School students embrace Barrett HF radio
Barrett Communications is working to install high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF) radio equipment it donated to the Rainbow Radio League (RRL) in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The aim of the project is to engage with local high school students and teach them how to use HF radio in an emergency.
Two schools, the JP Eustace Memorial Secondary School and Emmanuel High School - Mespo, have taken part in the event.
At both schools, RRL volunteers outlined the role of amateur radio as a service during times of national emergency. Philip Greaves, Principal at Emmanuel High School - Mespo, was involved with an actual demonstration using the Barrett 2090 manpack, chatting with staff at JP Eustace Memorial Secondary School - Kingstown on the Barrett 2050 base station. Students were also involved with erecting the rapid deployment antenna as well as participating in the wireless ‘link-up’ between the two schools.
For an island country that is within the identified ‘hurricane belt’ and lies on an active subduction zone, it is vital that the RRL and its volunteering members maintain the skills and interest in amateur radio. It is anticipated that this will be an annual event, to eventually include all secondary schools.
In times of national emergency, amateur radio is the main and, in most cases the only, means to communicate from the affected areas.
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