Ham it Up at ZooMontana with Billings’ Amateur Radio Club on Saturday

Are you familiar with Amateur or "Ham" radio?

Ham radio, also known as amateur radio, is a hobby and service that allows licensed operators to use designated radio frequencies for non-commercial communication, experimentation, and emergency response.

Unlike CB or commercial radio, ham radio operators can talk with others locally, across the country, or even around the world—sometimes bouncing signals off the atmosphere or satellites.

Read More: Montana's Few Remaining Nuclear Fallout Shelters And Their Locations

Do you need a license? Yes. But it's not difficult to get.

I got my ham radio license when I was 12, after being introduced to the hobby by an elderly gentleman at our church. Back then, getting your Novice class meant knowing how to send and receive Morse code at a certain words-per-minute threshold, along with a fair amount of electrical theory. I practiced my Morse Code and studied the handbook for HOURS.

Nowadays, the requirements for getting into Ham radio are much easier, said John McCabe, president of the Yellowstone Radio Club. The current entry-level license (Technician) requires no Morse Code, and online study guides give you the answers to the multiple-choice questions in the quiz.

Get our free mobile app

The club is hosting an open house on Saturday, June 28th, at ZooMontana, beginning at 8 AM. Club members will be set up just outside the main gates of the zoo. McCabe will lead mini lectures at 10 AM, Noon, 2 PM, and 4 PM, offering an introduction to ham radio, what you can do with it, and why it's a valuable emergency communication method.

How much does a ham radio setup cost?

Like any hobby, the sky is the limit when it comes to antennas, transceivers, microphones, etc., but used gear is plentiful. A decent pre-owned home set-up can be assembled for as little as $500, while a mobile, "2 meter" unit for your vehicle can be purchased for under $200.

Ham radio can be the "last defense" for communication.

McCabe said the Yellowstone Radio Club has around 40 members, and about half of them are also members of the Yellowstone Emergency Response team. If - heaven forbid - a manmade or natural disaster knocks out cell and internet service in Montana or nationwide, amateur radio operators will be among the few who can send and receive communication locally and globally.

Stop by ZooMontana this Saturday and chat with the club if you'd like to learn more, or visit their website HERE for more info on getting your amateur radio license.