It's another action-packed weekend in Huntsville, so much so that we had to make this week another super-sized Roundup! More >>
It's another action-packed weekend in Huntsville, so much so that we had to make this week another super-sized Roundup! More >>
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Amateur radio enthusiasts gathered for Ham Radio Day in Huntsville on Saturday.
Ham radio operators set up stations in front of Giga Parts store in Huntsville for the event.
University of Alabama-Huntsville also participated in a balloon launch at the store parking lot earlier in the morning.
Ham radio is also known as "amateur radio." Saturday's event was a chance for ham radio users to meet each other and for newcomers to learn about it.
Giga Part manager Charles Boley said it is among the simplest forms of communication.
Boley said amateur radio played a critical role during the April 27 tornadoes when all other modes of communication failed.
"All of us were out of power, sometimes for a week. The amateur radio operators were still operational. They don't depend on cell towers, they don't depend on the telephone system. All they had to have was a charged battery to operate their radios," said Boley.
Boley said amateur radios were also fundamental for Red Cross and other disaster relief throughout Alabama during the tornadoes.
Dozens attended Ham Radio Day at Giga Parts store in Huntsville Saturday.
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