Is there still a valid reason for people to use Ham Radios?
“When all else fails…Ham Radio!” As seen during Hurricane Katrina and other disasters, the sophisticated radios that different fire and police departments use can’t always communicate with one another (why weren’t standards agreed upon by the radio manufacturers?) Amateur Radio communication technology is open and flexible enough to establish communication links, and act as liaison between other services. Many of the hospitals in my county have an Amateur station in the Emergency Room that links to the County Emergency Management Office for that reason. Ham Radio also offers recreation, the chance to chat with distant stations, opportunities to experiment with sophisticated communications technologies, satellite and moon-bounce communications. There are about 600,000 licensed Amateurs in the US alone! Check out www.arrl.org for more information, and contacts to a radio club near you!
