The president of Marshall University’s ham radio club said he believes two way radio communication is a great way to bring people together.

Jacob Wriston, the president of the Thundering Herd Amateur Radio Club, said his experience with ham radio began in high school. Wriston said the club’s main goal is to promote the hobby of amateur radio.

The club’s faculty advisor, professor Tom Cuchta, said his personal experience with amateur radio began during the COVID-19 lockdown. He said he had already had an interest in high quality radios when he learned about amateur radio.

“When AT&T coverage went out, people with AT&T coverage were lost,” Wriston said. “They had no way to communicate with people. When you have to rely on infrastructure to get communication, whether it’s Internet, whether it’s cell service, whatever- we’re still able to communicate because when we set an antenna up, when we talk to somebody, we’re not rely-ing on infrastructure–I’m talking straight from me to you with an antennae and with the radio.”

“It’s really cool that I can throw a piece of wire in a tree, and I can make a contact in Russia, which I did last night,” Cuchta said. “It’s this idea that you can make really remote talk with very little equipment which is kind of fascinating.”

Cuchta said part of the purpose of ham radio communication is its ability to backup broken infrastructure and build international goodwill.