Via Southgate: When all else fails, ham radio doesn’t (Ontario)

Inside Halton reports on the amateur radio club that connects Burlington to the world and beyond

Ham radio is all about connections.

Club members right here in Burlington connect to other operators all over the world and even to astronauts in the International Space Station. The technology, which continues to inspire a passionate group of users, has managed to remain relevant even in the era of email and cellphones due to its reliability.

“When all else fails, ham radio doesn’t, and we saw that just recently in this Rogers thing. What am I going to do? I haven’t got a telephone. How am I going to talk? Well, ham radio people were talking to each other,” said Tom Montgomery, a member of the Burlington Amateur Radio Club (BARC).

Formed in 1972, BARC has grown from just six members to a 180-person club. Members are primarily located within the city, but some hail from much farther away, including one in Abu Dhabi.

Club member Yves Isabelle VA3YVE, who lives in Burlington, said he has made use of his radio on the other side of the world.

“Just before COVID, like the month before we went into lockdown, my wife and I were travelling. We’re in Australia, New Zealand. I had my little hand-held with me. I was able to use my hand-held connect up to a repeater there that was connected to the internet, and I had a conversation with four guys from the club here in Burlington, from Sydney, Australia,” said Isabelle.

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