<- Back | Home | E-mail ->

Web posted Sunday, June 24, 2001

David Posthuma Photo

 
HAM IT UP: David Posthuma, 37, of Holland, call letters WD8PUO, tunes a ham radio set, Saturday at The Ottawa County Fairgrounds where several ham radio operators were competing in a national radio contest.
Sentinel/Brian Forde
Radio operators: Practice makes perfect
Operators try out their equipment in case of disasters

By PAUL VAN KOLKEN
Staff writer

Cody Brow, 14, helped install ham radio equipment and antennae at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds Saturday as part of the American Radio Relay League's Field Day.

"I hope to talk with some one in Russia," said the Allendale Middle School student.

Brow and scores of other members of the Holland Amateur Radio operators club began a 24-hour worldwide communications event at 2 p.m., hoping to contact other hams around the world as part of the emergency communications test.

Operators will practice communications skills under primitive conditions with generator and battery/solar powered equipment and portable antennae.

 
Rob Underwood Photo

 
CAR TELEGRAPH: Robert Underwood, 41, of Wyoming, demonstrates his mobile telegraph, Saturday at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds. Underwood has been using telegraphs and morse code since he was eight years old. Morse is like a " second language " for him.
Sentinel/Brian Forde
Such conditions represent emergency conditions during disasters such as floods and earthquakes where traditional land-based communications may be disrupted and where the hams often provide the only communication link between the disaster area and help, said Rob Underwood, 41, president of the Holland club.

The club volunteers provide communications to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department and the Red Cross in times of disasters, and for Tulip Time and various bike and running races, Underwood said.

During severe weather alerts, members staff the Emergency Operations Center.

Brow, one of the youngest members of the club, became interested in ham radio as he helped a neighbor and teacher work with weather balloon launches.

"Talking with people by radio is more interesting that using the Internet," Brow explained. "Radio is more down to earth and you can build the equipment by yourself. You shop around for the best deals," Brow said.

David Posthuma, 37, of Holland, was setting up his low power transmitter in the sun for his solar/battery powered rig.

He switched to low power radios for the challenge it provided.

"Antenna installation is more critical for the low power. You need good antennae and good operating skills," Posthuma explained.

Using a half watt of battery power, Posthuma said he was able to talk with a ham operator in Brazil.

"That's using about as much power as a flashlight," he said, adding that the voice communication on the low power was an extraordinary experience.

Normal radios using fossil-fuel generators operate on as much as 10 watts.

Ken Groom, 48, who comes from South Africa, uses satellite technology with his ham radio.

"I had a running talk with a Russian cosmonaut on the space station MIR when it was still orbiting," Groom said.

"He spoke limited English but much better than my Russian," Groom joked.

Solar/battery power and satellite uses are new technology this year for the Holland club.

"It's a faster set-up. In 20 minutes we can have the solar station on the air," Underwood explained.

"Most of that time is in rigging the antennae," he added.

All contents Copyright © 2001 Morris Digital Works and The Holland Sentinel.
Reprinted with permission from the Holland Sentinel.