CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT/ PVT Local area hams work the air waves to contact other stations around the world. Advertisement

The hams were at it again last weekend, ready to contact as many people as possible around the world within a 24-hour period via the four radio tranceivers set up inside the mobile Nye County Emergency Services command station.

Hams are the volunteer members of the Southern Nye County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio and Amateur Communication Emergency Service organization, more commonly known as A.R.E.S./R.A.C.E.S.

But the field day served as more than just a training exercise, although, with the station operating on battery power, it was a good simulation of an emergency situation.

Actually, A.R.E.S./ R.A.C.E.S. was in a friendly competition with ham radio groups all over the United States and Canada, all participating in the annual Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) "field day" exercise.

Once the 24-hour period was over, the organization sent in the results to the ARRL, where they will be judged on the number of contacts made, the remoteness of their location, their use of an independent power source, and various other factors for which points are awarded.

But the training value of the competition doesn't escape the members.

"Any time we set up and operate, we always learn new things," Jerry Fuge, emergency coordinator said. "It's fantastic."

By high noon last Saturday, members had fired up four radios and begun transmitting on four different bandwidths, thanks to the 15 members who helped set up two random-length, long-wire antennas, a vertical high-frequency antenna, and three UHF/VHF vertical antennas.

Secretary and treasurer of the group Richard T. Gamble manned the outside of the station while Fuge, George R. Cox, Steve Bird and Dan LePage grabbed their mikes and headphones and got ready to begin communicating.

Within half an hour, the four systems, operating on high frequency, had made six contacts, ranging from British Columbia to Nebraska and Arizona.

Contact was made by two operators exchanging their call signs, times of contact and frequency.

By the end of the 24-hour period, (during all of which Fuge, Bird, Gamble and LePage were present), contact had been made with three hams in Hawaii, Alberta, Canada, and even one in Mexico.

They were just some of the total 161 contacts made.

Nothing was going to stop the hams, and even when the vertical high-frequency antenna was blown over by the wind, it wasn't long before it was repaired and operative again.

The event finished with a raffle that was held to raise funds for additional repeaters around town.

The prizes, which included a $100 gift certificate to Smith's, a $50 gift certificate to Wal-Mart, and handmade crafts and yard art donated by members, were awarded.

A.R.E.S./R.A.C.E.S. is always welcoming new members -- anyone with an amateur radio license and a desire to serve the residents of Nye County may join.

The group meets the first Friday of every month at Comstock Park, 151 Comstock Circle North, at 7 p.m.

For additional information, contact Fuge at (775) 727-9524.