Local Amateur Radio Club to hold “Introduction to Ham Radio” presentation March 15

By John Levo 
HARA

Weather and climate-related issues have played havoc throughout North America for the past few years. We are well aware of the fires, floods and mudslides in California and other parts of the West and Canada.  

Although we have experienced the usual Atlantic Coast hurricanes in the South but we must agree a hurricane hitting North Carolina and Tennessee is very unusual. The tornados in Kentucky and parts of the Midwest were deadly.  

And Highland County has experienced heavy snow, rain, ice and even an earthquake within a period of a few days. These were coupled with record low and high temperatures as well as severe winds. Often during these instances things like cell, telephone and electric service are lost because of infrastructure failures because of the loss of power or facilities.  

Fortunately, a service that has been around since the early 1900s is there to step in. They assist local and state government, relief organizations, hospitals, first responders and the general public by filling the gaps caused by the loss of normal communication channels due to the destruction of power, lines, tower and structure destruction, highway closures and other infrastructure failures. That service is amateur radio-best known as ham radio.  

For decades, amateur radio has been the sole method of communications in disaster areas when all else fails. During these times of emergency, individual amateur radio operators fire up their personal power sources, use their own radio equipment and use their training to report the good and bad to local officials. 

These incidences have caught the attention of many people. Members of Highland County’s Highland Amateur Radio Association have noted increased inquiries about the service and what it takes to earn a license.  

Therefore, HARA will conduct an “Introduction to Amateur Radio” question-and-answer program at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15 at the Hillsboro Global Methodist Church, 131 East Walnut Street, to talk about ham radio, its features and how to become licensed. This will lead to the group gathering for the next four Sundays (excepting Easter) at 2 p.m. to further discuss test parts they may need to understand better. There is no fee charged to attend the study sessions. Those attending are asked to park in the rear parking area and enter through the balcony stairway door. The facilities are handicapped accessible through the church front; however advance notice should be given to (937) 760-6070.

During this 2 p.m. presentation, local amateurs will explain what amateur radio is about and why the federal and state governments support it as a back-up to their own communications.  

The presenters will also discuss the “fun” aspect of being able to experiment with all things electronic, talk with people around the world using voice, digital, television and even the 150 year old Morse Code. Some locals can even contact the International Space Station as it passes overhead.  

There will be a question-and-answer session as a part of the presentation as well as radio demonstrations and displays of equipment.

The Highland Amateur Radio Association is a group of around 100 federally licensed amateur radio operators residing in Highland and neighboring counties. In advance of the program more information about amateur radio can be obtained at the American Radio Relay League’s website, www.arrl.org. Locally, you may visit the Highland Amateur Radio Association Facebook page, send an email to highlandara@gmail.com or by contacting HARA information officer John Levo at (937) 393-4951.