Jeff Secules says ham radio is all about overcoming technical challenges, helping others, and building camaraderie with people from around the world.
To raise awareness of ham radio opportunities, local associations across the United States participated in Summer Field Day, a 24-hour public event held Saturday, June 27, into Sunday, June 28. The Wood County Amateur Radio Association set up a station at the Mineola Nature Preserve for the event.
“I started participating in high school as a Technician as a way to stay in contact with my parents as I worked and was involved in a lot of activities,” Secules said. “I took a few-years’ break after high school, then upgraded to General and then Advanced.”
Secules said people of all ages and from all walks of life are hams, or ham radio operators.
“Most, if not all, astronauts are ham radio operators. Ham radio is on the International Space Station and on any shuttle missions, and is used as a backup,” Secules said. “It’s also used for the astronauts to talk to schools while they are in space.”
The biggest misconception about ham radio is that it is a dying hobby, Secules said.
“There are plenty of younger hams getting their licenses and getting on the air all the time,” Secules said.
ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio, started Field Day in 1933 and describes it as the largest all-volunteer radio communications exercise in the world. The year 2026 marks the 86th annual Field Day, excluding 1942-46, when the FCC suspended amateur radio operations during World War II.
There are 750,000 federally licensed amateur radio operators in the United States. Applicants must pass written examinations covering technical knowledge and regulations to become licensed. The annual ARRL Field Day includes about 1,500 public outdoor stations, mostly organized by radio clubs.
Kuni Archer, vice president of the local association, said ham radio thrives on experimentation with new technology. Some members test emergency communications tools designed to improve reliability, including:me members at the forefront of testing emergency tools to enhance reliability, including:
• Winlink for sending email and forms over radio;
• APRS for real-time position tracking and short messaging;
• FLDigi/NBEMS suite for keyboard-to-keyboard messaging and image transfer;
• D-STAR, DMR, and other digital voice systems for clearer audio and networked repeaters;
• JS8Call and similar low-power, off-grid modes for resilient long-distance text communications;
• Integration of mesh networks, satellite options and even assistive technologies for inclusive participation.
“The spirit of innovation ensures amateur radio remains a flexible, low-infrastructure backup,” Archer said. “Operators experiment because the hobby rewards curiosity, and the results directly strengthen community resilience. Our ham radio club isn’t just a group of hobbyists with antennas; we work hard at being a forward-looking ham radio club.”
Archer said hams are lifelong learners with a spirit of service.
“We do this in service to neighbors and the greater good, such as supporting a local flood response or pioneering the next digital mode,” Archer said. “In addition to communicating with others locally and around the world, we hope to embody the best of amateur radio: service, preparedness, and relentless experimentation.”
Each year, hams provide emergency and public service communications valued at millions of dollars, free of charge. Today’s operators use traditional voice and Morse code as well as state-of-the-art digital modes. There is no minimum age to obtain a license, and operators range from 5 to 108 years old.
Prominent Americans who are licensed amateur radio operators include comedian Tim Allen, former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate, former Harvard University president Lawrence Bacow, Nobel laureate Joe Taylor and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh.
For more information about amateur radio, visit www.arrl.org. For more information about the Wood County Amateur Radio Association, visit www.wc5tx.org.