Welcome to the Amateur Radio Page, you are probably
asking yourself "how is this related to Jaycees?".
My name is Lee Groce and I have been an active, licensed Amateur Radio Operator for 21 years and an
active member of the Jaycees for 16 years.
Both fraternities are committed to helping people locally, statewide, nationwide, and internationally.
Henry Giessenbier, Jr. founded the Young Men's Progressive Civic Association in 1915. The name was later changed to Junior Chamber of Commerce, JCCs
or Jaycees. Today, more than 100 countries are part of
the organization known as Junior Chamber International
or JCI.
The young people of America are represented in Washington, DC by the United States Jaycees. The Amateurs of America are represented in Washington, DC
by the American Radio Relay League.
Guglielmo Marconi is considered the father of Amateur
Radio. In 1896, he transmitted the first signals more
than a mile.
If not for the efforts of the early radio pioneers, who experimented with radio circuits, we would not enjoy: television, telephones, cellular telephones, the internet, satellite communications, GPS, etc. that we take for granted today.
The Amateur Radio Service is for anyone interested in
radio and able to provide emergency communications in
disasters, all for the general benefit of the public.
Amateur or "Ham" Radio is a facinating hobby, using voice, morse code and digital modes. Radios may
be used by anyone with an Federal Communications Commission's license. Many people are able to talk across town or around the world on the HF(shortwave), VHF, and UHF Bands with their radios, antennas and on house-hold electricity.
Amateurs are able to communicate before, during and after disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, etc. with portable radios, wire antennas, and battery power. They have assisted such agencies as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. by linking them to the needed agencies.
How would you communicate if the power went out and the
telephone and internet services were rendered useless?
You could use citizen's band radio, *Amateur Radio, *General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Family Radio Service (FRS) walkie-talkies, or *Business band
radios on a single frequency.
*These radio services require owning an FCC license.
Did you know that you can build a crystal radio receiver that uses no power and uses only about 10-12 parts for about $10-$20? It is very easy and a fun family project.
Amateur Radio is a voluntary, disciplined service guided by five traditional objectives that have withstood the test of time:
1: To provide emergency and public service communications
2: To advance the state of the art
3: To improve individual skills in radio operations
4: To provide a reserve pool of qualified radio operators and technicians, and
5: To promote international goodwill.
Amateurs are currently engaged in state-of-the-art design in packet radio and spread spectrum tecniques.
Amateurs were among the first to bounce signals off the
moon to extend signal range.
I enjoy chatting with other Amateurs via Morse Code
or CW as it is referred to by Hams. CW radios are not very expensive and can be bought or built for $75-$175. When was the last time that you could build or
buy a computer that inexpensively?
An FCC license is required to be able to transmit on
Amateur Radio. The FCC authorized the Amateur Radio Volunteer Exams by qualified volunteer examiners. It
requires three quialified volunteer examiners to administer an exam, I am an accredited volunteer examiner and permitted to administer exams when asked.
Another branch of this hobby is shortwave listening.
Shortwave listening requires only an inexpenisive receiver to hear other countries and their cultures.
Of course, the better the receiver is will determine
how well your radio reception will be and the ability it has to reject unwanted adjacent signals.
One thing about the radio hobby, Amateur, Shortwave or
Scanning is that there is something for everyone to enjoy, regardless of your age or budget.
We are always looking for new Amateur Radio Operators,
regardless of age or experence. I am willing to help
anyone obtain their license. If you know of a school
where we could establish an Amateur Radio Club and get
our children involved, I would like to hear from you.
Please come back and visit again!
Links to related sites.
American Radio Relay League
HandiHams
Worldradio Magazine
QRZ Call Sign Book
FISTS Home Page
Crystal Set Society
Shortwave Radio
Shortwave Radio Stations of the World
Shortwave Radio Explained
