96-year-old ham radio operator makes an out-of-this world connection
TORONTO — For decades, Jean Moffett, VE3WAD has been reaching out over the airwaves. An amateur—or ham—radio operator, Moffett has connected with people around the globe. “You can always talk to other people, in other parts of the world,” Moffett said, speaking to CTV News Toronto.
“You can send your signals to satellites. I’ve talked to people from the Arctic to the Antarctic.” And on Wednesday at the Ontario Science Centre, the 96-year-old got to go even further.
A ham radio connection, relayed through northern Italy, allowed the senior and a group of students to speak with Commander Luca Parmitano aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Ham radio: A hobby still alive and thriving
Alan Lewis (K1ALL) pledged to do two things when he retired: learn to weld and get an amateur radio license. He did both, and then took his amateur radio license one step further. Almost immediately after getting his license, Lewis said he started getting involved in the public service aspects of amateur radio, including emergency communication.
Dr. Edmun B. Richmond, WA4YO (SK)
Dr. Edmun B. Richmond, 86, passed away on January 17, 2020 in Allendale after an extended illness….He got his first ham license when he was in middle school and his excitement for DXing continued until he was unable to do so. He contacted ham operators from all corners of the world and made many friendships along the way. Once when asked to name a famous person he contacted as a ham, he said King Hussein of Jordan. During his ham operation he received a letter of appreciation from the United States Department of Commerce Weather Bureau in 1960 for keeping communities updated with conditions during Hurricane Donna.
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