Civic-minded East Contra Costa Amateur Radio Operators Ham It Up

By Tammy Hansen
For the Contra Costa Times
 Posted:   03/21/2012 02:42:15 PM PDT
 Updated:   03/22/2012 06:24:36 PM PDT

They don't play Words With Friends, but some have friends across the world.

Their electronic accessories don't begin with "I."

In the event of an actual emergency, you would be glad to have one for a neighbor.

Ham radio operators have always been a subset of society, but with digital devices making everyone a communications guru of sorts, it's easy to forget this small segment of the population. Yet, for the civic-minded sort with a hankering to connect and serve, there's a local source for would-be radio folk.

East County has an enclave of hams with a vivid social life. Delta Amateur Radio Club members meet in person at 7 p.m. the last Thursday of every month at the Pittsburg Environmental Center, 2581 Harbor St. They come together to swap stories and equipment and technical tips. Newcomers are welcome.

"If you think you might like to become a ham, come to a meeting!" club president Mary-Jane Walker insisted.

Or maybe take in a breakfast with members of the larger county club, club treasurer Drew Hanson said.

The perception that amateur radio operators are shut-ins is untrue. Walker started hamming it up 30 years ago. Newly widowed, her daughter and son-in-law encouraged her to join them in their hobby.

"I joined to meet people," Walker said. "I've made a lot of friends over the years."

Hanson is an active ham operator who belongs to three clubs, fitting in meetings between bowling.

Some operators are homebound. One member of the Delta ARC is in a wheelchair and can't make the monthly meetings. He and the approximately 20 members of the club do check in via their radios during "net time" Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

Some members of the club compete to see who can collect the most connections to other operators or to reach the farthest operator in a given set of time. Others volunteer at parades, horse riding events, bicycle tours and other gatherings where quick communication with emergency personnel is important. The work is always voluntary.

"You can never be paid if you are a ham, ever," Walker said.

There is a serious side to amateur radio. The Federal Communication Commission licenses operators because it counts on them as a source of information in the case local emergencies such as earthquakes or storms. Operators are volunteers and take their responsibility seriously.

Hanson said he can respond to emergencies from three home bases or a mobile radio he carries in his vehicle. He trains monthly with the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service under the county sheriff to be ready for any emergency situation.

"We're instantaneous. We have a radio going right now," Hanson said. "In a big disaster your cellphone is going to be useless."

Walker has never worked an emergency, but she has worked alongside city and police at parades and used her handheld radio as part of a team that saw tipsy partiers home on New Year's Eve.

It's not difficult to join the world of ham, but it does require a license. The base "technician" license can be obtained in three lessons. "General" and "extra" licenses require more classes, but come with more perks, like contacting operators in other countries.

Knowing how to handle a radio comes in handy for personal emergencies, too, Walker said. She has a cellphone now because it's convenient, but would be fine without one.

"I didn't worry about not having a cellphone for years," she said. "You can just get on the radio and there's always somebody listening."

IF YOU GO
 What: Delta Amateur Radio Club
 When: 7 p.m. the last Thursday of every month
 Where: Pittsburg Environmental Center, 2581 Harbor St.
 Info: http://DeltaARC.org

Drew Hanson, with a call sign KD6GL, is photographed at his Brentwood, Calif., home on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Hanson is a ham radio operator and a member of the local Delta Amateur Radio club with VHF/UHF transreceivers, and has been an operator for 20 years. Hanson is also a volunteer with the Emergency RACES Communications or Radio Amateur Civil Emergency with the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Department. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Staff)


A VHF/UHF transreceiver owned by Drew Hanson, with a call sign KD6GLY, is photographed at his Brentwood, Calif., home on Tuesday March 20, 2012. Hanson is a ham radio operator and a member of the local Delta Amateur Radio club with VHF/UHF transreceivers and has been an operator for 20 years. Hanson is also a volunteer with the Emergency RACES Communications or Radio Amateur Civil Emergency with the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Department. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Staff)


Antennas on the roofline of the Brentwood, Calif., home of Drew Hanson allows him to pull in communications from all over on Tuesday March 20, 2012. Hanson is a ham radio operator and a member of the local Delta Amateur Radio club with VHF/UHF transreceivers, and has been an operator for 20 years. Hanson is also a volunteer with the Emergency RACES Communications or Radio Amateur Civil Emergency with the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Department. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Staff)

Ham Radio Technician License Course

March 22 to May 3 - 7:00 to 9:00 pm

There will be a Technician License instructional class on Thursday's begining March 22nd and ending May 3rd.  The classes are held in the Salvation Army Fireside Room from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Instruction will be provided by the SATERN Instructional Team.

This is a complete training course, giving you all the information you need to attain your Technician License.

The class is FREE and the cost of the book and training cd is about $31.  Each student must have full access to a copy of the text.

The Salvation Army
3950 Clayton Road, (at West St.)
Concord 94520

If you or friends have an interest in either class we will email you the application. We look forward to seeing you there. Please register so we can plan for your attendance and training materials needs.

hamradioclass@gmail.com

Sponsored by:

Extra License Instructional Class

The next Extra Class will start Wednesday, March 28, 2012. You must have a "General Class Ham License" to take this class.

The classes will be held on Wednesdays, from 7-9pm in the Fireside Room.

The Salvation Army
3950 Clayton Road, (at West St.)
Concord 94520

Please register so we can plan for your attendance and training materials needs.
hamradioclass@gmail.com

All Class schedules and the Canteen Events Calendar is at www.concordcanteen.com.

Sponsored by: