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JERSEY CITY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ORGANIZES AROUND PUBLIC SERVICE August 22, 2001, Jersey City, NJ: The Jersey City Amateur Radio Club (JCARC) was launched this month by several Jersey City and Hudson County ham radio operators. Reviving a tradition of public service by hams in the Jersey City area, the club is focused on emergency communications, but also offers exploration of the many other facets of Amateur Radio. What is Ham Radio? It is a woman in North Carolina making friends over the radio with a ham in Lithuania. It's a teenager using her computer to send chess moves to Japan via an orbiting space satellite. In California, it is a group of volunteers saving lives as part of their involvement in an emergency communications net. Or at the scene of a traffic accident in NJ, where cell phones are out of range, it is a ham operator radioing for an ambulance. Ham Radio is a unique mix of fun and public service. Although hams get involved in the hobby for many reasons, they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology, regulations and operating principles, demonstrated by passing an exam. Who's the Typical Ham? Amateur Radio operators come from all walks of life -- movie stars, missionaries, doctors, students, politicians, truck drivers and just plain folks. They are all ages, sexes, income levels and nationalities. But whether they prefer Morse code on an old brass telegraph key, or computer messages transmitted through satellites, they all have an interest in what's happening in the world, and they use radio to reach out. How Do Amateur Radio Operators Help During Disasters? Ham operators provide organized, back-up communication networks for governmental and emergency officials, as well as non-commercial communication for private citizens affected by the disaster. They are most likely to be active when regular lines of communications are cut due to power outages or destruction of telephone lines. What are the Major Amateur Radio Emergency Organizations? At the local level, hams may participate in local emergency organizations, such as JCARC. At the state level, hams are often involved with state emergency management operations. In addition, hams operate at the national level through the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). In areas prone to tornadoes and hurricanes, many hams are involved in Skywarn, operating under the National Weather Service. Several national organizations have formal agreements with ARES and other Amateur Radio groups, including the:
Some Examples of Emergencies Involving Amateur Radio:
For more information about joining JCARC or how to become a ham, send e-mail to jcarc@qsl.net, or call 659-0041. You may also visit the JCARC web site at http://www.qsl.net/jcarc/. ### (Use your back key to return to the home page.) |