Richland County amateur radio operators recognized for their service
Richland County’s amateur radio operators have been busy keeping track of severe spring storms and tornadoes. InterCity Amateur Radio Club President Danny Bailey said he and several other local Hams were in northern Richland County when an EF-2 tornado hit Plymouth Township near the Village of Plymouth on March 14.
“I was probably a half-mile from it when it came through,” Bailey said. “I got a call when it was over by New Washington, and I headed up toward Plymouth and just happened to be about 10 minutes behind it when it went through just about the time I pulled in.”
Bailey said serving as communication for the National Weather Service Skywarn severe weather spotter network is just one of the functions Hams provide for the county. He told the county commissioners Thursday during an observance of the June 16-22 Amateur Radio Week that the organization also serves as backup emergency services communications during power outages and has helped with the lineup for the Miss Ohio Parade in downtown Mansfield.
A proclamation issued by the commissioners notes that amateur radio operators donate their services free of charge in the interest of the citizens of not only Richland County but the world.
“It’s all our equipment. We supply our own needs,” Bailey said. “We have computers in all locations. We have radios in all locations.”
Bailey says amateur radio has changed over the years with the addition of internet connections, plus digital equipment including five Ham satellites similar to ground repeaters and a new digital system that has 22 ground repeaters to connect locations from the Ohio River to Lake Erie and Indianapolis.
“I can key up on a 5-watt radio and talk to any one of those places,” he said. “With the internet, it helps you talk all over the world.”
Bailey said the group also has found a new testing site for people to get their Ham license.
“It won’t cost you a dime. The only thing is you have to pay is a fee to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) for your license. If you fail, you can just take another test,” he said. “Since we’ve done that, we have gained close to 25 new Hams.”
The local organization now has 503 members.
Local Ham operators also participate annually in a 24-hour field day with some 450,000 others around the world.
“It’s held every year. We try to make contact with Ham radio operators in the United States and around the world with whoever tries to contact us,” he said, adding that Hams also have an opportunity to contact the International Space Station as it orbits.
Field day was held this past weekend at South Park in Mansfield. The organization also will hold a truck fest July 6 at the Richland County Fairgrounds to sell and swap equipment.
“You come out there with your truck, back into a spot, drop your tailgate and sell right out of the back of it,” Bailey said.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County commissioners salute amateur radio operators
