Lafayette class helps HAM radio enthusiasts learn about hobby, prepare for licensing

BY NICK FONTENOT | SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE

Amateur radio — more commonly known as ham radio— has been around since 1908. In Lafayette, ham radio enthusiasts say, the hobby is growing in popularity, despite the array of ever more sophisticated communication tools available in the 21st century.

A group of Lafayette-area residents has been attending a free class at the Lafayette Science Museum to learn more about amateur radio and how they can be part of a network that can provide a vital communications link during emergencies.

“Even though we have cellphones and all this infrastructure, when all that goes down, amateur radio is still here,” said Mark Saltzman, president of the local Amateur Radio Club.

“We’ve made contingencies that if we lose the grid, we can still communicate with the ham radio,” he said. “We have a lot of people who are interested in the emergency communication aspect and communication in general. We have people from all walks of life getting involved.”

What separates ham radio from citizens band, or CB, radio is the amount of power used and the regulations. Ham radios can go as high as 1500 watts. The class at the Lafayette Science Museum is giving the more than 20 attendees the knowledge to pass a test required to obtain a license…READ MORE

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