Post by Paddy by Grace on Jul 1, 2009 3:25:37 GMT -7
www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/ham-radio-operators-prepare-for-disaster-687418.html
Saturday, June 27, 2009
NASHVILLE —
At the end of a dark hallway on the basement floor of the Nash County Administrative Building, a group of amateur radio enthusiasts are gathered this morning in two small rooms, preparing for the worst of disasters.
“Like I said, I like to be ready if needed,” Robbin Keller said Saturday, leaning back in a swivel chair. “But I hope we’re never needed.”
To prepare for emergencies, Ham radio operators have set up emergency operations this weekend in remote locations throughout the United States for Field Day.
The annual event includes more than 30,000 radio operators who gather to test their ability to communicate across the globe in case of emergencies and to engage in friendly competitions to see who can make the most contacts.
The Tar River Amateur Radio Club, which set up a temporary communication base Saturday afternoon until 2 p.m. today, doesn’t get too tied up with the competition, said Keller, the club’s president.
“We just like to tinker around and make sure all this stuff works,” Keller said.
It’s not just for fun. The communication device that debuted in the 1930s has proved invaluable in real-life emergencies.
Keller can remember vividly when he and other members of the local radio club were called to action in September 1999.
Slammed by flooding following Hurricane Floyd, most of Edgecombe County’s official radio communications were nonfunctional and under water. Local amateur radio operators, who do not rely on ground infrastructure, were called into action to communicate from town to town and to emergency agencies throughout the state.
After flying in a helicopter to Conetoe, Keller said he built an antenna out of telephone wire and a broom stick.
“A few minutes later, we were communicating with Tarboro,” Keller said.
Depending on the time of day, ham radio operators can communicate with almost every nation on the planet, save a few regimes strict on communication in East Asia and the Middle East, Keller said.
“This is a hobby for tinkerers,” Keller said. “Most people get into it because they see some guy down the street with a funny antenna and want to know what he’s doing in there.”
The club welcomes new members and invites area residents to participate in a training course, offered periodically throughout the year.
Roughly 660,000 amateur radio operators are active in the country and more than 2.5 million operate around the world.
Field Day, organized by the American Radio Relay League, is held each year on the fourth weekend of June.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
NASHVILLE —
At the end of a dark hallway on the basement floor of the Nash County Administrative Building, a group of amateur radio enthusiasts are gathered this morning in two small rooms, preparing for the worst of disasters.
“Like I said, I like to be ready if needed,” Robbin Keller said Saturday, leaning back in a swivel chair. “But I hope we’re never needed.”
To prepare for emergencies, Ham radio operators have set up emergency operations this weekend in remote locations throughout the United States for Field Day.
The annual event includes more than 30,000 radio operators who gather to test their ability to communicate across the globe in case of emergencies and to engage in friendly competitions to see who can make the most contacts.
The Tar River Amateur Radio Club, which set up a temporary communication base Saturday afternoon until 2 p.m. today, doesn’t get too tied up with the competition, said Keller, the club’s president.
“We just like to tinker around and make sure all this stuff works,” Keller said.
It’s not just for fun. The communication device that debuted in the 1930s has proved invaluable in real-life emergencies.
Keller can remember vividly when he and other members of the local radio club were called to action in September 1999.
Slammed by flooding following Hurricane Floyd, most of Edgecombe County’s official radio communications were nonfunctional and under water. Local amateur radio operators, who do not rely on ground infrastructure, were called into action to communicate from town to town and to emergency agencies throughout the state.
After flying in a helicopter to Conetoe, Keller said he built an antenna out of telephone wire and a broom stick.
“A few minutes later, we were communicating with Tarboro,” Keller said.
Depending on the time of day, ham radio operators can communicate with almost every nation on the planet, save a few regimes strict on communication in East Asia and the Middle East, Keller said.
“This is a hobby for tinkerers,” Keller said. “Most people get into it because they see some guy down the street with a funny antenna and want to know what he’s doing in there.”
The club welcomes new members and invites area residents to participate in a training course, offered periodically throughout the year.
Roughly 660,000 amateur radio operators are active in the country and more than 2.5 million operate around the world.
Field Day, organized by the American Radio Relay League, is held each year on the fourth weekend of June.