Amateur (HAM) Radio Alive And Well At The 2010 Jamboree

Our Vice President, Gregg Hilferding, who is also an Eagle Scout, has been a licensed amateur radio (also called HAM radio) operator for the last 15 years, so he was naturally drawn to the HAM radio area at the Jamboree. Here are some pictures and information that Gregg sent back to us.

If you’re looking for a hobby and you enjoy electronics and communications, then I think I have the perfect activity for you.

It’s called Amateur Radio and it’s really cool.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how HAM radio still has so many practical uses, even with today’s advanced technologies. And in some very critical times, amateur radio is actually much better equipped to handle and transmit information than any other method out there.

When the phone lines are down and the power is out, you can pretty much put everything else on hold. But with amateur radio, you can still communicate over a broad area and over very long distances. This makes amateur radio the perfect communication system in times of emergency or natural disaster.

This is an awesome advantage which I think is going to allow amateur radio to stick around for a very long time. It saves lives and helps people in times of need, and it is used to provide reliable communication for civil defense officials and the Red Cross.



Above left: ClassB CEO, Eric Hilferding with a tornado spotter truck, which utilizes HAM radio to broadcast tornado warnings and locations. Above right: Scouts learning about HAM radio and watching actual operators.

But it is not just for times of disaster. It can be fun too!

The ARRL, the national association for amateur radio, is at the Jamboree this year offering licensing classes for Scouts to get their HAM Radio licenses right here at the Jamboree. The staff have been broadcasting on-site since July 26th and will continue until August 4th. And those who earn their licenses while they’re here (or bring them from home if they already have a license) can join right in and operate on the air.

Every year, Scouts who have earned their licenses can participate in a fun event called “Jamboree On The Air,” or JOTA. It is a worldwide event that usually lasts a couple of days. Scouts from all over the World talk to each other by way of amateur radio. They discuss scouting events, experiences and ideas all via the radio.

If you’re interested in learning about picking up amateur radio as a hobby, or if you want to find more information about it, check out the ARRL website today. You can learn all about it there.

Amateur radio is an awesome and interesting learning experience that I would definitely recommend to anyone. And from the looks on the Scouts faces here at the Jamboree, they love it too!

If you have experience with amateur radio, whether on the transmitting or receiving end, make sure to leave a comment and let us know what YOU think!