Amateur Radio Club links operators to world contacts

A board of QSLs, or cards that are written confirmations of contact with another amateur radio operator, color the walls of the small IU Amateur Radio Club’s office in the Indiana Memorial Union.

Cards from Croatia, Louisiana, Canada and other locations are pinned to a board demonstrating different places the club has contacted.

Since 1929, the Amateur Radio Club, also called K9IU, has been connecting with people around the world through radio.

The club’s second name comes from a call sign that operators receive to distinguish one communicator from another on the radio.

“It’s a call sign, not an IU club that deals with dogs,” said AJ Ragusa, a club member.

Faculty advisor Matt Pierce said amateur radio is not broadcast but instead a means of contacting other amateur radio operators, some as close as Bloomington High School South and some as far as Japan.

“We’re supposed to further electronics and act as stewards for the countries we come from,” Ragusa said. “That’s the one thing you have in common — your love of radio.”

However, the club also uses amateur radios as more than a basis for establishing contact.

“The reason we still exist is for emergency reasons,” Ragusa said.

Anthony Parker, president of K9IU, said the devices were integral in aiding Haiti after the earthquake earlier this year.

He said because these radios do not connect to the infrastructure that was affected in the earthquake — as well as in other emergency situations — they are often used to contact help outside of the affected area.

The use of amateur radio for emergency situations, and for communication in general, has created a large community.

Bruce Bennett, a member of the club, said there has been a significant increase in the amount of amateur radio operators around the globe.

The increase in numbers reflects the strong community of amateur radio operators,
he said.

“What’s nice is if there’s a problem we run into, we can call into other amateur radio clubs and say, ‘Hey guys, have you seen this?’” Parker said.

To join K9IU, attend the next meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 in the Fletchall Room in
the IMU.