P.E.I. ham radio operators make contact from Island lighthouses

Ham radio enthusiasts spent the weekend travelling from lighthouse to lighthouse on P.E.I. to send out messages across the world.

When a lighthouse was in their sight, they would broadcast the lighthouse location withwhat is called lighthouse activations.

When ham radio operators around the world heard the broadcast they would respond.

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Summerside Amateur Radio Club president Doug Silliker, theorganizers of the event, said historically, lighthouses were important locations for radio communication.

Responses from Spain, Connecticut

A few responses were received at each lighthouse, with some from as far away as Europe.

"And I enjoyed... making contacts. Like I said, Spain, I was quite impressed that with a little mobile setup that we have here, it's not like a full-scale home setup, that I was able to make contact right across the water into Europe. Like to me that was my highlight of the weekend."

Silliker said the group generally gets a short response from the strangers receiving their broadcast, but sometimes they will end up sending messages back and forth.

"I talked to a guy in Connecticut this morning who actually had been to P.E.I. there, so we had about a five minute conversation about when he was over here visiting. The first time he came to P.E.I. he had to take the ferry over, and then the second time that he came over, he came over via the bridge. So he was telling me his experience on his first and second trip over to the island."

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