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  For years, interest in amateur (ham) radio had been fading in Concord, as it has been in many other communities. Radios have been gathering dust in a variety of Concord attics. Though there are nearly 90 licensed amateur radio operators here, a great number were inactive, renewing their licenses every decade out of habit or sentiment. Every year, the average age of hams grew longer in the tooth. The local radio club left Concord for Lexington due to local disinterest, and then became mostly inactive. Still active Concord operators for the most part had never met or even spoken together on the air -- they focused much of their radio time on immediate family members or at distant horizons as they talked across the world. But much has changed in recent months. Now there is an often-bustling exchange during the day and evening as Concord's hams -- both experienced and still-wet-behind-the-ears -- chat on the air, train for emergencies, have fun, and get to know one another. In early February, a training class was held in Concord and 13 new hams were licensed. Thursday nights, there is an on-air "net." Hams, ranging in age from teens to 80 and older, also meet monthly in person for training on topics of interest to both experienced and new operators. Some are even forming a communications network to enhance the capabilities of local emergency personnel and the Concord Neighborhood Network (CNN).
Famous for Public Service
On December 5th of last year, local hams ran a parallel exercise with the Concord Neighborhood Network, which in conjunction with the Concord Police conducted a town-wide test of their emergency communication system. Amateur operators located in their homes or roaming the town in their cars passed messages to ham operators at the police and high school radio stations. This would be an important channel of exchange to and from the police should normal means of communication not be available during an emergency.
New Hams, New Teachers The staff of first-time instructors, also all from Concord, were Phil Gaudet, Fred Harrington, Steve Bates, Al Hastie, Rein Beeuwkes and Nancy Beeuwkes.
Cellphones Too Busy There is an emerging plan to create a local network of hams trained specifically to be up and running during emergencies. They would be able to pass information from all parts of town to an amateur operator at the police station, as well as receive and circulate information back out again to neighborhoods. There would also be a radio link between the police station and another operator at the CCHS radio station, WIQH (88.3 FM), which would broadcast local and up-to-date emergency information. This network is being formed and coordinated by long-time West Concord ham, Alex Hastie.
Friends and Fun, Too Ham radio has a long tradition of mentorship, with the more experienced hams helping newer ones. A team of experienced Concord ham operators ran a three-night licensing class, later helping graduates with equipment, setting up antennas, running cables, and helping them over the "mike fright" common in new amateurs. "Their spirit of selfless generosity and mentorship is just amazing. The lengths they have gone to help us are extraordinary" says Bier. "We new folks never feel we're left alone bumping around in the dark. The experienced hams truly understand and practice the essence of neighbors helping neighbors." Local hams from Concord and beyond are welcome to check in any time on 146.55, the most common simplex frequency on which this group gathers during the day and evening, and particularly Thursdays at 7:30 PM. In-person meetings are held at CCHS the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM and new people are also welcome regardless if they are already hams or not. The next one will be March 26. Also, names are being taken for the next Technician (beginner) class to be held at a date to be announced. Contact Phil Gaudet k1irk@arrl.net to receive more information about classes.
 
 
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"Along with the Concord Police and CNN, we have tried for years to renew momentum for ham radio in Concord," says Concord's Steve Telsey, the newly appointed Middlesex County District Emergency Coordinator for ARES, a national group organizing and training hams to respond to emergencies. "In the past few months, we've seen things really take shape. The graduates from February's class was probably the largest influx of new hams from any eastern Massachusetts community." 
Interest in ham radio has dwindled most particularly over the past few years with the advent of cell phones and the internet. There is a wide-spread notion that these are better choices for emergency communications. Not so, says CNN's Jimi Two Feathers, Chair of their Emergency Committee and a newly-minted amateur operator. "Cell phones and email don't work all that well on a good day -- you can't count on them. During an emergency, they become so jammed they're worse than useless. The level of commitment to public service among amateur radio operators is high and the medium is dependable. It's a system we can count on."
new ham. "It's been a delight to see residents get to know each other, many meeting for the first time through their interest in radios, or just enjoying staying in touch on a regular basis. I see some great friendships blossoming." 