Learn Morse code to help disaster victims, radio hams told

JOHOR BARU: Amateur radio enthusiasts should learn Morse code so that they can respond to emergencies better.

South Johor Amateur Bandwidth Radio Association patron Tunku Abdul Jalil Tunku Osman said such a skill was useful, especially during natural disasters.

“During the 2004 tsunami, the emergency response teams that were deployed to Aceh used Morse code to find victims as phone lines were damaged.

“In the major flood that hit Kota Tinggi and several other districts in the state, our members used two-way radios to help,” he said after attending the association’s annual general meeting here yesterday.

There are two categories for the amateur radio operator’s certificate: Class A and Class B from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

A ham radio operator needs a Class B licence to keep and operate a wireless radio.

“The Class A licence requires that the holder learns Morse code,” he said, adding that a higher frequency bandwidth which covers more areas is used.

4 March 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/3/4/nation/10853414&sec=nation