KC0VTO

Throughout my life, I’ve been passionate about volunteering and communication, which began in high school during the 1970s when I joined a local disaster action team. We supported the National Weather Service by providing advanced warnings about severe storms and assisted local law enforcement by relaying motorists' emergency calls from citizen band radio channel 9, mainly from highways and interstates in our area. In the 80s and 90s, I worked in the fire service, and in the 2000s, I served in law enforcement. I still volunteer today, focusing on a project (ARRL ARES) that helps trained radio operators, along with our local Emergency Management and Red Cross, to develop and operate more reliable equipment. Together, we create communication systems to ensure that safety information reaches the public during emergencies.

 

It’s been truly fascinating to see how communication has evolved over the years! Nowadays, I use amateur radio equipment that lets me connect through voice, digital signals, and even broadcast images, reaching people both locally and thousands of miles away. I’m proud to help with emergency messaging for anyone around the world, whether on land, in the air, or at sea. With my FCC amateur radio license and equipment, I’m often called upon as a reliable backup communicator during emergencies. I lend a hand when more vulnerable communication methods, like cell phones, emergency trunking systems, and television, aren’t working during crises such as the Boston Marathon bombing, 9/11, tornadoes, major storms, hurricanes, and significant flooding.

 

Below are pictures of my portable VHF, UHF and HF radio equipment: