More Radio Enthusiasts Needed in the Internet Age

2024-11-05 Ham radio VHF UHF radio Frs two way radio

Ham radio enthusiasts from throughout the region were at the Polk County Fairgrounds on Saturday, drawn by the lure of the semi-annual swap meet.

For some, ham radio is a hobby. Hams tends to use two kinds of gear: HF and VHF/UHF. HF gear is made to talk over long distances, while VHF/UHF radio is for talking around town. But for Kjell Lindgren, it was an out-of-this-world experience.

Lindgren is an American astronaut. One mission took him to the International Space Station (ISS). While orbiting, he called ham radio operators in the United States.

This call came on the ARRL Radio National Field Day. The annual event is “for amateur radio operators to practice emergency preparedness and radio communications,” according to published reports.

“I was eight years old. I had a shortwave radio, and was listening to shortwave broadcasts from around the world,” Rosenfeld said. “I was amazed that these sig nals could somehow end up in my bedroom.”

For many, a ham radio is an essential part of an emergency preparedness tool box. This importance has been on display along the East Coast, where hurricanes Helene and Milton have wreaked considerable damage.

Ham radios work when other forms of communication don't. "(That's) huge, especially with the first one (Helene) that went through North Carolina. You could listen on the radio. They were able to facilitate getting aid to a lot of people,” said Josh Scott, Yamhill County Amateur Radio Emergency Services Group. “And in those events, there were people getting on their radio that weren't licensed. But they were still able to get on the Frs two way radio and ask for help.”

Oregon isn't home to major hurricanes. But local residents have their own worries. Fires, for example, and a ticking time bomb off the coast.

“If the Cascadia earthquake were to hit, the reality is that we will probably not have cell phones or telephones of any sort. The Internet will be down,”Scott said. "The only way you're going to be able to communicate after Cascadia is with radios.”

“Ham radios used to be more popular. Most of the people in their 70s and 80s were part of ham radio clubs and got their licenses. This was in almost every school,” she said. “Now, there’s a lot less of that going on. It’s a great hobby. But it’s going to be very valuable when the big one hits.”