A Powell River radio club is looking for some new members and is holding an open house Saturday, October 26.
The Powell River Amateur Radio Club’s open house will be held from 9 am to noon at Westview Flying Club’s clubhouse at Powell River airport.
Chuck Galvin is an organizer of the club and he said the club usually appeals to three different groups of people: those who like to chat, those who are interested in helping out with emergency services and those who like to tinker. However, many of the group’s members fall into all three categories, he said.
“You’d be amazed what you can do with some pretty basic equipment,” said Galvin. “From my place in Cranberry I do what’s called a moon bounce.”
Galvin aims his radio at the moon and has the signal bounce off the moon and return within a few seconds. He also creates radio telescopes with an oscilloscope linked to a radio.
“This all sounds really technical and difficult to conquer, but it’s not really,” he said.
When Galvin sees young people texting on their smartphones he thinks they are missing out. “They’re just doing what’s been planned [for the technology], but with Ham radio you plan your own,” he said. “You design it yourself and even with pretty minimal equipment you can have a lot of fun.”
Galvin said everyone involved with radios has to take a federal exam. Operators who score 70 per cent or more are permitted to use handheld radios. At 80 per cent then operators are permitted to build a radio from a kit and create a radio station with antenna. The club will assist new members with their studies for the exam.
A handheld radio costs about $150 and a distance radio that will allow operators to speak with people overseas costs around $1,300. Galvin said virtually all members have both handhelds and distance radios.
Club members volunteer many hours of their time to help out with communications at community events like the Terry Fox Run, ShakeOut BC earthquake drill, asbestos awareness events and assisting Powell River Search and Rescue Society.
“Like most volunteer organizations we’re always looking for new members,” said Galvin. The club is looking for younger members and would be willing to mentor them along, he added. “It’s just an all around great group.”
The radio club meets at 7 pm every second Wednesday at the clubhouse. For more information, readers are encouraged to contact Galvin at 604.414.0093.
