GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Some local ham radio operators had themselves a Field Day in Lackawanna County. The Windmill Amateur Radio Club took part in the American Radio Relay League's Field Day Weekend.
Members gathered at Merli-Sarnoski Park Soccer Field in Greenfield Township both Saturday and Sunday.
They spent hours on the mic communicating with other amateur ham radio operators in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
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They used generators and off-grid set-ups to communicate with each other.
While ham radio is widely considered a hobby, it has a more serious purpose, too.
"It's a demonstration of our preparedness for national emergencies. We don't rely on the internet, relay stations, or anything. What comes out of the wire at our end is what goes into the wire at the other end where we're communicating and back," Windmill Amateur Radio Club Member Dale Clift said.
More than 40,000 ham radio operators participated in this weekend's Field Day event.
