Ham Radio Equipment Grant for Amateur Radio group

Lee County Amateur Radio Emergency Services have received a substantial grant to purchase radio equipment

Thanks to a big grant, Lee County Amateur Radio Emergency Services will be able to purchase new radio communications equipment to strengthen their county’s response during emergencies.

The Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative gave them a grant for $11,349.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $3,500 in matching funds from the recipient, will allow the group to expand its geographic reach and resiliency through the purchase of new radios, antennas, and other electronic equipment.

Lee County Amateur Radio Emergency Services is a volunteer organization that was founded in 2019.

They serve the Lee County Emergency Operations Center’s official backup for communications during events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, or cyber-attacks.

In the event official channels go down, the group will assist in connecting first responders with members of the community, as well as state and federal support networks.

This grant is one of 36 grants awarded recently through the LCRA Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders, and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement in their service areas.

Media Story - https://kwhi.com/2022/06/03/lee-county-group-receives-grant-from-lcra-bluebonnet-electric/

Essex Radio Amateur in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Essex-based radio ham Tim Neobard M7TMN has received a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Essex Ham report Tim, together with other volunteers created the East Essex Hackspace – a maker community in Hockley, and at the height of the Covid pandemic, Tim and the team manufactured 12,000 face shields using the Hackspace’s laser cutter – and these face shields were distributed free where they were needed. During the second lockdown, the team shifted focus to providing laptops for kids.

BBC Essex interview - https://www.essexham.co.uk/ham-honoured-in-birthday-honours.html

Two Students Aged 10 and 11 Get Ham Radio Licenses

Fifth-grader Matthew Price, 10, thought why not give becoming an operator a try since his whole family on his dad’s side are licensed.

“It also has a lot of electrical components and stuff, so if you choose to be an electrician, you get a little background knowledge on fuse schematics, a little bit of electrical knowledge”

— Matthew Price

Price and 11-year-old Abby Cadol had to learn about ham radio rules and safety—grounds, fuse schematics, and how to avoid getting shocked. They also made their own antennas.

“I always thought walkie-talkies were pretty cool, so I was a little excited to learn that this is like a long-range walkie-talkie.”

— Abby Cado

The pair practised answering questions every Tuesday after school with ham radio enthusiast Jon Spargo KC5NTW to prepare for their amateur operator licence test. This is the thirteenth year for the ham radio group, which is open to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Fifth graders are welcome if they can handle some simple algebra.

“It’s a hobby, but unlike a lot of other hobbies, it’s a hobby with community service in mind.”

— Jon Spargo KC5NTW

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service has an agreement with Socorro County that when disaster hits, they will go to the county emergency operations center and help man the radios. A lot of hams belong to search and rescue groups, local hobbyists have helped with mock disaster exercises by helping the ambulance radio and law enforcement radio talk to the hospital, and they help out with the annual Striders and Riders triathlon. Ham radio operators communicate when the racecourse is clear and are ready to broadcast if there’s an emergency on the course.

Media Story - https://dchieftain.com/two-cottonwood-students-are-socorros-newest-ham-radio-operators/