ARES acknowledged in Electronic Design magazine

Electronic Design magazine, one of the leading trade magazines for electronics professionals, published an editorial about how the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), the ARRL and ham radio came through after the distruction of hurricane Katrina.

- 73, Bob K0NR

Amateur radio was the primary means of contact with the outside world for many shelters. It's estimated that some 1000 amateur radio volunteers helped serve the hurricane-ravaged communities and shelters, even providing communications for the Red Cross.

Still, the real lesson of the ham radio successes isn't that old sometimes trumps new. Upgraded, reliable hardware is vital for adequate emergency response. Amateur radio has continued to upgrade too. Hams use satellites, digital systems, cross-band repeaters, and more. As the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) puts it, the Morse code key may still be on the desk, but generally it's next to a modern system operable under extreme emergency conditions.