Grand Manan's Swallowtail Lighthouse was a focal point for some conversations spanning the globe on August 15 and 16, as three amateur radio operators set up shop to participate in the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (ILLW).
     The 48‑hour event was started in 1995 by two members of an amateur radio group in Ayr, Scotland. The purpose is to raise awareness of the need to preserve lighthouses and lightships, as well as promote amateur radio. It has grown every year since, and this year about 500 lightstations around the world participated, ranging from the United Kingdom and Europe to Lebanon, Kuwait, Malaysia and New Zealand. Some 85 countries have been represented over the years, with about 50 involved each year. It is coordinated online, with a list of registrants who will be on the air and guidelines regarding the accepted types of lightstations. It's not a contest but rather a relaxed weekend with the fun of seeking contacts around the world.
     Rick MacMillan is from St. Stephen, while Sterling Carpenter and Art Gunn are from the Fredericton area. All three are veteran "hams" who enjoy the challenge of connecting with faraway places and the exchange of conversation and culture that results. They have been coming to Swallowtail for nine years. With a variety of traditional and newer digital equipment, they set up in the keeper's house and light tower. "We call out," MacMillan explains, and see if anyone wants to talk.
     How far the signal goes depends on the ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar and cosmic radiation ranging from 75 to 1,000 kilometres above the Earth, which reflects radio waves. Height and degree of ionization vary with time of day, solar effects and storms, and radio signals reflect a few times between this layer and repeater stations on the ground, so part of the challenge is to choose a frequency depending on conditions and the power of the equipment.
     "It's important to have a goal [for your contacts], to plan for your conditions," Gunn says. A sense of achievement comes from understanding how best to use the equipment in a particular location and weather.
     Their first contact for the weekend was someone in the French Alps. They also spoke to several American operators. Logs are kept, and a bit like birders with life‑lists, they can look back over their contacts. Carpenter spoke to people in Spain and Italy at last year's ILLW. MacMillan has spoken to Russians, New Zealanders, South Africans and astronauts on the International Space Station.
     "Some of the thrill is that it's worldwide," Gunn says. While some contacts are brief, others involve the same sorts of conversation people have in person. "Culture comes out in most conversations," he says, and friendships are built with regular contacts. During ILLW, they may chat about their lightstations. Carpenter has spoken with operators at an original 300‑year‑old lighthouse. Gunn adds that when a foghorn interrupts conversations at regular intervals, inland contacts are intrigued and ask "are you really there, at a lighthouse?" They also have a chance to talk to people visiting the lighthouse who may be curious about the big antennas.
     MacMillan has kayaked to Great Duck Island off Grand Manan with solar panels to power his equipment, and while each operator has different gear, a common factor is this autonomous operation. They can set up in any weather, with no need of power, Internet or cell phones. This allows ham operators to help during natural disasters when people lose the technology of communication that is taken for granted; for example, many American Radio League members volunteered their time and experience following Hurricane Katrina. Many hams are members of search and rescue teams. Another network conveys messages for those at sea needing either help or contact with home. Carpenter notes hams will provide backup communication when Point Lepreau Generating Station runs some exercises in the fall. Many operators learn Morse code, one of Gunn's favorite modes of communication, because these signals get through with basic equipment in poor conditions when other signals cannot.
     With all of the work that has been done at Swallowtail, it is a perfect location for such an event, and the three men enjoy highlighting the worth of such preservation efforts. All enjoyed seeing the interpretive placards that have been installed this year. Swallowtail has been assigned its own call‑sign, VE9SLH.
     Amateur radio is open to all ages. Basic certification involves a course and written exam. The men advise anyone interested in learning more to seek out a local club or visit Radio Amateurs of Canada at <www.rac.ca>. For more information on ILLW, visit <www.illw.net>.