When the city of Laurel opened its new Emergency Operations Center over two years ago, it included a separate room for HAM radio, a form of communication that uses the radio frequency spectrum to communicate. Its inclusion illustrates the city’s support for the Laurel Amateur Radio Club and its belief that the club serves a necessary purpose and is not just a recreational hobby.
“What they can provide is a great service,” said Stephen Allen, emergency operations center manager. “They are a great asset for us to have to get the word out.”
HAM operators — amateur radio operators — use a transmitter/receiver and antennas to communicate around the world on short-wave radio bands that bounce off the ionosphere. When communication systems fail, whether because of natural disasters or by unforeseen events such as terrorist attacks, HAM operators only need to rely on their battery or generator-powered transmitter/receiver to relay messages.
Read more – Baltimore Sun:
More Stories
via Amateur Radio Daily: Unicom Radio Club DX RTTY Contest October 4
via the ARRL: National Preparedness Month: Ensuring Family Safety
via the ARRL: Ham Radio Volunteers Serve During Hurricane Francine