Area residents spent their Saturday afternoon connecting and communicating with people across the nation. Members of the Pella Amateur Radio Club participated in the national amateur radio Field Day exercise at The Well in Pella.

Since 1933, ham radio operators across North America have established temporary ham radio stations in public locations during Field Day to showcase the science and skill of amateur radio. Roger Stubbe with the Pella Amateur Radio Club says the Field Day exercise is a showcase for how amateur radio works reliably under any conditions from almost any location to create an independent communications network.

“It’s said when all else fails, HAM radio gets through,” he says. “Even though the equipment is relatively low power, with the proper antennas and operating hours, you can get through and it doesn’t depend on telephone lines, internet, or any other systems.”

The Pella Amateur Radio Club encourages anybody to get involved in Marion County and the surrounding area. For more information about amateur radio, contact pellaarc@qsl.net or visit www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio. Hear more about the Pella Amateur Radio Club on Let’s Talk Pella.