County HAMsters Need More Radio Operators

Letter to Cleveland County: There are many areas in Cleveland County that are dead areas when referring to telephone services. Having an emergency in one of these dead areas could be catastrophic. Three residents of the county have come together, pooled money and formed a Non-profit corporation and club (Cleveland County HAMsters) to establish a 2m amateur (HAM) radio repeater in the county. (recently, the Quorum court has appropriated funds to help us repay the citizens). Arrangements have been made to put it in the New Edinburg area. Persons with a basic 40 watt or greater mobile radio should be able to communicate with it from 98% of Cleveland county, and well over 50% of Bradley county. To use this repeater, to chat in a nonemergency requires an amateur radio license. While a bit tedious it, is not terribly difficult to obtain. In a life threatening emergency, anyone within approximately 2 miles of the repeater in New Edinburg should be able to communicate with a handheld radio. (without a license). Or with a mobile from most of the county. There will not be a dedicated operator to listen 24/7, but there is probably enough insomniacs to hear the call. Organized repeater nets (that preclude common communication) will not be allowed, unless during emergencies when multiple stations will be reporting, (or under control of Incident Command). When all other communication is gone, Amateur Radio will still be up and running. Cleveland County Hamsters is a non-profit club open to persons wanting to become licensed, or licensed under an Amateur radio license or as a family Member of a General Mobile Radio Service license. (Organized as part of SEAR EM COM Operators a 501(c)3 corp) If anyone is interested in a class about radio for civilian use or how to become a licensed Amateur operator send me an email at clevelandcountyhamsters@yahoo.com, or text me at 870-352-1494. Once we get enough interest I will set up a class. ...