eHam.net News

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Ham Radio Club Calling Members Around the World, Even Outer Space:

Posted: 13 Feb 2017 04:04 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38642


BLUEFIELD -- It was Saturday morning, but Johnny Borich of Bluefield and
his son Jaiden were cramming for a test; if they passed, they would join
the ranks of ham radio operators speaking to others across the world and
even in outer space. Members of the East River Amateur Radio Club gathered
Saturday for breakfast at the Valley Country Restaurant on Blue Prince
Road. The club meets there every Saturday morning, but they were moving a
little faster than usual that day. Some new members had to be at the Mercer
County 911 center by 9 a.m. to take a licensing test. Johnny and Jaiden
Borich were doing some last-minute studying. Jaiden had a small ham radio
ready for use. Like many other technologies, ham radios are becoming
smaller and more affordable. Johnny Borich is also in the radio-controlled
aircraft hobby, and having the license will help him use a video
transmitter that allows RC pilots to put on special goggles and fly their
drones and airplanes by sight. Jaiden had other plans. "I just want to talk
to people," he said. Operating ham radios is a very family-friendly hobby,
club president Keith Jennings of Bluefield said. The club now has about 60
members, but more are welcome. Ham radio is essentially two-way
communications by radio, and it offers contacts around the world and
literally above the world.