The Fontanelle Observer

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014 - VOLUME 151 | NUMBER 51 |

FONTANELLE IOWA 50846

SINGLE COPY 75 CENTS

By SANDY MCCURDY, Fontanelle Observer

Ham radio isn't dead, and it definitely isn't dying. Keith Carpenter, WD0FIA 
of Bridgewater will testify to that fact. In his words, he can operate on 
any mode, or frequency, from any location, with amateur radio. And he 
assures this reporter that there are dozens of other local “Ham Operators.”

Local Hams include Mike Maynes KD0AUS, Larry Jo Vandewater N0BKB, Doug 
Welsch KA0MHJ, and Joanne Duckworth KD0MPR, each with different interests. 
Joanne Duckworth is Union County Emergency Management, Larry Jo Vandewater 
is a farmer, Doug Welsch is an electronics technician, and Carpenter 
volunteers as a regional director to USAF MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio 
System).

Carpenter began his ham radio hobby in 1969, building his first radio from a 
kit purchased from Boys Life Magazine. With this radio, he obtained his 
first license as a Novice. Keith hasn't been quiet since. He took his 
Technician License test from Larry Vandewater in 1986. He currently has over 
300 Facebook friends that are Ham Radio Operators from other countries; some 
he chats with daily. They all have different backgrounds, interests, etc. He 
can send video, pictures, data as well as just chatting.

Carpenter has talked with Joe Walsh of the Eagles singing group, King 
Hussein of Jordan, and nearly a dozen astronauts while they were in space on 
Mir or the ISS.

What is Amateur Radio? According to Wikipedia, “an amateur radio operator is 
someone who uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way 
personal communications with other amateur operators on radio frequencies 
assigned to the amateur radio service. ”

The operators are granted an amateur radio license by the FCC after passing 
an examination on the applicable regulations, electronics and radio theory 
and operation. As a component of their license, amateur radio operators are 
assigned a call sign used to identify themselves during communication.

There are now three license classes in the United States, Technician, 
General and Extra. The Technician Class is the entry level license, earned 
when passing an examination of 35 questions on radio theory, regulations and 
operating practices. This license allows the ability to communicate locally, 
and most often within North America. A General Class License opens the door 
to world-wide communications. The Amateur Extra License conveys all 
available United States Amateur Radio operating privileges on all bands and 
all modes.

Currently there are over 738,500 licensed amateur radio operators in the 
United States. This number has grown remarkably in the past 40 years, in 
December of 1971, there were only 285,000.

Recently Tim Allen who plays Mike Baxter KA0XTT from “Last Man Standing” 
took the plunge and became a real life Amateur Radio operator, he is now 
licensed as KK6OTD!

There are over 3 million Hams worldwide. All ages, girls and boys, there is 
no limit as to who operators are.

In Adair County, there are young ham operators, including Nathan Maynes 
KD0FSO, Doug Welch’s daughter Ruthie KD0ZHP and son Richard KD0RDS.

Ruthie, a sixth grader at Nodaway Valley, became interested by going with 
her father and brother to Hiawatha Amateur Radio Club RF Fest in Perry, kind 
of like a flea market for ham radio enthusiasts. When she was 10, she passed 
the tests required for the first license one needs. She said, “I like to 
talk on 10 meters, everyone sounds like Daffy Duck! ” Her 15-year-old 
brother, Rick, has all three of his licenses. Carpenter commented that it 
took him 37 years to get to where Rick is now. Their father, Doug, got his 
licenses when he was 15, but claimed it was harder then. For one thing, he 
had to learn morse code.

“Everybody helps everybody, ” Carpenter said, as he has loaned radios to 
everyone interested, and also offers help with the expertise when getting 
ready to test for the licenses.

There are plenty of things to do with ham radio, and without even owning a 
radio. A computer with a microphone and internet connection will work via 
Echolink. Or, using a smart phone you can remotely connect to radio, and 
contact people all over the world. Morse code isn't required anymore. 
Carpenter told about how when using the computer, “You can see the signal 
before you can hear the noise. ” The digital can cut through the static. And 
it is possible to use the keyboard instead of a microphone to communicate.

In addition to the fun and interesting uses of radio, there is the emergency 
response aspect of ham radio. Robert Kempf, Adair/Guthrie County Emergency 
Management, said that he hasn't had the opportunity to use the operators, 
but they are in the county plans. Adair County has equipment and a radio 
ready to deploy quickly, a system paid for by a public health grant.

Carpenter is the ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Adair County, there is 
someone designated in every county. “They are a very important asset, I’m 
glad we don't have to use them, but good to know they are there. ” Kempf 
said. The local operators are a very capable group; Kempf can depend on them 
even if there is no electrical power, phone or internet service. They can 
talk to the National Weather Service and FEMA directly.

The ARRL lists 22 things you can do with Amateur Radio. The things begin 
with expanding your world by talking, sending text and pictures to unusual 
places, create a network of ham radio friends, meet awesome people from all 
over the U. S. and the world. Explore amateur radio by talking through 
satellites, sending messages in code, and look for hidden radio signals. 
Putting the radio to work by becoming a weather spotter, using Amateur Radio 
to control models, robots or drones, support recovery efforts in 
emergencies, use the radio for community service, track people, pets or 
wildlife. Go beyond the menu, create technology by building and testing your 
own gear, experiment with new software applications for radio, and learn 
radio science that powers cell phones, Bluetooth and other wireless 
technologies.

It seems the possibilities are endless. And with all the technology, the Ham 
Radio operators aren't disappearing into thin air. Carpenter is staying on 
air and encouraging others to do the same. Since 2009 over 20 of his friends 
have become licensed.

He has accumulated a collection of over 30 radios during his 44 years of 
being a Ham Radio Operator; many are on loan, some are housed in curio 
cabinets in Keith and his wife Roberta’s home in Bridgewater. And then there 
is his car - a couple of red cars with lots of antennas, packed with 
interesting gear inside. For me, Ham radio adds color to my life on what 
could otherwise be a boring drive to Des Moines, or a break from a rainy 
day. ” Carpenter said.

==============================

This article forwarded by:
Jodie Rouse, KD0LDE
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