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Hamming It Up

By Gary Woltal

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

June 28, 2008 02:33 PM

I was invited to an annual field day by the Irving, TX Amateur Radio Club. This group of Ham radio enthusiasts have many events throughout the year but this one they conducted tests with the local authorities with their half million dollar mobile communications unit and checked out all systems in case a natural disaster like a tornado, flood, or hurricane should occur.

Ham radio is fascinating stuff if you don't know anyone in it. You can send voice, data, and Morse code signaling through radio waves bouncing off the ionosphere throughout the country or around the world.

Bill Byrom

While with the group they ran tests to see how far away they could pick up signals from other senders and receivers from our North Texas region.

I must have brought them some luck. Long time friend Bill Byrom (call signal N5BB) got someone in Morse code from far northern Canada (the Yukon territories).

Whether you are interested in techie stuff or not it's been shown that the Morse code signalers can outduel a text messager by far, pretty much smoking them as far as getting a message received and decoded.

The group was especially nice to me who was pretty much clueless in this area and brought out many of the 1880 models for Morse code like old telegraph keys. The technology of Ham radio has been around over 100 years and between the voice, data, and signaling information it can send, is a real salvation to all of us when a disaster strikes and getting the word out about conditions and people. Thanks guys. You showed me that fun hobbies are great for society too.

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Liz Moras Migic

Chilliwack, BC

Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

How fun........something so different...:-) all the way up to Canada eh? I guess I'm surprised people still are so into that - I would have thought computers would have taken over........but theres a place and space for just about everything.......cool

Jun 28, 2008 02:45 PM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Liz: I don't know if it is growing anymore compared to computers and cell phones and the like. You have to be licensed by the FCC to be an operator in the states and I am sure in Canada there is licensing too. But other than it being a great hobby to talk with people around the world it is a tremendous back up when all the land lines and cell phone towers go out in a disaster. So we should be thankful that someone still knows this stuff.

Jun 28, 2008 02:49 PM

Mara Hawks

First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL

Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

This has always intrigued me. I recently had a customer who would have purchased a place in the outskirts of town, but the SD wouldn't allow him to put up his ham radio antannae (very lame, as it's really quite small these days). So can I get some cheese & mustard with that ham radio now?

Jun 28, 2008 10:19 PM

Mara: Thanks for getting me back on the real estate track even with this Localism post. I know very much like what you found, Ham radio enthusiasts wanted to continue their hobby with these higher antennas mounted on the roof. When looking for homes in some neighborhoods, many do have restricitions on this. I have found they are more allowable in older homes (1960's vintage) usually without the HOA's or properties that are more out in the country. Cheese and mustard with the ham - you need to be posting on the Club Chaos, Jacked, and Jokes and Anything Fun Groups. You are a talent for sure.

Jun 29, 2008 12:53 AM

hmmm... potential homebuyers sandwiched between HAM radios and the rules and regulations of some TURKEYS.... I would think having a ham radio operator nearby would be like a bonus--- maybe even marketed as "an ammenity" LOL... or is that stretching the imagination too far? SNAP! How 'bout we just bring these ham & turkey SANDwiches to the BEACHblog today?? (Oh where is Susan when we need her now? - maybe we can send her some elfin magic to help her clean the cabin up after everyone... she says that's part of the "chore" of her vacation that she dreads. Here Susan:

Jun 29, 2008 01:17 AM

Mara: You are seeing things way to logical in the world. What you see as a great amenity for a neighborhood with a Ham radio setup for disasters, others see as an eyesore. Maybe that's why you can't hang around the "turkey" sandwiches. ; ) Wow, you are adding all sorts of goodies to go with your cooler on the beach blog. The Elfin magic could help Susan. I haven't heard too many reluctant vacationers but it did sound like staying at home with the cat and the pool on some days "without" the family might be more relaxing. I don't know if you've ever taken two week vacations or not, but other than going to Hawaii or overseas, the ones around the country at that length can be almost too long. It will be interesting to hear how it goes. Hopefully mostly well. See you in the sand.

Jun 29, 2008 01:29 AM

Carol Culkin

Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS

Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Gary - It's interesting stuff....and Samual Morse who invented Morse code was from Poughkeepsie! His home on the Hudson River is open to the public and the grounds (Locust Grove) boast beautiful gardens!

Jun 29, 2008 02:48 PM

Carol: That is amazing, another historical home in addition to Theodore Roosevelt's nearby. You live in an area of famous places. I love beautiful gardens. Behind the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC they have these awesome gardens too.

Jun 29, 2008 02:54 PM

Linda Scanlan

A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX

Gary, what people don't realize is how very important ham radio operators are. I work on a DECON Team and with Emergency Management at Harris Hospital here in Fort Worth and ham radio operators are vital! If we have a disaster the phone lines will be jammed and possibly blocked by the authorities and the ham radio operators will be our lifeline! Great stuff!

Jul 03, 2008 05:29 PM

Linda: You are absolutely right about the Hams serving as a backup. They have several of these test drills per year. This club is setting up a station in downtown Irving Saturday supporting the parade and demonstrating their services. I'm glad you are one who recognizes their contribution.

Jul 03, 2008 05:37 PM

Hamming It Up

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