When Hurricane Hugo devastated South Carolina in 1989, emergency personnel turned to ham radio operators to stay in touch with isolated communities and the outside world. It is a partnership that has lasted for decades.
“Part of the reason the federal communications division gives us ‘real estate’ is because of our ability to provide voluntary services in emergencies,” said Sumter Amateur Radio Association Vice President Hap Griffin.
Ham radio, or amateur radio, dates to the beginning of radio, when inventors such as Guglielmo Marconi were first unraveling the mystery of how electromagnetic waves travel through the atmosphere.
“Basically what we are doing is the continuation of what the pioneers started,” Griffin said.
Since ham radio operators are transmitting signals that can travel around the planet, operators must be licensed by taking tests that show their proficiency with the equipment, including how to avoid interfering with other electronic signals.
Several members of the local amateur radio club were at the Sumter Enduro Riders Motorcycle Association clubhouse near Wedgefield on a recent Saturday to take part in the American Radio Relay League’s annual Field Day activities.
Each year during the last weekend in June, ham radio operators and amateur radio clubs such as Sumter Amateur Radio Association set up broadcasting stations and attempt to make contact with other ham radio operators across the country and around the globe.
“It’s part of our training,” Griffin said. “That’s the whole idea, to keep skills sharp and make sure we have the necessary equipment.”
The field day is a competition, which includes setting up a transmitter at a location which does not normally have one. The competition is judged by which operators and clubs can log the most contacts in a 24-hour period — from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Griffin said some clubs get really into setting up in remote locations with tents and electric generators.
“We are a little older, and we try to find a place with air conditioning, electric power and a place to use the restroom,” Griffin said, laughing.
On that Saturday, club members were erecting a directional antenna at SERMA, as well as a line antenna. Each type of antenna broadcasts at a different frequency, or band.
The lower, 80-40-meter band and the 20-15-10-meter band can be used to communicate with most of the U.S. and several countries, Griffin said.
Ham radio frequencies operate by bouncing signals off layers in the ionosphere, which must be charged up by solar radiation to work most efficiently.
As the sun’s most intense radiation travels west during the day, so do the optimum conditions for most of the bands used by ham radio operators…. READ MORE
More
Wouxun KG-1000G GMRS 50 Watt Mobile Transceiver
Wouxun KG-1000G GMRS 50 Watt Mobile Transceiver With TONS Of Features Read more
Is an FT-818 worth it in 2022?
FT-818 This week Tony and Gary revisit Yaesu’s FT-818 and discuss if it is still relevant in 2022? Read more
Regular Man Fits PL259 Coax Connectors
Not all PL259s are the same. The newer designs are a superior design and accurate. Anyway, I nearly cock this up. Perhaps rate me out of 10! Read more
SARK100 HF Antenna Analyzer
SARK100 HF Antenna Analyzer “Here we take a look at the SARK100 Antenna Analyzer. Discontinued in KIT Form in 2011 but STILL available to purcha... Read more
Win4IcomSuite (version 1.422)
Win4IcomSuite There is a new release of Win4IcomSuite (version 1.422). This release adds support for the Scroll modes for the CI-V based panadapters a... Read more
ACOM 06AT is almost ready
ACOM 06AT antenna tuner & switch teaser Are you looking for a desktop antenna tuner and switch for your astonishing ACOM solid-state amplifier? Ex... Read more
New ARRL Radio Lab Will Inspire Your Ham Shack!
Introducing the brand new ARRL Radio Laboratory, W1HQ! Join Jherica Goodgame, KI5HTA, as she walks you through everything there is to know about this... Read more
Why is my signal so strong? My HF ham radio portable antenna kit
What do I carry with me when I hit the road for a Parks on the Air or some other kind of portable radio activity. In this video I break down the conte... Read more
How Good is your Antenna? Use this to find out!
How to use WSPR. The Weak Signal Propagation Reporter. Great for testing Antenna Patterns & Directionality for RX & TX. Read more
Why Is This Dipole Tactical? Chameleon TD 2.0
While I was out at Dave Canterburry’s Gathering I tested the Chameleon Tactical Dipole 2.0 The CHA TD 2.0 is a broadband High Frequenc... Read more