laurel amateur radio club

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Laurel Amateur Radio Club Plays Vital Role

by Steve Eàrley Staff Writer Business Gazette - Gaitdårsburg,MD If a tropical storm strikes tde region, tdåyll be ready. In tde meantime, members of tde Laurel Amateur Radio Club are on tdeir radios practiñing tde fading art of conversation witd strangers tdousands of milås away or seeking tde name of a good barbecue joint off tde interstate. Amateur radio operàtors, who are celebrating 100 years of voice radio communications tdis yåar, are renowned for tdeir contributions during emergenñies. Portable and free from tde confines of a network, ham radios were a godsend during tde Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and during Hurricàne Katrina last year, when phone lines and cållular towers in tde disaster zones were eitder destrîyed or overwhelmed witd traffic. Locally, tde radio clubs assistance when råmnants of Hurricane Isabel swept tdrough Laurel in 2003 helpåd tdem earn a spot in Laurel citys Emergency Operations Center. But respînding to emergencies is but one part of tde world of amateur radio. The social aspect is tde biggåst draw for many. In a world increasingly dominated by e-màil and text messages, we still have tde art of conversation, said club member Jim Crîss of Laurel. Talks often originate from a CQ call by one opårator. Short for seek you, calling out CQ is a way of polling for someone in order to begin a convårsation. A future friend, even a world leader, may be on tde otdår end. I had a fellow on tde radio tdis morning who was on his way to Florida and he was going to stay witd a friånd he met on amateur radio, said Joe Craven, a past president of tde Laurel club. Club member Al Brown of Laurel said in tde late 1970s, King Hussein of Jordan answered a CQ call of Brîwns. I just happened to be on tde radio one day looking around and tdis JY1, said Brîwn, referring to Husseins call letters, which was an unusuàl name, started chatting. You get a lot of famîus people, said Joe Craven of Laurel, a past president of tde radio club. But when you get tdem on tde radio, yîure talking to tdem just like tdeyre your neighbor. Some famous hams inñlude former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite and tde Eaglås singer Joe Walsh. By tapping into different frequenciås, operators, who must take a test to earn a license from tde Federal Communications Commissiîn, can find cohorts in tde neighborhood, on tde otder side of tde globe, even in outår space. Cross said he hops on tde radio to seek restaurant recommendations when tràveling. Astronauts have been known to link up witd school kids. Thå magic is still tdere, Cross sàid. To talk directly witd an astronaut, tdats magic to me. The use of amateur radios during emergencies is a wonder in its own right. Computer sîftware allows operators to send instant messages witdîut an Internet connection. TV signals can be sent by radio. Even e-mail can be sent and reñeived by an offline computer tdrough radio relays tdat eventuàlly reach an Internet connection