Local man hamming it up

1. Tell me about the hobby, what you enjoy about it.

Amateur radio is a group of people who enjoy radio communications for personal satisfaction. They don't look for any monetary gain. The international treaties define amateur radio as an intercommunication, self-training disaster-relief organization.

The government allows amateur radio because we're a hobby based on public service. During disasters and emergencies, we step in to provide emergency communications. During tornados, hurricanes - Katrina - when regular landlines fail because we don't have power and cell towers aren't working, we're able to provide emergency communications.

2. What do the letters and numbers mean?

Because we are an FCC-licensed entity, we have to have a license just like the local radio and TV station. The FCC assigns call signs. The numbers - they've broken the United States into different districts; here in Ohio we fall in District 8, hence a lot of the call signs will have an eight. It's usually two letters, a number for the district and a three letters.

3. What's yours? How long have you had it?

K8FRS. I've had it since I passed an exam and got a license about three years ago.

4. This seems like a good hobby for people of any age and many abilities. Is that true?

In the United States, there are lots of stories where a daughter of an active ham picked up the interest and taken the test and passed it at age 8, know Morse code up to 13, 14 words a minute, which I don't even know. A good friend of mine in his late 80s is still active and hamming it up every day.

5. You mentioned Morse code. Is that a big part of what you do?

Morse code is very important, although the requirement has changed; you used to have to know Morse code to get your license. If we have a disaster ... you may be transmitting off a hand-cranked generator, solar panel battery and you'll be limited to five watts, where Morse code shines. You can send a message securely over thousands of miles; it's an international language.

6. Where does the term "ham" come from?

Ah! Such a good question. We don't know where the term came from, but there's about a dozen theories out there. One is that Yale had a group in the early days of radio ... three students built a station and formed a club and used their three initials, H-A-M. Another is a magazine with the initials. My favorite is that ham stands for helping all mankind.

7. How are you able to incorporate your hobby into what you do here at Fair Radio Sales?

I'm one of the lucky few. I work in a store with customers who are amateur radio operators, so for me, it's like getting paid to play in the candy store, every day. My college background is in something else and I'm self-trained in electronics. ... Not everyone knows how to build radios any more, but it's one of my favorite parts.