Some of us had pen pals. Others made friends during their travels. Then there are those who talk every day to someone across the ocean.
In 1901, Marconi transmitted the Morse code letter "S" from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, to St. John's, Newfoundland. Soon, early radio experimenters were trying out the first "spark gap" transmitters. To control interference to marine shore stations, Parliament passed the Radiotelegraph Act in 1913. In 1914 the Radiotelegraph Regulations were issued, prescribing the first operating and technical proficiency examinations for Amateur Radio operators in Canada. Administered by various government departments, amateur radio grew in Canada to over 56,000 certificates at present.
Amateur radio is more than just a form of communication; it is also a hobby and a community service. Whether it is a person from New Brunswick making friends over the radio with another radio amateur in Botswana; or a lonely truck driver whiling away the hours while on the road, or even a radio user saving a life as part of the emergency communications network, which is the most important aspect of Amateur Radio.
Bob Oke got his radio license in 1948 when he was 18 years old. "I started on my first radio when I was 16; I listened to the radio day and night and I guess I just got interested," says Bob.
We are talking about a hobby that is a unique mix of fun, convenience and public service. People get involved in amateur radio for many reasons, but they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology, regulations and operating principles. All have passed an examination leading to an authorization to operate on the "amateur bands."
These frequency bands are reserved for use by radio amateurs at intervals from just above the AM broadcast band all the way up through the microwave frequencies. Even though amateur radio conversations may be heard around the world by anyone with a suitable radio receiver, given the right frequency and propagation conditions, amateur radio is basically two-way communication between radio amateurs.
Here in Moncton the original club was the Moncton Area Amateur Radio Club; founded in 1966 as a successor to the Moncton Amateur Radio Club formed in 1936. MAARC, Inc. was incorporated in 1976 under New Brunswick law as a not-for-profit organization.
Its objectives include promotion of amateur radio as a licensed and regulated activity under Federal jurisdiction; sponsorship of technical and social activities and provision of public communications service in times of emergency.
MAARC, Inc. is affiliated with Radio Amateurs of Canada, Inc. and a member of the American Radio Relay League, Inc.
A second club, the Tri-County Amateur Radio club was later established to broaden the membership outside of the city.
"There is also a sense of fellowship, here in Moncton we have about 70 people in the two organizations," says Bob. "We know each other and share the passion we have for the radio."
And there is a lot of appeal to being able to communicate across the country, around the globe, and even with astronauts on space missions. Some radio amateurs build and experiment with radio. Computer hobbyists find digital modes to be a low-cost way to expand their ability to communicate.
Those with a competitive streak enjoy "DX contests" where the object is to see how many distant radio amateurs they can contact. Some like the convenience of a technology giving them portable communication. Others use it to open the door to new friendships over the air, or through participation in an amateur radio club. Many combine amateur radio with the internet in various ways.
Although a major purpose of amateur radio is recreation, it is called the "amateur radio service" because it also has a serious face. The government created this service partly to fill the need for a pool of experts who could provide communications in times of emergency or war. Countless lives have been saved when these skilled hobbyists acted as emergency communicators to render aid during or following a hurricane, tornado, ice storm, earthquake or other disaster. In addition, the government acknowledged the ability of amateur radio to advance communication and technical skills, and to enhance international goodwill.
"We have quite an emergency organization here in Moncton," says Bob. "We patrol during the Santa Clause parade and especially at Halloween."
"A lot of us were involved during 9/11 when all the plans came in. We were helping with coordinating communication in order to make everything rub smoothly," Bob remembers.
Amateur radio operators are most likely to be active after disasters that damage regular lines of communication due to power outages and destruction of telephone lines. They may set up and operate local and long distance communication networks, as backup for failed or overloaded communication networks. They may also provide non-commercial communication for both private citizens affected by the disaster, and their worried families and friends outside the disaster area.
"I got a second hand radio not so long ago for 500 dollars. I think you could do the whole set up for under a thousand. It is really not that expensive as hobbies go," says Bob.
And very few hobbies allow you to be part of something that spans the globe and helps bring people safely together.
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