Amateur radio is a worldwide group of people who communicate with each other over a wide frequency spectrum using many different types of wireless transmitting modes. Some people may think amateur radio is a person talking through a mic at a radio station but actually it’s more than that, way more than that. It’s not like pushing a button and saying “Hi Mom!” over the air. There are complicated systems, technical terminology as well as getting licensed by the F.C.C.
“It’s not just talking on the air to a radio that operates in different frequencies… Includes slow scan television fast scan television. We can even receive television transmission from the space station” said Larry Edelstein, Vice President of the Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club.
Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club is a non-profit organization with around seventy members. These members know everything and anything about amateur radio and this year (2015) marks their thirtieth anniversary.
Larry Edelstein has been involved with H.A.M radio close to thirty years and holds quite a few licenses as a H.A.M. operator. Members in this group come from all walks of life, Larry Edelstein explains. They are retired government employees, airline pilots, retired law enforcers, business owners. “There is a wide spectrum of vocations that are represented” Edelstein stated.
The word that identifies Amateur Radio operators is the abbreviation H.A.M. What does H.A.M. stand for? According to one theory the three letters refer in homage to the initials of the last names of three great radio experimenters. HERTZ, who demonstrated the existence of electromagnetic waves in 1888, ARMSTRONG, who developed a resonant oscillator circuit for radio frequency work, and MARCONI, the 1909 Nobel laureate in Physics, who in the year 1901 established the first transatlantic radio contact. However that is not entirely clear.
There is also a wide variety of equipment that is used in Amateur Radio and with the advancement in technology it has become more detailed for these hobbyists. The H.A.M operators use microphones to advanced transmitters, and of course the most important equipment are the antennas. The equipment H.A.M. operators use are handled differently and have different purposes for radio uses.
And the key to how all this works… frequencies. Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. Hertz, a unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI) and is defined as one cycle per second. A megahertz is one million cycles per second.
A little confused? Well, let us talk about Morse code, a method of transmitting text information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment. The following is an example of morse code:
Greg McCraw is the person to talk to about morse code. He has been communicating in morse code for around ten years and at the end of field day, June 26, McCraw alone had 502 contacts. “You need to understand the letters and numbers” Greg McCraw said. Each has its own weight. Like the letter A is ka dot… a longer heavy weight would be Z, da da didit.”
Competition is Greg’s drive for Morse code, so much he placed first in a worldwide competition about four years ago- despite his learning disability. Greg processes information differently than others but sound and language is comfortable for him.
Thomas Kellers, President of the Spring Hill Radio Club serving his second term, first became interested in radio when he received a crystal radio set for Christmas. “I was amazed that it actually worked. It was like magic” Kellers said.
Field day runs every fourth weekend in June and this event has been active for over fifty years, not just in in Hernando County but all over the United States. “Field Day provides an opportunity to practice our emergency management techniques. We [also] work together with the emergency management team” Kellers said. “The motto for H.A.M. radio operators is ‘If all else fails,’ and what we try to do is to make sure that we have enough exposure so our neighbors know what we do.”
Amateur Radio Field Day is quite important across America. “A lot of times we will supplement the public safety folks, so it’s important to get us out on the field” said Steve Szabo, NFL Section Manager, who visited SHARC during their field day at Chinsegut Manor, in Brooksville. Once a year, on the same day, everyone that is involved in a H.A.M. Radio club gets together and sets up for a 24-hour field day event which serves several purposes. First it gives newly licensed H.A.M. operators, the hands on experience of what it takes to be involved. These new members are trained by the more experienced operators. It also gives the operators a chance to practice their preparedness skills. All members have to adjust in preparing and setting up their equipment, from transmitters to solar panels in an efficient and productive way. If they are needed to assist with law enforcement, first responders, EMT or civic and governmental officials they are familiar with their locations. Education is another goal of Field Day. Educating the public to understand that there are men and women in your community who have this knowledge and capability is essential. If emergencies arise, the public should know that these H.A.M. Operators are here to assist individuals in the community, law enforcement and maintain communication with the outside world. This ability to communicate will provide valuable information as to what relief is available.
As the 24 hours came to a close, Sabrina Shore, a Hernando High School student was awarded a $1000 scholarship. The club decided to enhance the education in electronics through awarding a $1000 scholarship to a graduating senior in a Hernando County High School who has achieved certain requirements. The scholarship program is funded from monies collected from past members of the group whose equipment has been sold. “I am really honored and privileged. It’s a blessing” Sabrina said. Sabrina accompanied by her parents showed their appreciation for the Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club. “I am grateful that there are organizations that are out there that help supports kids… it’s a great boost to their education” stated Rose Shore.
The members of the Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club dedicate themselves and provide valuable information and a service not only to help others, but to educate people in what happens when today’s way of communicating is shut down. “You have a very good organization” commended James Adkins, District Five County Commissioner.
For more information about the Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club visit their website at http://www.springhillarc.com/