CHINA / Face to Face
Cab drivers' ham radio community
(CRI)
Updated: 2006-06-08 08:50
Among Beijing's cab drivers, there is a group of amateur radio fans who
have formed a "Ham Radio Community". Through their vehicular radio
equipment, members of the community can talk and help each other to cope
with life in the boring lane.
Zhang Tong has been a Beijing taxi driver for over ten years. But since
2002 when he was first bitten by the ham radio bug, his daily work has no
longer been just about driving and making money. Now he is a member the
"Ham Community" which so far has 52 like-minded Beijing cabbies in its
ranks.
Zhang Tong often receives ham radio transmissions from other drivers in
the ham community who seek help. And if he is available, he doesn't
hesitate to drive over to offer a helping hand.
"Before, taxi drivers were quite isolated from one another and there
wasn't much communication. But since joining the club, I feel like I'm
surrounded by a lot of friends while driving. It's much more fun now. And
I can also exchange information about ham radio with other members, thus
gaining knowledge about its technology."
Other members of the community are as excited as Zhang Tong. A cabbie
named Yao Lixin was saved from a potentially dangerous situation thanks
to help from the Ham Community's fellow members.
"One night, two passengers flagged down my taxi and asked me to drive
them to a remote place. During the ride, they changed the destination
several times. I found them very suspicious and sent a message for help
through the ham radio. Member divers who were driving close to me joined
together to follow my car. Maybe the two passengers had a guilty
conscience. They got out of my car without paying me the taxi fee, but
nothing else happened."
Late night taxi drivers are easily prey for robbers. So the community has
worked out a set of secret codes only known by community members in order
to deal with the dangers.
The slogan of the Ham Community is that when one driver is in need of
help, others from all across the city will offer their assistance.
Established this March, the community has already attracted many ham and
non-ham users who may at first have had no knowledge of amateur radio but
simply like the idea of helping each other.
To these taxi drivers, ham radio offers a bit of pleasure during their
tedious daily driving routine and a place they can turn to when in need.
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