Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Vice president of the Hoosier Lakes Radio Club, Win Morrison, and other club members will be demonstrating and explaining their emergency radio work this weekend during "Field Day," an annual event involving amateur radio operators across the nation.
For 24 hours, from 1 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday, amateur radio operators will simulate emergency conditions by operating in unfamiliar surroundings with generated power and making as many emergency contacts as possible.
Morrison, of Warsaw, joined the club in 1992, 50 years after he worked in radio for the Army Air Corps during World War II. He became a radio direction finder in the military using radio signals to guide ships to shore. Since he became a club member, Morrison has been an active participant and took it upon himself to spread the word about this year's Field Day.
"A lot of people don't realize there's probably over 100 amateur radios in the county," Morrison said. "We're tying to get the public out to see it (Field Day)."
He believes people can learn a lot about radio by visiting Field Day and watching club members in action.
"We're inviting the public to be there," he said. "We've done this every year for quite a few years."
Morrison said "it's a demonstration of our ability to establish communications even in emergencies."
Currently, the radio club has between 30 and 50 members, and last year approximately 30 people visited Field Day. Morrison said he hopes to have a larger turnout this year.
Although he just got his license in 1992, Morrison said, many of the club members "have been doing it for probably more than 30 years," and his son has been an amateur radio operator since the 1970s.
"We call it a demonstration," Morrison said of Field Day, "(but), it's a nationwide contest, too."
Since amateur radio operators will be working and operating as if they were in an emergency situation, they won't be using commercial power. Instead, operators will use generators, batteries and solar energy.
"We're going to be demonstrating not only with voice, (but also with) CW," Morrison said.
CW stands for continuous wave and uses Morse code.
Amateur radio operators will be able to establish communications even in a hurricane or tornado, a natural occurrence that may leave many people without communications.
The facilities this year for Field Day are the same as in past years - in Hoosier Lakes Radio Club member and director Tom Buchan's back yard. Anyone interested in learning about amateur radio is invited to stop by. Buchan lives at 501 Fruitridge Drive, Warsaw.
"We're supplying a service to people and we also work with the national weather service," Morrison said.
He said a few of the "doppler weather service guys" in North Webster are also involved in amateur radio.
"When they're expecting a storm, a lot of times they'll call someone from (the radio club) to work (and check the weather condition)," Morrison said.
To prepare for Field Day, Morrison, other amateur radio operators and volunteers will be setting up emergency antennae today.
Amateur radios must have a federal license from FCC.
"That's the difference between them and CB (citizen band)," Morrison said. "We are controlled directly by the FCC as far as our operating procedures."
Morrison said they take a written test to obtain their license.
Restrictions by the FCC include not broadcasting commercials or music.
Morrison said he gets on "what we call a fellowship net." On the net, they chat and get to know new people.
"We get together on a regular program every night at 11 p.m.," Morrison said.
The "we" consists of a group of amateur radio operators from across the country, in such states as New York, Kentucky, Mississippi and Oklahoma.
He said a lot of people he talks to over the radio, he thinks of as friends, even though he's never met them.
He also said some radio operators talk to people in Japan and Australia, and one person has talked to people from 66 countries.
It's communication "all the way around the world," as Morrison put it.
"I don't do much of that," Morrison said. "I haven't been in this very long.
"We call it a hobby," he said of amateur radio operating. "It's something that I appreciate."
The Hoosier Lakes Radio Club meets on the first Thursday of every month in the Warsaw city council chambers. President is Tom Skaggs, vice president is Morrison and treasurer is Jack worth. Directors include Kirk Van De Water and Buchan.
For more information, call Morrison at 267-5051.
