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HAMMING IT UP!
Ham radio enthusiasts
enjoy Hamfest
Staff Writer
Before the dawn of the
Internet and the rise in popularity of
instant messaging - a 13-year-old's most
important social networking tool besides
the cell phone - there was amateur
radio, which allows people to
communicate with others from around the
world.
On Saturday, about 200-250 ham radio
enthusiasts attended Brainerd Area
Hamfest, hosted by the Brainerd Area
Amateur Radio Club, at the Brainerd
National Guard Armory.
The seventh annual Hamfest is part-flea
market for ham radio hobbyists and
part-social event, which draws amateur
radio operators from around the state.
The event also raises funds for the
Brainerd club.
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Perry
Johnson of
Sturgeon
Lake browsed
the wares
being sold
Saturday at
the seventh
annual
Brainerd
Area Hamfest
in the
Brainerd
Armory. The
event was
sponsored by
the Brainerd
Area Amateur
Radio Club.
Brainerd
Dispatch/Kelly
Humphrey
» Purchase
reprints of
this
photo.
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People become interested in ham radio for a variety of reasons. For
Al Doree of rural Motley, there's the
excitement of never knowing who he'll be
communicating with when he goes on air.
He enjoys talking to other ham operators
in foreign countries. There are 337
countries recognized in the ham radio
community and so far he's spoken to
people in about 250 countries, he said.
Ham operators also play an integral role
in emergencies or natural disasters, and
the local Brainerd club also helps with
communications at public events, such as
the Brainerd Jaycees Fishing
Extravaganza. There are about 90 members
of the Brainerd club.
Each amateur radio operator has his or
her own call sign and many at Saturday's
Hamfest, including Doree, wore their
call signs on their hats so others will
recognize them. Doree's call sign is WØRC.
"The reason ham radio isn't dying out is
because during emergencies, the cell
towers are often overloaded but ham
radio always works," said Doree.
Mike Sigelman of Golden Valley, serves
as president of the Twin City FM Club
and traveled to Brainerd Saturday for
Hamfest. He said while Brainerd's
Hamfest drew a crowd, several similar
shows are not being held throughout the
state anymore because of competition
from the Internet. People no longer have
to buy new equipment from vendors or
used items from other ham radio
operators but can order the equipment
off the Internet. He said his club
stopped hosting a show after they went
from having an average of 4,500 visitors
to under 800.
Sigelman is a stockbroker. He said
people from all walks of life enjoy ham
radio. He recently chatted with a
rancher from Montana and a guy from
Australia.
"It's a kick to do that kind of thing,"
said Sigelman. "It's a thrill."
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A ham radio
was used to
talk other
amateur
radio
enthusiasts
into
traveling
Saturday to
Brainerd for
Hamfest held
at the
National
Guard
Armory.
David Fournier
from Ironton
helped
people find
their way to
the event by
giving
directions
and advice
over a ham
radio,
something
that was
especially
helpful
because of
all the road
construction
detours that
had to be
navigated.
Brainerd
Dispatch/Kelly
Humphrey
» Purchase
reprints of
this
photo.
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Skip Jackson, of Inver Grove Heights, also known as call sign KSØJ,
is Minnesota section manager for the
ARRL, a national association for amateur
radio. He said amateur radio enthusiasts
are always worried about threats to the
hobby. There has been pressure for many
years on the government to sell amateur
radio frequencies to commercial
interests.
Mark Persons of Brainerd, also known as
WØMH, has
been involved with ham radio since 1963.
He said becoming a ham radio operator
can be a personal accomplishment for
many because you must take a federal
exam before earning a license. A license
cannot be simply bought, he said. He
said many also enjoy the challenge of
communicating with others around Crow
Wing County, the country and the world.
"It may not seem that important in
today's world of the Internet, but it's
a challenge," said Persons.
"You get to meet people (in amateur
radio). There are young people, there
are old people, and there are retired
people in this hobby," said Brainerd
club president Lyle Amundson of
Merrifield, also known as KØLFV.
For more information about the Brainerd
Area Amateur Radio Club, visit its Web
site at
www.brainerdham.org.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at
jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or
218-855-5858.
Reprinted from
http://www.brainerddispatch.com
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