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Ham radio operators make radio contact with North Pole


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The Harrison County Amateur Radio Club was fortunate to have a strong signal from the North Pole on Saturday. The ham radio operators had arranged with Santa Claus to make radio contact with them in the lobby of the Rohs Opera House so that children could talk to the jolly old elf on the mic.


Each participant was given a commemorative card for making a long range North Pole contact via ham radio. This was not just any old card; this was a QSL card.


QSL cards are postcards exchanged by ham radio operators not just around the country but around the globe. They confirm two-way radio contact has been made and contain details such as the operator's callsign, time/date of the call and frequency.


Club member Keith Clifford said his collection includes cards he exchanged with ham radio operators in all 50 states and several countries, including Ukraine. He recently made contact with operators in Paraguay and Brazil.


At Saturday's event, Clifford was in charge of registering Santa's young callers and handing out the QSL cards featuring a colorful cartoon image of Santa and Mrs. Claus on a two-way set and the caption: K4HSN, Ham Shack on the North Pole. (K4HSN is the club's own callsign.)


Several families took advantage of the opportunity for their children to talk to Santa via radio. Sitting across from Rick Mattox, club president, kids listened to Santa and talked into the mic, sharing their Christmas wishes.


From the smiles on most of their faces, their first encounter with ham radio was a positive one.


Ham radio is far more than just an old and fascinating hobby; it is an invaluable in emergencies. When internet, cell service or landlines go down, airwaves will always be available, and ham radio operators can act on a moment's notice.


Club member C. J. Clifford experienced the value of his own radio set last December when he was involved in a collision. His door was jammed; his phone had gone flying somewhere in the cab of his truck and he was unable to locate it.


But his radio was handy.


He picked up the mic and made a call for help.


Mattox responded to Clifford's call and contacted emergency services. 


Don't let the word "amateur" in the club's name fool you; ham radio is serious business. All amateur radio operators must be licensed by the FCC and act professionally. There are three levels of licensing classes, each more difficult than the previous.


The club is not limited to Harrison Countians. Clifford said there are also members from five other counties: Nicholas, Scott, Bourbon, Clark and Pendleton.


The Harrison County Amateur Radio Club meets the third Friday of every month in the Lair Methodist Church fellowship hall at 6 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend to learn how to get started in this fascinating hobby. For further information k4han@outlook.com


 
 
 
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