Technology, Innovation & Telecomm

Up front, I’ll state that I’m an amateur radio operator (”Ham” radio if you prefer). My grandfather was one, having gotten his first license in 1933. He and so many others have a long history of lending invaluable assistance in the most trying of disasters. For example, he was once stranded in a make-shift communications center during a blizzard in the 70’s, dispatching help to the far reaches of the county. That was one of many such situations where his license was put to effective community service over the nearly-seventy years that he held it. That kind of service continues with Ham Radio operators today in the aftermath of the Katrina disaster.

While Ham radio is very much the same as it has been since its beginning, with it’s low-tech Morse Code and Single-Sideband voice modes, one thing it is *not* is irrelevant. I’ve seen numerous articles that have declared it nearly-dead, virtually-useless and no longer needed in our “Internet Age”. Tell that to the woman who wasn’t sure that her elderly aunt was even alive, who then found out through the services of the Ham Radio community that she’s well and where she’s now sheltered. Or ask the 15 people trapped on the roof of a house if Amateur Radio was useless to them when they couldn’t get through to 911. They were able to call relatives in other counties who were in turn able to contact the Red Cross…who called an Amateur operator to make contact with someone in New Orleans — who got help to them. Hardly irrelevant, wouldn’t you say?

No, Ham Radio isn’t typically high speed. It’s often not bleeding-edge. But, just how much does that matter when you find that your loved ones are ok and safe? What’s the ability to get desparately-needed services where they belong worth? How many human lives would it take to make Ham Radio “relevant”?

During this most recent catastrophy, a Motorola representative stated that “Something is better than nothing, that’s right, but ham radios are pretty close to nothing.” I wonder if he’d feel differently if he and his family were trapped on a roof… Maybe someone should ask him how much of his gear was overwhelmed by the demands of Katrina.

So, kudos to all the Hams around the world who have assisted with this and other disasters through the years!

tdw - W8LEV

BTW: My grandfather’s call sign was W8LEV and he was the only person to ever have it. He held that call from the time he was 18 years old, until he died. I am honored and fortunate to have been able to take his call sign when he passed away. It’s my intention to hold it until I pass as well. With any luck, a loved one will take it too!