Ham it up on the radio
June 25, 2008
By Ari Cetron
Amateur radio field day set for this weekend
Sure, it’s a contest, but The Amateur Radio Relay League Field Day also has public safety overtones, said Jon Bromberg, one of the organizers in Sammamish.
“It’s a strategic asset we need,” he said.
Amateur radio, sometimes called ham radio, allows individuals to communicate with each other directly over the radio waves.
Since it does not require telecommunication hubs, such as satellites, cell phone towers or phone lines, the radios can operate even in areas where more traditional methods of communication have been cut, Bromberg explained.
Bromberg cited the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and windstorms that ravaged this region just a couple of years ago, as times when ham radio operators were called upon to provide emergency communications.
The city of Sammamish, Bromberg said, has been taking some initiative in training its staff, including fire department officials to operate the equipment in case of such situations.
“Sammamish has really been leading in terms of emergency preparation,” he said.
Bromberg’s wife, Jan, will also have an information table set up to share information about how to become part of the Community Emergency Response Team, a group that helps train citizens in coping with major disasters.
Field Day, however, isn’t just about the potential for emergencies; it’s about drawing people into the hobby, Jon Bromberg said.
Amateur radio can allow users to connect with others around the world, if the conditions are right.
Bromberg said he has spoken with people in Japan and New Zealand using his radio.
It is hoped that Field Day will allow novices to experience that for themselves.
There, he said he expects to have four or five radio setups, each with a different antenna.
He said he hopes to have one lifted as high as 200 feet into the air, attached to a helium balloon.
He and fellow operators also plan to demonstrate that it’s possible to send e-mail and text messages via the radio waves.
There will also be a program, called “Get on the Air,” which will allow visitors to the event to operate a radio and try to talk with faraway lands.
Additionally, there is a competitive aspect to the event. Radio operators will earn points for each other operator they are able to contact, with bonus multipliers factored into their points, depending on things like the wattage of their broadcasts.
They can also earn bonus points for having an information table available, operating in a public location, using emergency power or trying to obtain publicity from the local media, according to Field Day guidelines.
Operators plan to set up at 8 a.m. June 28 and run through the night until noon the next day. Night owls are welcome to come and participate, as well.
“If they want to hang out in the middle of the night, they can,” he said.
If you go
- Amateur Radio Field Day
- When: 11 a.m. June 28 – noon June 29
- Where: Sammamish City Hall
- How much: Free
Editor Ari Cetron can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 233, or samrev@isspress.com.
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