Local ham radio enthusiast is setting up a Waitsburg emergency communication center

Brian Treadway hopes to garner interest from new or future operators

WAITSBURG-Waitsburg's Brian Treadway said he followed his grandfather's footsteps into ham radio but now uses the platform mostly in an emergency response capacity. He's hoping to garner more local interest, especially from those interested in providing emergency services.

Amateur radio, better known as ham radio, is a hobby enjoyed by over a million people worldwide who call themselves "radio hams" or simply "hams." Most hams get into the hobby for fun, but ham radio can provide valuable communication services during states of emergency. When cell towers and antennas are down amateur radio is one of the few means of communication available.

"Like a lot of guys, my grandpa had a ham shack out behind the house. He had all the equipment. Of course, in the old days it would take up several feet of shelf space whereas today I can get a radio that talks around the world," Treadway said.

Treadway said there are two theories about how the hobby got its name.

"The first is that it is an acronym for the last names of the members of the first ham club at Yale College. The second theory is that guys got on the radio and they're yackers and they hammed it up," Treadway said.

Wikipedia lists four possible origins of the term "ham" and subsequently refutes all four as unlikely.

To become a ham, an individual must first pass a written exam. Communications take place on numerous bands and license classes increase band privileges.

Treadway said the test once required a knowledge of Morse code, but that is no longer the case.

"If you study a book, you can go take the multiple-choice test and get your ham license," he said.

He said that a beginner radio can cost as little as $30, though enthusiasts can spend thousands on advanced equipment.

Treadway, who works full-time as a correctional officer, said he looks forward to using his radios to talk with people around the world in his retirement. But these days he is being more practical with his time and focuses on emergency response as a form of community service.

He said Walla Walla has the W7DP ham club where hams get together for monthly meetings and informative presentations.

"That's a great place for someone who just got their license to go. In the radio world we call our mentors our Elmers – I have no idea where that term came from. In Waitsburg, we have Richard King who is a great guy and knows a lot of radio stuff," Treadway said.

"But as a subset of the people that are just yacking, we have the amateur radio emergency services (ARES), which is where I spend the majority of my time now," he added.

Treadway said counties are authorized to have an ARES group and his works under Walla Walla County Emergency Management Director Liz Jessee.

"The term amateur is no reflection at all on how competent or qualified an operator is. It simply means we can't be paid," Treadway said. "In the case of a natural disaster we can be deployed, though we won't get any direct compensation."

Treadway said that Walla Walla County has deployed ARES about three times in the last two years.

"In the 21st century everybody thinks the cell phone is 'the stuff.' If a cell phone tower goes out it has about two or three hours of battery life," he said. "When fiber gets cut cell phones go down."

Treadway said the county has a ham radio station set up at the emergency operation center (EOC) and all they need is a licensed operator, in the case of an emergency.

"Katrina and 9/11 were the big drivers for FEMA and ham radio communications. All the hospitals were given equipment by FEMA. We will send someone to EOC and someone to St. Mary's. Dispatch will make a list and send us out – usually to nursing homes – and we go set up," Treadway said.

"Our group is pretty small. We're probably able to generate about eight to 10 operators at a given time. But we're able to maintain communications between the heaviest ambulance users, the hospital and the EOC," he said.

Treadway is a member of the Waitsburg Flood Control Emergency Preparedness Committee and is working to set up a ham communication center in City Hall. He says there is currently a portable antennae on the roof with a cable into the room where he has a radio and could contact Walla Walla EOC.

"I'm venturing into the field of grant writing because we need about $1,200 to $1,500 to set up a nice operation center. It's not terrible, but the City of Waitsburg certainly doesn't have that money lying around," Treadway said.

Treadway said that ham radios can now send emails which is especially nice if someone has a specific list of needs.

"The typing is much more accurate and simpler. The digital part of it is really nice," he said.

Treadway spent last weekend working the bike races to be on hand where there is no cell coverage. Participating in events like the races is a community service and provides training for ham operators, he said.

Treadway is an assistant emergency coordinator for ARES and says his main task is to find people in the Waitsburg area who are interested in becoming operators. He can help people get started and is willing to offer a class if he can find several people who are interested.

Anyone interested in learning more about amateur radio or taking a ham radio class can contact Treadway at k7bdt@arrl.net.