Yeah, I get it. There is a perception that it's just a bunch of elderly gentlemen sitting around smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, listening to the ether, and pounding some morse code to some contact halfway around the world. Or maybe they are repeating CQ CQ CQ into a microphone and listening for a return call. They will spend a bunch of money on equipment, experiment with antennas and electronics, and even try to implement newer technology into what they do. Some might look at it and call all of this a hobby or even a waste of time, but it's not because all of this may be needed for more than just talking to Japan or Croatia for fun.
Make no mistake, though, that the perception of old guys huddled around the warm glow of radio tubes is probably closer to reality than you think. The reason for that is twofold. Those involved are aging quickly. The current average age of an amateur radio operator is 68 years old and getting older. There are, however, younger people who are exposed to the service; they are just not as interested. Please make no mistake: the service is losing members faster than we are gaining, and it's becoming a dying art form.
As for outreach to the youth or younger members, the Boy Scouts of America still have a radio badge they can obtain. Sometimes, exposure might occur on Field Day every June in your local community park. Or it might happen at a POTA (Parks On the Air) activation. Here's a bit of trivia for you. Guglielmo Marconi built the first radio set and sent the first transmission 1 km away at the age of 20. We need more of that.
The second reason it's an aging service is that in today's society, we have become too comfortable with the technology we use and assume it will always be available. We look at our cell phones and see 2 or 4 bars everywhere. But those connect to towers and not each other. Some of those towers are in very remote areas, require a stable climate-controlled environment, and always require reliable power. Interestingly, some sites also house the first responders' radio services. However, as the Lahaina Hawaii fire and the Helene flooding in North Carolina have shown, no technology is infallible. Including the internet connection you are reading this article on. Without power, nothing works.
But as I sit listening to Broadcastify along with over 700 others to N2GE 145.19MHz Mount Mitchell amateur radio repeater in North Carolina, I hear the coordination between operators posted at hospitals, fire stations, and police stations. All of it is in real-time. Some are staged at local airports, flying in helicopters to deliver radios and supplies or assisting in critical evacuations. It would not surprise me to discover that radio operators are embedded with search and rescue teams. Some of these communications include wellness check requests from people outside the affected area. This can free up valuable first responder resources even if their radio services work.
Who are these people? Well, they are experienced radio operators who volunteer their time and their own equipment to assist in emergencies such as this. In some cases, they belong to two volunteer emergency radio communications teams, ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) and RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service). What's the difference? ARES provides local, remote, or relay EMCOMMS (Emergency Communications) and coordination. Conversely, RACES works with local civil defense officials and government agencies such as FEMA or DHS. Between the 2, ARES has more flexibility.
You might ask yourself why amateur radio works when everything else doesn't. The reason for that is that amateur radio operators, by their very nature, are tinkerers and experimenters. They figure out how to maintain power and stretch that resource out for as long as possible. This might include different battery technologies, implementing solar panels, or more efficient antennas. Having a more efficient antenna uses less power to transmit. More power is not necessarily better in this instance, and it could be bad to use the wrong antenna. Needless to say, we find a way to make it work in our hands, vehicles, and homes because adaptability to any situation is key. From HF (High Frequencies) to UHF (Ultra High Frequencies), operating for short and long distances, this is our specialty.
So, in an emergency, that neighbor with the view-crushing antenna the HOA has been fighting to remove just might save your bacon. You might knock on their door, buy them a coffee, and talk to them about what it is they do. Also, consider contacting your local clubs, even if it's to get a basic understanding of the different radio services available to the average person, whether that is FRS (Family Radio Service), GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service), or amateur radio. Knowing more about them and their capability will always be helpful in an emergency.
I want to point out two things if you have made it this far. Even if you don't have an amateur radio license, you don't need one to listen. You also don't need one if it is a last resort of communication for you and your family in an emergency. You can use any radio on any service to ask for help. In addition, no matter what radio you get, you should be able to listen to NOAA radio for local weather information.
So, if you were to pick up a radio at Walmart or order one on Amazon right now, would you know which channel is the commonly used emergency channel or frequency? Do you know the NOAA frequencies for your immediate area? Do you know what the radio's limitations are? Please don't believe the packaging that says it can talk 20 or 30 miles; they can't. That would only be in perfect conditions with a direct line of site. To summarize, learn about the service you are interested in and how it can work for you in an emergency.
Please don't wait for the next disaster to be left in the dark without communication or information. Don't think you can rely on your neighbor in an emergency because they may have evacuated, been injured, or suffered worse.
Nowadays, with information at our fingertips, many resources are available to learn about what radio services can do for you or even your family. With books, websites, and even YouTube channels dedicated to teaching people about amateur radio and GMRS services, it's all there for you, and in most cases, it's free.
Finally, to those providing communications to the affected areas right now in North Carolina, I've been listening. You guys are doing outstanding work with Net Control, resource coordination, information gathering, and disseminating that information to those who need it. I applaud you for being a shining example of what amateur radio is truly about --giving back to the community. I can only hope that if I am ever in that situation, our local radio operators can be as calm and organized as you.
For now, I will be signing off with this.
73 de Whiskey Zero Whiskey Foxtrot Mike and I will be clear of this frequency.
