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RADIO DAYS
SEA-PAC, PACIFIC NORTHWEST’S LARGEST HAM
RADIO CONVENTION, DIALS INTO SEASIDE JUNE 1–3
By DAN HAAG
FOR COAST WEEKEND
EA-PAC, the Pacific North-
west’s largest convention of
independent ham radio opera-
tors, arrives at the Seaside Convention
Center for the weekend of Friday, June
1, through Sunday, June 3.
Now entering its 36th year, the
event features exhibits, seminars, a flea
market and family entertainment. It’s
also an annual opportunity for ham ra-
dio operators from around the region to
gather and talk shop. And it’s a chance
for novices to learn from the pros and
get a glimpse into the fascinating, com-
municative world of ham radio.
Far from an introverted bunch,
independent operators enjoy meeting
new people and experimenting with the
latest trends in their field.
“Really, we’re just a bunch of folks
who like playing with radios,” SEA-
PAC Chairman Delvin Bunton said.
Like many people who become
interested in ham radio, Bunton caught
the bug in his youth. A desire to travel
the world without leaving home held
great appeal, especially in the years
before the cell phone age.
“I had always dreamed about being
able to talk to somebody in other parts
of the world,” he said.
After becoming a licensed operator
as an adult, Bunton’s main drive for
being an operator stemmed from his
interest in emergency communication.
“In many emergencies, commu-
nication systems for fire and police
departments can get knocked out,” he
said, pointing specifically to the Great
Coastal Gale of 2007, a winter wind
storm that put much of the North Coast
in the dark. “Amateur radio operators
use their own equipment to support the
county.”
S
DANNY MILLER PHOTO
Richard Lang prepares to use his soldering iron while working on a transceiver kit during the DIY Workshop at the SEA-PAC Ham
Radio Convention in 2016.
Bunton added that Oregon has been
particularly aggressive in coordinating
independent operators with govern-
ment and emergency services.
“Along the coastal counties of Ore-
gon, the number of Ham operators per
thousand is much higher than inland,”
he said.
Before someone can become an op-
erator, they must first become licensed.
The Federal Communication Com-
mission regulates the amateur band in
order to prevent operators from inter-
fering with their neighbors, something
that could quickly escalate beyond
mere nuisance.
“You may screw up other people’s
radio or Wi-Fi services,” Bunton said.
“For example, if you lived near the
Coast Guard and messed with their
frequencies, they’d probably get pretty
put out, especially when lives are on
the line.”
Ham-ing it up
There are three levels of ham radio
operator licenses: technician, gener-