Jun 23, 2016 3 min read

According to some, amateur radio is the best-kept secret in Washington County.

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a hobby enjoyed by thousands in the United States and by more than a million people worldwide.

To further the interest of this craft, the Washington Amateur Communications club will hold an open house this weekend to introduce the world of amateur radio to the public.

The event, which is taking place in North Strabane Township Municipal Park, will show multiple amateur radio stations sending voice and data messages continuously over a 24-hour period starting at 2 p.m. Saturday and continuing through Sunday.

“It’s an annual exercise to communicate on a temporary notice,” said Prosperity resident and club President Bill Steffey, who operates station NY9H from his home and has received written confirmation of radio contact with every established country in the world except North Korea. “We will be operating four or five different stations throughout that 24-hour time period and will have one station where people will actually have the chance to go on the air.”

The open house is not only serving as a competition for “radio hams” who have already their ham license, but to generate interest for people to get licensed themselves after receiving more information about free classes and how ham radio serves the country.

“It’s what I would call a very active ham radio organization,” Steffey said about WACOM. “It generates a lot of different activities but is also for emergency preparedness and public notices.”

Positioned at various points with tough sight lines, WACOM helped support the Marianna Canoe Race, the Washington 5K and the Run for Alex in Bentleyville to make sure safety remains a priority and that anyone in danger can be supported immediately.

Because of WACOM’s frequent activity in promoting amateur radio, conducting classes, public demonstrations, emergency preparedness and training and studying technical advancements, it has been given the honor of being one of just six groups in western Pennsylvania to be known as a Special Service Club.

Setting amateur radio apart is the variety it offers to people of all ages, including 46-year-old Terry Moore of Prosperity, who has a certificate to authenticate making contact with the International Space Station.

“I think it’s very important to keep this type of technology,” said Moore. “The possibilities are endless in this profession and whatever you are interested in, there is a variety of outlets. Amateur radio has been around a long time and I think it’s getting more and more popular with younger generations.”

The growing hobby encompasses space, robotics sciences and electronic enthusiasts through its operation.

This nationwide event organized by the Amateur Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio, will consist of approximately 4,000 set-ups across the United States, along with other ham radio venues across the world.

WACOM will also be active during July 4-10, the week of the Whiskey Rebellion Festival, broadcasting from their owners’ personal locations with a specially assigned call sign, W3R.