Hobbies come in varieties as wide as the people who have them. Personal fitness classes, dance and sports help unify the mind and body, while art mediums give an outlet for creativity. Some people collect items like stamps and shot glasses, travel buffs plan trips all over the world while others spend hours behind computers and sketchbooks designing clothes, shoes and purses. Some curl up with books, or enjoy latest movies; some take voice and instrument lessons and lift up beautiful notes for audiences to enjoy. But “hams,” or amateur radio enthusiasts, enjoy an exact and useful hobby as they communicate through frequencies.

The American Radio Relay League’s 2012 Field Day, involving more than 35,000 amateurs across the U.S. and Canada, was held June 23-24 in Waterfront Park in Orange Beach.

“Ham Radio is a popular hobby and a service in which licensed participants operate communications equipment with a deep appreciation of the radio art,” according to arrl.org. “The unique hobby of Amateur Radio is a mix of fun, public service, and convenience.”

“Although hams get involved for many reasons, they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology and operating principles, and pass an examination for the FCC license to operate on radio frequencies known as the ‘Amateur Bands.’ These bands are radio frequencies reserved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for use by hams at intervals from just above the AM broadcast band all the way up into extremely high microwave frequencies.”

The website went on to describe some enjoyable aspects of the hobby.

“Some hams like to build and experiment with electronics. Computer hobbyists enjoy using Amateur Radio's digital communications opportunities. Those with a competitive streak enjoy ‘DX contests,’ where the object is to see how many hams in distant locations they can contact.”

Members of the South Baldwin Amateur Radio Club and other local hams participated in just such an event during the Field Day.

Katie Aiken, South Baldwin Amateur Radio Club publicist, explained that there’s more to the hobby of amateur radio, than fun experiences.

“Here in Baldwin County, amateurs may be called upon to provide emergency communications during hurricane season,” she said. “Whenever the Emergency Management Agency declares an emergency and opens shelters, local ham operators set up and staff radios at every shelter to provide constant, reliable contact with the Emergency Operations Center in Robertsdale.”

“In the event of a catastrophic storm, severe damage to cell and telephone systems or to the power grid might cripple normal communications, but with amateur operators at each shelter, the EMA will not lose contact with local shelters or with the state emergency management agency. In addition, many hams are trained as Storm Spotters for reporting severe weather conditions and can do so from home or their cars. Some also receive training in Red Cross damage assessment. Helping public safety officials keep track of what’s happening during and after weather emergencies is one of amateur radio’s most important ways of serving the public.”

Whether enjoying mechanics or driven to help others, a variety of local residents participate in the hobby, according to Aiken.

“Foley amateur Brian Trivett is a native of London, England. By profession a registered nurse, Brian was first licensed as an amateur operator in the UK and later in Germany. He especially enjoys Echolink and IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) which give him the ability to use his computer and radio to talk around the world with other amateurs at any time of day. He likes the public service aspect of ham radio as well, and has helped provide communication support for the MS 150 Bike Tour for several years.”

Another enthusiast has a specialized interest, she said.

“Matthew Barnhill first became interested in amateur radio in 10th grade, but had his interest rekindled in the 1990s. A toxicologist from Fairhope, Barnhill uses the HF bands for voice communications, but his true preference is for CW, ‘Continuous Wave’ or Morse code. Although code is no longer a requirement to obtain an amateur radio license, many hams enjoy the art of this older and highly reliable means of operating. Barnhill serves in the ham group that supports shelter communications during emergency activations.”

Some find that the hobby benefits their other interests, Aiken divulged.

“Two other local hams became radio amateurs because of sailing. Now Orange Beach residents and proprietors of Suberi’s Blueberry Farm in Loxley, Bob and Barbara Suberi lived aboard their sailboat and traveled widely for seven years. The Suberis were not hams then, but they met many hams among the sailing community and were impressed by the convenience and practicality of being able to communicate easily with family and friends and get weather reports through amateur radio. Bob promised himself he would get a ham license, and he did when their sailing years ended in 1993. But because they were no longer sailing, he never really used his skills again until after Hurricane Katrina, when he was driving supplies between Orange Beach and hard-hit towns in Mississippi and Louisiana,” Aiken explained.

There was no power, no phone or cell phone in those devastated communities, she emphasized.

“We would drive in supplies one day, ask what else people needed –baby formula, dog food, fuel, water, etc.--drive back to Orange Beach, collect those supplies and drive back the next day. But by then, people needed entirely different things, supplies which we could easily have brought. It was frustrating not to be able to know what they really needed at the moment. I realized then how helpful it would be to have amateur operators in those towns contacting us with up-to-the-minute requests,” Suberi said.

Aiken recalled that, “since then the Suberis have begun sailing again and amateur radio is on board with them now. On a recent trip to Belize, they were having dinner with some other couples when Barbara thought she heard someone calling “Mayday” on the VHF marine radio. She was right: a charter boat carrying eight senior citizens had been boarded by four masked men who stabbed and beat them badly. Another of the dinner guests happened to be a doctor, so he talked on the VHF radio to assess their medical condition while Bob tried to reach the Belize Coast Guard on his HF amateur radio. When he was unable to do so, he called in an emergency message to the Mobile Maritime Net, a frequency which radio amateurs staff from noon to 10 pm EDT daily for transmitting weather reports and emergency messages. The net control operator was able to help Bob contact the US Coast Guard who contacted the Belize Coast Guard to send a rescue vessel.”

While many have chosen amateur radio as a part of their lives, others may be interested in joining the club.

Aiken offered, “anyone you know could be an Amateur Radio operator or ‘ham’--no matter what age, gender, or physical ability. Anyone can study to earn an amateur radio license. There are online resources and numerous books available as well as classes taught by local amateurs. If you are interested in learning more, the South Baldwin Amateur Radio Club meets the third Thursday of each month except December at 7 p.m. in the Emergency Operations Center in Robertsdale. The club also offers testing for all license levels six times a year.”

For more, see the club website at sb-arc.com.