Why use Amateur Radio for Emergency Communications?
Since Amateur Radio equipment does not rely on wires and communications facilities provided by common carriers and phone companies, it is immune to disruptions with the telephone system. Licensed Radio Amateurs use a wide range of radio bands, each one with its particular strength in overcoming the barriers to radio communications. VHF (Very High Frequency — 144 MHz) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency — 440 MHz) radios are small and portable with lots of channels to handle a multitude of short-range communications. HF (High Frequency) can propagate over mountains and valleys and between islands to provide coverage beyond VHF and UHF. Hams can use a wide range of communications modes, whether TV, data, voice or Morse code to exchange messages. The very nature of the Amateur Radio service encourages amateurs to learn how to make contacts, regardless of the challenges that may abound. Amateur Radio operators are distributed throughout the community, near schools, churches and park facilities
