Jason Jasper, Vice President, and former President Michael Lavoie of The Great Bay Radio Association watch over radio transmissions for the ARRL Field Day operations at Calef's Field in Barrington, NH.
What would you do if one of your family members were traveling in a foreign country and you heard that the area they were in had experienced a large scale natural disaster? Do you know how you would reach out and contact people in a foreign land and try to find word of your loved one??
What if there were a large earth quake or devastating tornado in New England and we were without power for several weeks. How would you contact your loved ones to let them know you were okay?
In the event of a huge scale disaster, where radio, television and cell towers are useless, who do emergency responders look to in order to help them reach out to other States or to the Federal Government to let them know what is needed in terms of food, fresh water, medical supplies or operations for National Guard presence?
Where do you think the National Weather Service gets their information regarding wind speeds, lightning strikes, rain and snowfall totals, flood levels and more in the wake of a storm where the power grid is all but useless.
We never think of these things, because we don't always know what is going on behind the scenes. Our National systems are in place in case of an emergency, and that's all we know. But to small local groups, all over the United States and Canada, this is very serious stuff. They are the ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio, a small band across the world who utilize Ham Radios to provide information to the world on a daily basis.
Great Bay Radio Association Past President Michael Lavoie monitors his Ham Radio system
with the use of special equipment that turn radio transmissions into digital information through a computer hookup.
Talking of Ham Radios, most give a blank stare and many have stated that they thought Ham Radios were what was used way back in WWII. Well, you're right. They were. However, they are still one of the most useful means of communication in the world today as they don't require any cables, and they work off the airwaves and can send and receive messages all over the world.
Speaking with Jason Jasper at the Great Bay Radio Association's set up for the ARRL Field Day today, I started out thinking this was just a hobby. But not so. Jason related a story to me about the year of the deadly earthquakes in Haiti. The Strafford County NH group was able to help locate and relay messages from several people who had been visiting in Haiti and who were unable to get messages home to the United States via conventional methods, but wanted to let loved ones know they were okay and being cared for. "Hurricane Katrina was another big communications time for us", he said. The operators also were able to help with communications and coverage for the 2014 The Great Race, which had a stop over in Rochester, NH last summer.
Lloyd Rosevear of Dover, NH operates his Morse Code Ham Radio System from a
12 volt battery and a homemade antennae system.
Jasper, who was spending the 48 hour continuous online Field Day camping in Calef's Field in Barrington with his wife Jessica and their children, spent the time talking about the different methods with which Ham Radios can operate. Jason's radio was powered by generator and was speech generated, like a giant CB radio. Chapter President Michael Lavoie was nearby with a Digital Unit, which he used like a computer and his messages were transmitted much like a wireless computer system, and was also gasoline generator powered. Lloyd Rosevear was operating his system from a 12 volt car battery sitting on the ground by his feet and communicating in Morse Code. The final member broadcasting from the Barrington location, Lou Mattia had a complete communications center set up inside a small camper. His Morse Code system operated off of gasoline generator with a solar panel back up system. "I can go only solar", stated Mattia, "but I need the generator to have enough power for coffee. And you know I need my coffee".
Lou Mattia has his Ham Radio equipment set up in a small camper, complete with gasoline generator and solar panel. The compact generator he uses can power his entire set up,
including coffee maker, for 8 hours on a single gallon of gasoline.
The solar panel that has the ability to power Lou Mattia's entire communications system is smaller than you may think. Smaller than a breadbox and able
to generate solar power even on mostly cloudy days.
The Greater Rochester New Hampshire based organization was founded in 1933 and is one of the oldest active Amateur Radio organizations in the area. Their focus is on public service and the advancement of the art of radio transmission. They offer Ham Radio licensing classes to interested persons periodically throughout the year for Technician (basic), General (intermediate) and Extra (master level) Amateur Radio Licenses. Courses are also offered in Disaster Management in concert with the American Radio Relay League and FEMA.
Membership in The Great Bay Radio Association is open to any and all people who are interested in Ham Radio operations for any reason. A year's membership costs $20 in dues, (Family membership is $25). Many members of the club are also members in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the American Radio Relay League and Skywarn, all National level communications clubs which monitor natural, weather, and other emergency situations.
The Great Bay Radio Association group holds meetings once a month on the 2nd Monday in their club room at the Rochester NH Community Center (behind the Rochester High School), 150 Wakefield Street, Rochester NH. The group gathers at 6 pm for a fund drive dinner in the form of a cook out, or indoor pot luck style supper, with a meeting immediately following at 7 pm.
If you're interested in learning more about Ham Radio operation, or if you'd like to join or visit the club, please feel free to contact current club president, Deirdre Hebert from Dover NH or check out their website at http://www.wlfz.org or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GreatBayRadioAssoc
My thanks to Jason Jasper and the members of The Great Bay Radio Association for inviting me to come and experience the transmissions going on all over the United States and Canada via Ham Radio for the ARRL Field Day event.
No comments:
Post a Comment