News
Draper students make overseas contact using amateur "ham" radio station
Feb. 4, 2009
As an amateur radio operator with more than
30 years of radio experience, Draper Middle School social worker
Larry McGrath recently decided it was time to bring his hobby to
school. McGrath constructed a modest radio station using equipment
he donated to the school, which has the potential to talk to fellow
radio operators around the world. During an initial test, McGrath
and a group of students spoke to a "ham" radio operator from the Spanish Canary Islands off
the western coast of Africa.
Amateur radio operators are also known as "ham" radio operators, however, the exact origin of this nickname remains unclear.
"Amateur 'ham' radio is an exciting form of communication, a hobby, a community service. It could be a student in Rotterdam making friends over the radio with another ham in New Zealand," McGrath said.
He added that radio hams can save lives as part of an emergency communications network.
"It is arguably the world's greatest hobby that can save lives. It is a hobby that instantly turns into a life saving service whenever there is a disaster or large-scale emergency," he said.
According to McGrath, ham radio kept New York
City agencies in touch with each other after their command center
was destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001. When hurricanes like Katrina, Rita
and Wilma, or tornadoes or floods knock out other communications, ham
radio provides vital life-and-death capabilities. Many hams are
prepared with portable equipment and generators to continue
communicating when all other forms of communication fail and the
power is out.
But most of the time, hams do what they do because it is just plain fun, says McGrath. Many hams get involved in local events and emergencies. In this area, ham operators provide vital communication at the Schenectady County Air Show, the Stockade-a-thon, Freihofer’s Run for Women, Mohawk River flooding and the annual Schenectady Christmas parade, to mention a few.
"Amateur radio in school emphasizes the integration of technology, math, science, geography, writing, speaking and social responsibility within a global society," McGrath said. "Students are exposed to other cultures, customs and advanced technology."
While working with McGrath, Draper students will have opportunities to experiment with different “homemade” antennas and to log contact information in the computer each time they speak to a ham on the radio. As a school with a ham station, Draper can get on the NASA list for a future time slot to speak to the International Space Station or Space Shuttle astronauts while they are in orbit.
Every subject area is incorporated into ham radio. For example:
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Social Studies -- Students communicate with people all over the world. Hams use maps and globes to understand the world around them. Students can discover customs and cultures very different from their own and learn to appreciate and value diversity. Students will learn about the laws governing radio communications and how they can change from country to country.
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Science -- Students learn concepts and terminology related to electricity and physics. These include becoming familiar with the layers of the ionosphere and how they impact communication, sun spot cycles, lightning, EME transmissions, erecting and tuning antennas, and learning about electrical safety.
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Math -- Determining time zones, calculating distances between ham operators, using algebraic equations in electrical formulas, and determining antenna length based on frequency are just some of the ways math is easily integrated into the program.
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Language Arts -- Students utilize many communications skills by learning to speak clearly and succinctly on the air, optionally learning Morse code through auditory and memory techniques. Students also write follow-up cards and letters to their radio contacts all over the world. Students may also set up schedules with other schools operating ham stations to share stories and events that students may use to write essays about a variety of topics. The possibilities are endless.
"Amateur radio is quite versatile," McGrath said. "Any student in the building can make use of the technology and can gain a hobby that unlocks unique ideas and opportunities."
Moving forward, McGrath anticipates that Draper teachers will use the ham radio equipment for specific class lessons. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Web site, along with many others, offer a variety of free lesson plans to teachers using ham radio. Once more students are exposed to ham radio, McGrath hopes to start a ham radio club at Draper where students can learn how to become a licensed amateur radio operator.
Find out which countries Draper's "ham" radio station has contacted
