**The LoToJa article I referenced in the net training topic is linked at the bottom of this post.
While researching a topic for this month’s training I came across a flyer from the ARRL titled 22 things you can do with amateur radio. Here are a just few of the opportunities listed on the flyer:
- Meet awesome people from all over the U.S and around the world on the air, or in person at ham radio events.
- Talk through satellites or with astronauts on board the international space station.
- Send messages in code.
- Be a signal sleuth - “Fox Hunt” for hidden radio signals.
- Radiosport - compete on the air.
- Become a weather spotter.
- Use radio for community service.
- Build and test your own gear.
It seems this was intended for younger audiences as the flyer further states that amateur radio is “technology that’s as cool as you want to make it”. I believe that is an accurate assessment.
Last year my goals were emergency power for my station, and learning how to use Winlink with my existing equipment. More recently I became interested in long distance communication and have expanded my station to include an HF radio.
I have thoroughly enjoyed expanding my capabilities and I hope each of you are able to explore the aspects of amateur radio that most interest you.
Another resource I reviewed was the quarterly newsletter from the Utah section of the ARRL.
As the purpose of this net is to improve our ability to communicate in an emergency, I thought it fitting to relay a thought from N7UWX, a local amateur who serves as the Utah Section Emergency Coordinator. The parting message from his section of the newsletter was to encourage ARES members to stay active in public service events, adding that "this is the best training you can get with real life situations".
In the coming months there will be many opportunities to serve the community by providing radio support. The Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club website has a section where you can see what events are planned and sign up to participate.
I find that volunteering for an event does not always fit in with my work schedule, but I can usually monitor the event to get a feel for how emergency communications would go, as the command structure and organization of volunteers for a public service event are very similar to an actual emergency.
And last but not least, here is a link to an interesting story found on the ARRL website about an annual event the local club participates in - the LoToJa Bike Race. It details the logistics of the event and what the amateur operators experience during the event.