The Virgin Islands section of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is excited to announce that in the coming weeks the number of operators in the territory is expected to grow significantly as licensing exams are administered on St. Croix. This milestone will be followed by the 2019 Amateur Radio Field Day with events planned for all three islands.
Licensing Classes and Exams on St. Croix
In April 2019 the St. Croix Amateur Radio Club began offering classes free of charge at the American Red Cross near Sunny Isle Shopping Center to assist members of the community in passing their technician class licensing exam. The turnout has been very good, with almost 30 members of the community currently pursuing their Federal Communications Commission-issued Amateur Radio License. The class will culminate on Tuesday, June 18, when the licensing exam will be administered at 5 p.m. at the American Red Cross Building. The test will be proctored by ARRL volunteer examiners (VEC), who will immediately grade the exams and inform students of the results.
Those wishing to take the test, whether they have attended the class or not, are welcome. The fee to take the exam is $15, and students must answer 26 of 35 questions correctly to pass. Media organizations are welcome to come cover what will hopefully be a joyous day for many people as they pass the exam and become newly licensed amateur radio operators.
2019 ARRL Field Day
Amateur Radio Operators in the U.S. Virgin Islands and across the nation will be gathering on the weekend of June 22-23 for the 2019 ARRL Field Day. On Field Day, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to V.I. communities and the nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event.
Field Day has been an annual event since 1933 and remains the most popular event in amateur radio. For the first time in recent history Field Day events are planned for all three islands. Field Day is known as Amateur Radio’s Open House, and the media is invited to cover the dedication of operators who are invaluable during times of hurricanes or other emergencies:
St. Croix: Frederiksted Pier. Media organizations are invited to come out between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, to cover the festivities. VITEMA will have their emergency response vehicle on site and VI Radio Amateurs will be demonstrating the capabilities they can provide to the community. There will also be food, drinks and fun.
St. Thomas: Tutu Park Mall. Media organizations are invited to join Amateur Radio Operators from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, June 22, to cover this fantastic community event.
St. John: VI National Park. Pending final approval from the National Park Service (NPS), media organizations are invited to stop by the ballfield across from Mongoose Junction near the Dinghy Dock and across from the NPS visitors center from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, June 22.
For more information, the U.S. Virgin Islands section of the Amateur Radio Relay League operates a website at http://www.vihamradio.org.
For more information on 2019 ARRL Field Day:
http://www.vihamradio.org
http://www.arrl.org/field-day
http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
