"The cellphone is for calling friends," Newland said. "Ham radio is for making friends."
He's been able to make contacts as far as Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Sometimes they have quick exchanges during a contest or even make small talk.
Newland is one of around 30 participants set up at the Aiken County Government Center for the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise this weekend.
The objective is to work as many stations as possible during the field day. The event also showcases the importance and use of amateur radio in emergency situations or disasters.
Tens of thousands amateur radio operators or "hams" set up "temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service" to local communities and the nation, according to the National Association for Amateur Radio website.
Participants began at 2 p.m. Saturday and the exercise will conclude at 2 p.m. Sunday. Members of the North Augusta Belvedere Radio Club, which covers Aiken County, are participating in the exercise and taking shifts during the weekend. The group is using voice, digital stations and Morse code.
Amateur radio is an important tool, as people can often still use it to communicate when all else fails, according to Steven Czaikowski, who was stationed in the Morse code trailer.
He added that many amateur radio operators locally volunteer with or are a part of Aiken County and Edgefield's emergency management divisions.
Czaikowski said he's been a ham for 54 years and he sees more people becoming hams than 50 years ago. He believes one of the reasons is because it has become simpler to get a license, which is acquired by passing an examination.
Newland said the club also tries to advertise scholarship opportunities for students who become hams.
Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, according to the National Association for Amateur Radio's website.
Christina Cleveland is the county government reporter at the Aiken Standard.
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