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The Best Source for Information During a Local Emergency:
2 Meter Ham and the Unknown Heroes
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During power failures and natural emergencies, Ham radio operators rise to the occasion and help provide information about what's happening locally. Most Ham operators have devised back up power in the event of an emergency, so they can continue broadcasting without interruption even when all other communications are down, including phones, cell phones, and the internet. During the recent hurricanes, Ham radio operators provided the only communication available. They were vital in coordinating the relief efforts and identifying areas in need of assistance.
| The great thing about 2 Meter Ham is that anyone with a 2 Meter
receiver can listen to this information and know more about what's
going on within a distance of 5 to 100 miles of their home. What
is 2 Meter? You can hear 2 Meter on 144-148 MHz in the U.S. |
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The 2 Meter band is part of the VHF spectrum, and is predominantly used for local communications, within a range of about 100 miles. Because it is local and reliable, and because the licensing requirements to transmit on the 2 Meter band is relatively easy to obtain, this band is one of the most popular non-Short Wave ham bands.
To learn more about 2 Meter Ham and what is required to obtain a license contact the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) at www.arrl.org or call (860) 594-0300. They can provide you with local contacts. Your local chapter will assist you with all aspects of obtaining a license. You will discover that Ham radio operators are a great bunch of people— after all they provide this irreplaceable public service for free!
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