Talking to the world

Super-charged network operates in Smith River, aiding ham operators

Jeff Stouffer chats with other ham radio operators around the country: “We have one thing we love and that’s radio.” (The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)

Stouffer and his wife Susan retired to Smith River from San Diego two years ago “to get out of the big city,” and their retirement has been anything but sitting on the porch.

Their love for ham radio brought them together and when they learned that Del Norte is diaster-prone — tsunamis, windstorms, and even the occasional flood — they decided to put their ham radio experience to good use.

The mobile trailer is jammed with equipment for both the Western Intertie Network and more traditional ham radio operations: “I’m bringing to the table the ability to talk to the entire world.” (The Daily Triplicate/ Bryant Anderson)

The WIN system uses the ham radio airwaves, but expands the distance the frequencies can travel, the clarity of the voices heard and the ability to receive and broadcast anytime.

(The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)

“I’m bringing to the table the ability to talk to the entire world,” said Stouffer inside a mobile trailer covered wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor with radio equipment.

He demonstrated by speaking his call sign, “Shorty K6JSI,” on the radio and within seconds people called out from North Carolina, Arizona and Sacramento.

(The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)

Chuck Hartwick is also well aware of the benefits of ham radio in disasters.

The preparedness and health and safety director for the Del Norte Chapter of the American Red Cross got his ham radio license in 1999.

“The more operators we have, the better off we will be,” said Hartwick. “During a disaster, we’re not going to have cell phones, we’re not going to have power and the Internet is going to be spotty, unless they have a satellite.”

(The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)

He noted most satellites would still need a constant power source, and said the Red Cross repeater tower can run for 72 hours on battery power.

When the Red Cross responded to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, “the only thing talking for the first three days was amateur radio,” said Hartwick.

Seeking more female voices

Ham radio is a publically accessible worldwide radio communication system that is regulated by the FCC.

The Stouffers are licensed to administer, grade and submit the FCC tests for people to become licensed operators.

Created and regulated by Stouffer, the WIN system began with its first repeater radio tower in 1990 and is a network of 73 radio towers in 18 states, Australia, Japan and Canada that are either connected by radio waves or the Internet.

Not just any old ham radio operator, Stouffer created the biggest network of amateur radio operators in the world. (The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)

The Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) is the system Stouffer and the members of the WIN system utilize to communicate when a tower has a mountain or other geographic obstruction blocking communications.

(The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)

Now 69, he got his license at 12 and has never stopped being a ham radio broadcaster, even holding down a job as broadcast radio announcer, including a daily radio show he had for three years in Southern California.

Susan Stouffer said she met Jeff six years ago at a WIN system convention, and in 2007 they were married.

She became a licensed ham radio operator in 1995.

Getting women involved in ham radio is another reason Susan said she acquired the loftiest ham radio license available, which not only allows  her to broadcast emergency transmissions, but also to administer the licensing tests.

“So many women, when they get into radio, they do so because of their significant other,” said Susan Stouffer. “I would like to see more female voices.”

“For me it’s the emergency services — it’s public service,” said Jeff Stouffer.

‘Self-policing’ operation

Fred Wagner, another local ham radio operator and member of the Del Norte Amateur Radio Club, said emergency preparedness is the reason why he got his amateur radio license.

“If power is going to go down we can communicate across the nation,” said Wagner during a June 26 interview at the DNARC’s ham radio field day at Beachfront Park. “These radios can be powered with generators.”

Kevin  Marsh of Hiouchi got his license just seven months ago and talked about his experience at the field day as well.

Marsh said he wanted to get his license for the fun of it, but also to be able to help Del Norte County in case of an emergency. 

“It’s all-volunteer, but you still have to pay for your license,” said Marsh.

He said there are different levels of licensing and although the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) regulates the licensees, ham radio “is self-policing.”

Stouffer elaborated on that, noting that when an operator hears obscenities, harassment or anything that makes listeners and broadcasters uncomfortable, the operator will ask the person to stop.

If the problem persists, the offender will be reported by other ham radio operators by their call sign, and the FCC will suspend or terminate the person’s account, said Stouffer.

“We have one thing we love and that’s radio,” said Stouffer.

Ham Classes

People interested in becoming ham radio operators can be tested and licensed during the Ham Cram on July 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fire Station at 255 W. Washington Blvd.

For more information, contact  the Del Norte Amateur Radio Club at 707-464-6254

The class is free for Del Norte County residents, and $30 for out-of-county residents.

Jeff and Susan Stouffer and  Chuck Hartwick  will offer a free 12-hour ham radio class and licensing Aug. 12-13.

The August class will be geared toward high school students, but adults are welcome to attend.

For more information contact the American Red Cross at 707-464-2277. Pre-registration is required for all classes.