Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service, Ltd.

Amateur Radio is best known for its role in emergency communications during disasters. Despite many advances in communications technology, emergency management agencies and relief organizations continue to call upon amateur radio operators for assistance.

FAIRS Helps: Floyd Community Amateur Radio Station

Goodwill through Amateur Radio is the mission of FAIRS (Foundation for Amateur Int’l. Radio Service, Ltd. www.fairs.org). The directors and members help to sponsor events and special projects within the community, and they perform services which are a benefit to our citizens and visitors. These are generally related to emergency communications, the promotion of Town and County, and for education and outreach.

The community amateur radio station at Floyd Village Green (at Floyd Professional Center, Suites 8 & 9) is up and operational! You are welcome to stop by and view/operate the station as (or with) a licensed operator, using call sign N4USA. You may be surprised at the friends you make using this “tried and true” technology.

The local hams of Floyd Amateur Radio Society meet together at the station and have made great strides in the past year. A constitution and by-laws have been drawn up for this civic group, and they are celebrating their recent approved affiliation with ARRL (American Radio Relay League), the national organization of Amateur Radio operators. Monthly meetings and special event stations have been held on a regular basis---new attendees from the Floyd area have caused the group to grow! Reception has been warm to the group and its public service. You may join in on the fun - second Saturdays of each month, beginning at the Blue Ridge Restaurant at 8 a.m. Call 808-2880 for more information.

Recently, the community station has gone “live” with streaming video of activities at www.n4usatv.com! Visit the site to see current activities, and sign up as a fan to be alerted when live broadcasting is taking place. You might see the “crew” at important events or during training and DXing (communicating over distance via ham radio) in and around Floyd.