The Comox Valley Amateur Radio Club (CVARC) is looking for new members to learn a little bit about radio operations, share a common interest and maybe even help out in an emergency.
The club has existed in the Valley for years, but until recently it was all but inactive. Now a few radio enthusiasts are working to get it off the ground once more.
Their next meeting, open to anyone with an interest in amateur radio and any level of experience, is Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7: 00 p.m. at the Comox Fire Hall.
Club president Bob Stroud and member Morris Thompson both developed a love of radio early. For Thompson, his grandfather instilled that love when he used Morse Code to communicate with the youngster from the other end of the house.
Stroud got in to the hobby in high school because a teacher was an amateur operator.
Licensed amateur radio operators, known as 'hams,' use their radios to communicate with people all around the world. Through voice, typing or Morse Code, hams chat with one another about everything from the weather to current events.
"We can talk to anybody, pretty well anywhere in the world," said Stroud. "The difference is that with a cell phone, you know who you're calling."
The government reserves certain radio frequencies for use by hams, and both men said it's never dull on the airwaves.
Though hams generally participate in radio communication as a hobby, they are expected to help out when needed, generally during natural disasters; unlike other forms of communication, amateur radio doesn't rely on towers or other infrastructure than can be damaged.
As a result, it is used widely in times of emergency, most recently in the wake of Hurricane Sandy when people were unable to use their telephones, the Internet and other types of radios that rely on repeaters.
In addition to helping out when disaster strikes, hams also enjoy plenty of social gatherings, from international competitions to more local scavenger hunt-type events.
For more information go to www.cvham.com
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