Ham Radio Operators Are Heroes In Oregon

An anonymous reader writes "We all know the impact that Ham radio can have in emergencies, but that often slips by the public and the authorities. Not so in Oregon, where a day after getting inundated with torrential rains and winds and suffering from the usual calamities those cause, Oregon's Governor called the local Ham radio operators heroes. When discussing how the storm affected communications, the governor stated: "I'm going to tell you who the heroes were from the very beginning of this...the ham radio operators." Kudos to the Oregon Ham operators for helping out in a bad situation, and getting the recognition they deserve."

Doesn't cover

[SamP2]

Sure, HAM operators may be saving lives, but what naive soul thinks it compensates for their digging into RIAA's pockets, erm, scratch that, I mean villaneously spreading communism by pirating songs and stealing intellectual property?

I'm a Hero!

[Abuzar]

Yay! Finally! Someone recognizes I'm important! Now, if only I could get a date...
Goddess, I just wish there would be a natural disaster and a cute girl for me to save ;-)

Mmmmmm.... Hammm....

[bennomatic]

Someone had to say it.

</Homer>

Golf Oscar Oscar Delta Juliet Oscar Bravo!

[xPsi]

i.e. good job

Re:I'm a Hero!

[Anonymous Coward]

This is how Bond villains are created...

Re:Not Just In Oregon

[OriginalArlen]

There's a chap where I work who's involved in the Radio Amateurs Emergency Network (RAEnet) which provides emergency comms in situations exactly like this, as well as providing backup to the police & emergency services in less dramatic scenarios. At one point he had a relay in his car providing a live feed via a Google maps mashup so we could see where he was when he didn't turn up in the office. He just *loves* it when we call him "rubber duck" ask about his "twenty" and refer to him as a "good buddy". Ahh, simple pleasures...

Re:Ham's day is over, probably

[tgd]

Meh, I'll just tap it out in ASCII. I'd be willing to bet there are more people that can do 7 or 8 bit binary to ASCII in their head than morse anymore. (And I am someone who has their Amateur Radio license and debated doing the additional licensing that needs morse, which I know, but not fast enough or well enough to pass).

Plus, if I'm trapped, I want to be able to tap out messages kids today will understand: "Z0mg, r u there? Needz h3lp, legs broken. S3nd hlp n hookers. ;)"

Try sending an emoticon over morse!

Re:Ham's day is over, probably

[Oktober Sunset]

yea, if you simutaneously get your eyes jabbed out and your vocal chords ripped out in a disaster situation, you''ll be laughing at all those naysayers then won't you.

or rather, tapping out .... .- .... .- as you will have no vocal chords.

Re:Ham's day is over, probably

[MyLongNickName]

So, it is kind of like Linux then?