Ham radio operators get some glory on International Lighthouse Weekend
Photos by Tom Rivers
POINT BREEZE – Ham radio operators from throughout the world, including at Point Breeze in Orleans County, are communicating with each other this weekend as part of International Lighthouse Weekend.
The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club has been sending and receiving signals by the Oak Orchard Lighthouse. They were there on Saturday when a “solar storm” made it difficult to get signals from out of the country.
Jim Salyer of Gasport, left, and Paul Mulford of Le Roy make a connection with a ham operator at a Long Island lighthouse on Saturday morning.
The ham operators are back today until 5 p.m. Last year they made 400 contacts around the world. This weekend, due to weak signals, they may only get about 100 contacts.
“We’re having fun,” Mulford said. “That’s what this hobby is all about.”
Jim Salyer said many of the ham operators are creative, building their own radios and antennas.
The ham operators, as part of the international weekend, want to promote lighthouses and also their hobby of amateur radio.
