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42 | LIFE IN SOLERA | SEPTEMBER 2023 | Long Distance Communications Amateur Radio (ham radio) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together. People use ham radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It's fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need. Although Amateur radio operators get involved for many reasons, most like the members of the Solera Radio Club, got into amateur radios to provide a service in Solera. In the event normal communications become unavailable, Solera Radio Club members would step up and provide communications alternatives for those residing in Solera. Part of their capabilities would be to reach out to disaster relief resources. This could only happen through the use radios and support equipment like external antennas. Solera Radio Club members practice their skills by DXing. "Doing what?" DXing is the art and science of listening to distant stations (taken from DX, the telegraphic shorthand for D=distance X=xmitter or transmitter). The practice of DXing arose during the early days of radio broadcasting. Listeners would mail "reception reports" to radio broadcasting stations in hopes of getting a written acknowledgment or a QSL card that served to officially verify they had heard a distant station. This practice continues to this day. Club members use these same DXing skills to practice contacting Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) in Indio, Riverside, Rialto, Santa Ana, and Los Angeles. Some have even contacted California Office of Emergency Services in Sacramento. TRIVIA ANSWER FOR AUGUST: Question: What radio station was the first to broadcast a live baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 5, 1921? Answer: On Aug. 5, 1921, Harold Arlin of "KDKA" in Pittsburgh voiced the first MLB game on radio. Before Harold Arlin voiced the first Major League Baseball broadcast on Aug. 5, 1921, the only way to experience a game was to go to the ballpark. The only way to follow scores was to look up at a wooden scoreboard to see them changed manually. TRIVIA QUESTION THIS MONTH (answered next month): Operating your radio "barefoot" means to operate it how? is article was brought to you by Ray C. Gayton-Jacob (N6KZM) ray.n6kzm@gmail.com. e Solera Radio Club is part of the West Riverside County - Amateur Radio Emergency Radio Service (ARES) Division/Banning Pass District. RADIO CLUB