Amateur radio could save lives in times of emergency

Mark Christian finds out more about Ham Radio and how they are vital during a crisis.

[@pilot7200able]

Thank you for being ready to respond to our safety and help in emergency situations!

[@patriot9455]

You, as a ham radio operator, do not even have to be on the scene, radio operators on the scene can pass information through you to agencies that can then mobilize their resources. In the hurricanes where entire islands had infrastructure destroyed, the battery powered ham radios became the only, if not the main communication system that worked for a while. In Puerto Rico, the 2 meter band was used to get information to HF operators who knew what frequencies worked best for time of day and country. Some even worked shipping frequencies to coordinate the arrival of medical supplies as well as food and water. Imagine sitting in a city 1500 miles from the coast, helping people on South Pacific Islands get the help they need in time. It is not the radio operator who puts the bandage on a bad cut, but it is the radio operator who can help the on the ground people find the injured.

[@Camman010]

The trouble today is that ham radio because of the licensing requirements don't know how to set up the equipment. At a field day I pointed out to the hams setting up 2 verticals that they should be one wave length apart. They couldn't understand what that meant. The i licensing requirements have dumed down the ham radio system.

[@Francois_Dupont]

its the same thing here in Canada. i see LARPer with 20 antenna on the roof of their cars and when i mention it causing problems they laught at me.

[@MrDeivisD]

In an emergency situation like a war you are not able to use ham radio, so is not in all situations it will be helpful.

[@Nayana-4S7NDR]

Unless a jammer is humming or the authorities forbid people using radio, may I ask why not?

[@Francois_Dupont]

@@Nayana-4S7NDReven if they forbid it you think they will spend the time to track you down during a crisis?

[@hazelwood55]

Independence Day", ham radio operators spread "the code" around the world and save us from the aliens.