| Amateur radio operators hone their skills (July 10) |
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When he's talking into the microphone and moving charts around on his computer screen, Butch Weber talks in a language only amateur radio operators can understand.
"It's a hobby," Weber said of his amateur radio operations. "I like the thrill of the hunt." He's talking about trying to touch base with as many fellow operators as he can this weekend. On Saturday, and again today, amateur radio operators from all over Lake County are communicating with others who share their passion in the U.S. and Canada. It may be a hobby, but it's serious business to some of these folks. Sometimes, amateur radio operators are the only line of communication during a disaster. That's why it's so important for them to participate in this weekend's annual field day. They're there mainly to test their equipment and to make sure it works should a real emergency arise, said Ashley Carey, an amateur radio operator from Eustis. Weber's fascination with radios goes back 39 years. When he was young, he had a CB radio, on which he met his first girlfriend. In fact, his parents bought him a set of walkie-talkies when the Clermont resident was 6 years old. But this isn't just a hobby for Weber. Using his ham radio skills, he said he helped out at a shelter during a hurricane in Georgia in the 1990s. Others who are taking part in the exercise have operated radios in actual emergencies. Doug Rehman, president of the Lake Amateur Radio Association, said he used his radio skills when he operated the police radio equipment in South Florida in 1993 during the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. While that may sound harrowing, some of the scariest moments occur when you're trying to maneuver a bulky radio antenna, he said. Amateur radio operators are often the first to give early information to first responders, said John Luebbers of the Lake County Amateur Radio Emergency Services. In Lake County, there are approximately 400 ham operators, Luebbers said. During the past few months, there have been many reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during emergencies around the world, Luebbers said. One such emergency was the earthquake in Haiti. Tim Burdick of Leesburg is a newcomer to amateur radio operations. Initially, he participated in the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, and that got him involved in ham radio operations. He sees the value of the radios. "Communications is going to save people's lives," Burdick said. In times of dire emergency, when most forms of communication are not working, police do not know where to respond without amateur radio operators, he said. "It becomes the new communications infrastructure." |
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