Outreach

Ham Radio as an Alternative for Cell Phone Failure

Ham Radio was mentioned as a way to communicate when networks go down in a February 22, 2024, news article about that day’s nation-wide cell-phone service outage.

Ham Radio

Amateur radio, known as ham radio, is a hobby radio service in which people use radio communications to talk across town or around the world without cell phones or internet, according to the National Association for Amateur Radio.

Ham radio operators are FCC licensed to operate on “amateur band” radio frequencies. Ham radio operators “have a basic knowledge of radio technology and operating principles,” the NAAR says.

“It’s fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need,” the website states. 1

The article—by the Fox TV Digital Team from Fox 10 Phoenix—discusses the outage and these other radio services/technologies:

  • Satellite Internet
  • Two-way radios (walkie-talkies)
  • Two-way Bluetooth texting
  • CB Radio

  1. “AT&T outage: How to communicate when networks go down”, Fox 10 Phoenix, accessed February 25 2024, https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/att-outage-how-to-communicate-when-networks-go-down. ↩︎