The Amateur Radio Society is a group at BYU-Idaho that teaches students how to use radios in different situations and allows them to take their ham radio test so they are licensed to speak on the radio.

They often practice emergency communication.

The president of the society, BYUI Senior Chandler Johnson, believes the group is both practical and fun.

“We practice emergency communication and have a good time,” said Johnson.

As president, he facilitates the meetings, plans fun activities and encourages other students to learn more about the amateur radio.

The club meets every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the STC Building room 221.

There are currently between 20-30 students who come to their meetings weekly.

They have a discord chat that they talk in often. There are around 200-300 members who talk regularly on the discord. Those interested in learning more can visit their website.

Most society members are engineering majors, but all are welcome to join and learn.

“We want everyone we can get,” Johnson said.

Their biggest goal is to get students licensed. The club buys a radio for members once they pass the licensing test.

Johnson's interest in joining this club came because his father-in-law inspired him to try it out. He wants to be helpful in emergency situations and is very motivated to get his radio license.

“Everyone is so welcoming and ready to help," Johnson said. "When I was new to the club, the members really took me in.”

On their ‘Winter Field Day,’ the society goes out to a remote area and try to reach people all over the world. A member of the group who chose to stay anonymous mentioned this as their favorite society activity.

“My favorite was the Winter Field Day because I was able to contact people from Michigan and Alabama,” said the member.

The Amateur Radio Society is currently working on what they call “Mesh-tastic,” which is an encrypted communication service that uses mesh networking. To do this, they put sensors on balloons.

The society has several upcoming events this semester.

On March 5, the group will drop a radio out in the middle of nowhere and try to find it.

On March 19, the club is building Morse code kits.

April 2 is their closing social.

Feature Image: Amateur radio example. Picture Credit: Getty Images