If disaster strikes and cell phones stop working, Lowell will be ready. Thanks to its robust amateur radio club, the community has resources to keep lines of communications open, call for help or coordinate rescue efforts, if needed.
That’s exactly what happened when a tornado hit the City of Portland in 2015. “They used our equipment and repeater to funnel people to where help was needed,” explains Del Rockwell, vice president of W8LRC, the club’s FCC call sign.
The repeater is essentially a radio attached to a tall tower. When it receives broadcasts on a certain frequency, it automatically relays – or repeats – them to others listening on that frequency. The power and height of the tower means the message can travel much farther than it could otherwise. The Lowell repeater can send a signal as far north as Big Rapids and south to Paw Paw. Its 100-mile range means the equipment has proven valuable to Kent County Search and Rescue, the SKYWARN system of severe weather spotters and others.
Being able to help in an emergency is just one reason why more than 40 people are active members of the Lowell Amateur Radio Club.
Drawn to Radio for Various Reasons
Nathan Hardman, club president, says people join for many reasons. A significant number of members are concerned about being prepared in an emergency. Amateur radio offers a reliable way to keep in touch should other forms of communication fail.
Others like the challenge of trying to create something new that no one else has done before. That’s one reason Josh Mucinski, the youngest club officer at age 24, likes amateur radio. Using small computers called raspberry pi, amateur radio enthusiasts can code new programs and processes. Mucinski notes one of his projects was to create a system that would decode weather data from satellites passing overhead.
Still others simply like to connect with fellow radio enthusiasts from across the county and even the globe. Should there be any concern about the types of conversations being had over the airwaves, Hardman is quick to note that amateur radio, also called ham radio, is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Unlike short-range CB radios, ham radios and their operators are held to a higher standard that means, among other things, no profanity on the airwaves. “For the most part, hams are very well-mannered and behaved,” Hardman says.
Field Day: Putting Radio Expertise to the Test
A week ago, members of W8LRC had a chance to put their skills to the test. The club participated in the annual Field Day event, sponsored by The National Association for Amateur Radio. Clubs from across the country set up portable communications systems and then saw how many other operators they could reach within a 24 hour period.
For the 2017 Field Day, the Lowell club set up two portable towers and antenna in Stoney Lakeside Park on Friday, June 23. Then, they spent Saturday into Sunday trying to connect with other operators. Nearly 20 people from the Lowell club participated in the event, Rockwell says. Nearly two dozen members of the community stopped by to learn more about their activities, including an officer from the Department of Homeland Security who was at the park. Lowell City Council members Greg Canfield and Jeff Philips also took time to visit with the group.
When it was all said and done, the club managed to make approximately 1,800 contacts. Those represented all 50 states and half of the Canadian provinces. Even an operator from Scotland was briefly heard on the airwaves before the signal was lost. Rockwell says it’s the first time he remembers the club reaching all 50 states during Field Day.
How You Can Get Involved in Amateur Radio
Amateur radio operators need to be licensed by the FCC. There are three licensing levels available:
- Technician
- General
- Amateur Extra
With a technician license, an operator is granted local privileges to use area airwaves. At the general license level, those privileges are made global. The amateur extra license gives privileges to operate on all bands and modes in the country.
Speaking of modes, amateur radio is about more than talking to other operators. Digital methods of communications and More Code both allow for written messages to be exchanged. “We’ve been texting long before phones could text,” Rockwell says.
Those who want to try their hand at amateur radio are welcome to stop by the Lowell Amateur Radio Club for one of their Thursday meetings, held from 7-9pm in the FROM building on Fulton Street. “We’re here every week to discuss radio projects,” Hardman says.
What’s more, the club volunteers to help with communications at events such as the 5/3 River Bank Run The group also participates in several special events and activities throughout the year. It’s “Ham License in a Day” class is designed to quickly get people licensed by the FCC. The club will also be at the Spark in the Park Science Fair for Amateur Radio being held at the Home School Building in Wyoming on August 19, 2017.
For more information, visit the W8LRC website or stop by their Facebook page.
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