ARRL field day success

Lowell Amateur Radio Club

13 July 2025

Submitted by Al Eckman

The Lowell Amateur Radio Club youth and adult (LARC), and the Riverside Radio Amateurs (RRA), joined together recently to take part in an annual event called Field Day, sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Using only emergency power supplies, and literally, throwing a wire in a tree for an antenna, the local ‘hams’ practiced making contacts in the United States and Canada under less than ideal conditions.

With this training, ‘ham’ radio operators can provide critical communications during unexpected emergencies. “Ham radio works when other systems don’t” is more than just words. Over approximately 18 hours, the two clubs combined to make 300 contacts in 45 states and several provinces in Canada. More than 30,000 amateur radio operators, across the country, participate every year.

If anyone is interested in getting licensed in amateur radio, they can contact Al Eckman at aeckman@lowellschools.com