with other hams nationwide.  The effort encompasses a 24 hour operating period spanning two days.  All operating modes were included on multiple bands utilizing voice, digital and CW.  Over 500 documented contacts were made.

This year’s site was the Larry R Caddell, Safety Training facility, part of the Sandhills Community College campus located near Carthage.  An educational component was incorporated as instructors from Sandhills Community College Fire Safety conducted training seminars each day.

More than 25 MOCARS members were involved, some staying overnight. Meals were prepared both days, supplemented by assorted, covered dishes, desserts and snacks.

Being open to the public, visitors included representatives from the local media and several agencies, including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, local Emergency Management and law enforcement.

Primary MOCARS activities throughout the year are very diversified and include community service through communications support for the Uwharrie Mountain Ultra Marathon in February and the Uwharrie 100mile/100km bike race in April, informational/educational participation at the Carthage Buggy Festival in May, and the Moore County Fair in September. 

When requested, they also provide emergency communications capability for natural and/or man-made disasters.

MOCARS welcomes anyone interested in amateur radio to their meetings. They meet monthly, the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., at the Moore County Health Department, 705 Pinehurst Ave, Carthage.  Everyone is welcome to attend. 

They also offer FCC licensing testing at the Health Department on the third Saturday of odd months at 9 a.m.

Ham radio usage is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission through licensing for amateur use, thus no usage for personal financial gain is permitted.  There are more than 6 million hams licensed worldwide, over 740,000 in the USA, 20,000 in North Carolina, 75 in Moore County with 35 being active MOCARS members.

Additional information is available through the Internet at mocars.org.  For further information you may also contact James Johnson-MOCARS Public Information officer at 910-400-3019.

Contributed/Photos~Sandhills Sentinel.

Field Day sign

 

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