This article appeared in the October issue of The Lion's Roar, Schaeffer Academy's student newspaper.

What's the antenna behind the secondary building?

Amateur radio club at Schaeffer Academy

By Bobby Ratliff, KCØNXB

You might have noticed the microphone and old-fashioned radio in Room 11 of the secondary building. If you haven't noticed that, you must have noticed the antenna outside. What is this equipment for?

Dr. Scott Wright, a Schaeffer parent, set up the equipment last weekend. The equipment is for the Schaeffer Academy amateur radio club, which has four members. Sarah Wright (4th-grader), Katie Wright (6th-grader), Ashley Wright (9th-grader), and Bobby Ratliff (11th-grader) all have amateur radio licences, which allow them to legally operate the radio.

Amateur radio is a worldwide hobby, "using radios to allow people to communicate with each other." It is quite unlike broadcast AM or FM radio; instead, it is a two-way communication. Amateur radio operators, or "hams," talk to other hams in other countries [or states]. The radio sends a signal to the antenna, which transmits the radio signal around the world. It is quite amazing to talk to another person with only the sky in between—no telephone wires and no internet.

The purpose of the school club at Schaeffer is to have fun and learn more about science. Dr. Wright started the club in part to help Mr. Arant's 8th-grade physical science curriculum.

You don't have to have a license to join the club, although you won't be able to operate the radio on your own until you do. To get a license, you have to study a little bit about radios and take a short test. If you pass it, you get your license. It's not that hard. Sarah Wright, a 4th-grader here, got her license last year—so any of the secondary students can surely get licensed.