Ham Radio Operators Have A Busy Day

By MAGGIE MCMURRAY

Moapa Valley Progress

It was a great day for local Ham Radio enthusiasts, with plenty to do, plenty of people to share their craft with, and plenty of time on the air talking with people around the world.

For the 60th year in a row, Ham Radio operators around the world were joined by Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts in the 60th anniversary of Jamboree on the Air.

Locally, the event happened in conjunction with the Logandale Fall Festival. Members of the Moapa Valley Amateur Radio club set up their own equipment and a booth on the lawn at the fairgrounds. They invited scouts and others to join them in talking to other Scouts around the world.

The Scouts worked in partnership with a licensed operator who taught them what to say and a little bit about amateur radio.

Cub Scout Grant Conger, 9, came to the Fall Festival with his dad specifically to participate in JOTA. He didn’t find another Scout on the air, but he found a gentleman in Indiana that proved just how small the world is.

Grant was assisted by licensed operator Don DeCaria who ran into a friend on the air that he had lost track of several years ago who he discovered was now living in Indiana. DeCaria was able to chat and catch up with him and his friend took time to visit with Grant while they were on the air.

He told Grant that he was 9 years old the first time he watched color television. Grant replied that he was only one day old the first time he saw color tv, since his dad watched football in his hospital room.
“I heard about this event in Scouts and came to try it out,” Grant said.

JOTA was not the only amateur radio event occurring last weekend, however. Several hopeful future Ham operators sat for their licensing exams earlier that morning at the Old Logandale School. Ham operators must have a license to be able to legally use their amateur radios.
“There are three different levels of licenses available and they are not hard to get,” said MV Amateur Radio Club member Craig Fabbi. “They each just require a little study and understanding of the procedures and equipment.”

Fabbi explained that licensing exams are administered locally about three times a year, or as needed. The exams are given by a group of volunteer examiners and at least three examiners are necessary to certify the results of each test.

The tests cost $15 to take. If passed, they come with a 10-year operator’s license. The entry level test is for a Technician’s license and there are plenty of study helps online or in publications to help operator hopefuls to prepare.
“The key to passing the test is to just keep taking practice exams and learning from your mistakes,” Fabbi said.

Ham radios have had a dedicated following for years, but recently they have become more than just a hobby. Radio is the only sure form of communication in an emergency or natural disaster.

DeCaria explained that operators are considered part of homeland security and are pre-screened before licenses are awarded. Off-road vehicle usage of ham radios has also increases recently as many drivers have gotten operator licenses and carry radios in their OHV’s so they can still call for help if they get stranded or have an accident out of cell service range.

The Moapa Valley Amateur Radio Club encourages anyone with any desire to learn more about amateur radio to contact them. The group meets on the air every Thursday night at 7:30, and every 3rd Saturday at Sugars at 9:00 am. Anyone interested may join them and learn more.