GRASSIE — John Sluymer has been social networking since 1972.

There was no Twitter or Facebook when the Grassie resident first picked up a radio unit a little more than four decades ago. Instead of hashtags and status updates, Sluymer would either talk into his mic or tap out his message in Morse code. Just like today's social networks offer users a chance to interact with people on all sides of the world, Sluymer's hobby has allowed him to reach — both physically and through radio waves — even the most remote areas of the planet.

It all started in 1968 when Sluymer discovered the world of radio next door. In those days, radio transmissions would often interfere with phone use and Sluymer picked up some chatter from his neighbour.

"In ham radio, on voice, you use phonetics. His call sign was VE2 BQS — Boston Quebec Santiago," recalled Sluymer. "I remember thinking this guy was in his basement talking to all three at one time. I thought that is something. It really fascinated me that this guy could sit in his basement and talk to people all over the world."

The neighbour was generous enough to show Sluymer his equipment, and from there, he was hooked. He began tinkering around, building receivers and other equipment. In 1972, when he was 16, Sluymer finally got a license to transmit. He put up an antenna and got a transmitter and was finally ready to transmit his first message. His first transmission was in Morse, which Sluymer says is still very much in use in radio today. In fact, he said 95 per cent of his daily transmissions are tapped rather than spoken.

There are many facets to amateur, or ham, radio. Some use it to stay in touch with friends around the world, others use it to connect with like-minded individuals. And then, there are those, like Sluymer, that use it to compete.

"Some like to almost go fishing, cast a lure into the water and take whatever comes. The aspect that really has me captivated is contesting," said Sluymer, who is president of the Contest Club Ontario and has travelled the world competing in amateur radio.

Typical contests run at a predetermined date for a set amount of time in which contestants will try to reach as many other amateur radio stations as possible. Some contests might even add extra points for the number of countries reached. In a 48-hour period, Sluymer has reached as many as 5,550 contacts.

"At any given time, there are 15,000 people poised, waiting to hear a signal," said Sluymer, who spends about two hours a night transmitting signals.

Sluymer has been competing almost as long as he has been transmitting. He entered his first competition in 1973 and has competed in countries including Brazil (where he was crowned world champion in 2006), Finland, Slovenia, Russia and the United States. Sluymer will be competing on American soil next month as he heads to Boston for this year's International Radiosport Competition. Known as the "Olympiad of amateur radio", the contest will pit 59 two-operator, all-star amateur radio teams, representing 38 countries, in a battle of operating skill and strategy under emergency field conditions, on a world stage. Competitors were selected in a series of 55 qualifying events over a three-year period.