KUSA- Ham radio can be a hobby for some and a mission for others.
"We coordinate with agencies like the Red Cross or the local sheriff, the weather service to give reports during emergency situations. We’re the extra eyes and ears on the ground," ham radio operator Zeke Ragdale said.
It’s something Ragdale has been doing for the last three years, and it’s a hobby his 5-year-old son, Colton, has been watching. That was until Colton was old enough to read.
"I think Colton saw his parents using radios and talking to one another and wanted to become involved. So he took the FCC test and passed," Ragdale said.
At just 5 years old, Colton passed the test the FCC requires for anyone to operate the radios. That makes Colton among the youngest operators around.
"He was talking to people in Japan. He’s too young to do everything we do, but we’ll keep practicing with him," Ragdale said.
Colton got 93 percent of the test questions correct, which is impressive for most operators, but that score takes things to a new level when you’re just a kindergartener.
"My friends can’t believe I do radio. It took a lot of hard work," Colton said.
It’s something Colton says he looks forward to doing every weekend. He does it as a hobby, but the biggest reason he said is "I really like to help people. I like it a lot."
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