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By Debbie Postalwait
After being down for sometime, the N8LGY 145.450
Repeater is back on the air. For ham operators in the
Grantsville/Calhoun area, this is great news.
Non-hams can listen in by tuning their scanners to the
frequency 145.450.
The N8LGY Repeater, which is located on the Mount
Zion Ridge, is now fully operational. There are some
minor adjustments still being made to fine tune it.
There are also plans in the very near future to link
the N8LGY Repeater to the Ambler Ridge Repeater in Roane County,
(frequency 147.210), giving operators from the
Grantsville/Calhoun area, a greater distance in which
to communicate with other hams.
Many people may be wondering what is Amateur or Ham
Radio? Or others may be wondering who can be a ham
radio operator and why become a ham.
First and foremost, amateur or ham radio is a
wonderful and exciting hobby and an excellent service.
It exists in nearly every country of the world.
There are numerous radio frequencies allocated to the
amateur service throughout the world, making it
possible for ham operators to communicate worldwide.
Being able to communicate worldwide helps to promote
international goodwill. Ham operators can also stay
in touch with friends and family members near and far.
Anyone can become a ham radio operator. It is for
people of all ages and from all walks of life. You do
not have to be technically inclined to be an
operator. All you have to do to become a ham operator
is pass a simple 35 multiple choice question exam.
You will then be granted a Technician license and a
call sign from the FCC (Federal Communications
Commission). This will allow you to start
transmitting on the 6-meter, the ever popular 2-meter,
numerous microwave frequencies, and some satellites.
From there, it is very easy to upgrade your license
to a general license, which opens up even more radio
and frequency privileges. There is one more class of
license that you can obtain from the FCC. This class
is the Extra class. This gives you full operating
privileges on all amateur band frequencies.
There is something for everyone in amateur/ham radio.
The reasons and benefits for being a ham radio
operator are endless. Ham operators are well known
for helping with communications during times of
emergencies and natural disasters. When all other
forms of communications fail, hams can get the
messages through.
A lot of radio operators belong to amateur
radio or ham clubs. These clubs provide a wonderful
service during special events throughout the
community. They help provide the communications
during parades, bike races, and marathons. It is a
great way to meet new people.
If you have any questions or comments, or would like
additional information about amateur/ham radio or
becoming a ham radio operator, please contact me at
KC8QFI@yahoo.com. Enjoy listening and see you next
time!
"73's" KC8QFI | 
