PEABODY — For 24 hours, members of the North Shore Radio Association traded sleep for static, transforming Fair View Farm at the Topsfield Fairgrounds into a temporary communications hub powered entirely by emergency equipment.
The annual Amateur Radio Field Day, sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), challenges amateur radio operators across the country to simulate emergency conditions while making as many contacts as possible without relying on commercial power.
This year, the NSRA produced 2,280 contacts by voice, Morse code, and digital modes, connecting operators with stations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and beyond. Official national rankings will not be released until November, after scores are reviewed and bonus points are calculated.
“People just go for the company, but also to practice those emergency communication skills,” said Jim Palmer, ARRL North Shore District Emergency Coordinator and NSRA member.
While the event carries a competitive element, participants said its primary purpose is preparing operators to communicate when traditional systems fail during disasters.
“If we got a hurricane that took out a lot of communication infrastructure, Field Day weekend will prove that we can still set up infrastructure and communicate out of an affected area,” Palmer said.
Operators spent June 26 assembling a 40-foot tower, antennas, and operating tents before beginning the 24-hour exercise on June 27. The station ran entirely on emergency power while volunteers rotated through operating shifts and logged contacts around the clock.
For Peabody resident and NSRA Field Day Planning Committee member Joel Huesser, the weekend is about far more than the score.
“We’re all volunteers, so we’re all enjoying each other’s company,” he said.
He described the event as something of a “show and tell” for amateur radio, exposing newcomers to everything from emergency communications to satellite operations and other specialties within the hobby.
The NSRA, which has roughly 80 to 100 members, also hosts monthly licensing exams and welcomes visitors interested in learning more about amateur radio.
Longtime member David Titelbaum of Peabody said the weekend continues to draw both experienced operators and those who are newly licensed and eager to learn.
Even after the final contact was logged and the antennas came down, participants said the weekend’s greatest success wasn’t measured by points.
“We have a lot of good-natured camaraderie with friends that we build. … And we keep coming back year after year,” Titelbaum said.
