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Ham Radio Show To Connect Devotees

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 27, 2008

DADE CITY - Thousands of ham radio operators will show their emergency capabilities this weekend.

During the past year, ham radio operators made news by providing communication in emergencies including the California wildfires, Oregon and Michigan storms, tornadoes and other events. During Hurricane Katrina, amateur radio - known also as "ham radio" - was often the only way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer "hams" traveled to the Mississippi Delta to save lives and property, a news release from the East Pasco Amateur Radio Society states.

Displaying the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even Morse code, hams from across the country will give demonstrations as part of Field Day, which is the climax of Amateur Radio Week, sponsored by the American Radio Relay League.

The radio society will demonstrate amateur radio at Dade City's City Hall Annex & Emergency Operations Center, 14150 Fifth St. Operations begin at 2 p.m. Saturday and end at noon Sunday.

"The East Pasco Amateur Radio Society invites the public to come and see ham radio's new capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes," the news release stated. "We hope people will visit and see that this is not the 'radio of yesteryear,' although many still use older radios routinely," said Gary Mentro, N3OS, a local ham radio operator, in the news release.

The radio society will provide visitors who complete at least three calls during the event with a certificate acknowledging the accomplishment. For information, call or e-mail John Mouw, WA4JM, at (352) 588-8342 or john.mouw @saintleo.edu.

A staff report

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