Last year, Dustin, N8RMA, started what he calls the State of the Hobby survey. He writes:
This survey started out in 2017 as simple curiosity. While browsing the Amateur Radio subreddit I began to notice several survey posts for highly specific topics. I completed those surveys yet often found myself wondered what the result was. It was then decided to host my own survey, to collect the opinions from the community on topics that I cared about over as many years as I could. My goal was to make those results widely available for the entire community – and perhaps encourage operators to make changes in issues areas or continue doing what seems to be working! If these results bring even small changes, it was worth it.
Well, now the 2018 survey has been completed. I haven’t done an exhaustive analysis of the results, but here are some things that popped out at me as I was perusing the survey:
- There were 2,919 responses, up 224% from a year ago.
- 58% of the responders are 55 years old or older.
- 52% are U.S. Extra Class licensees, 22% are U.S. General Class licensees.
- 62% belong to an amateur radio club.
- The favorite amateur radio activity is DXing (60.4%). This is followed by antenna construction/design (56.4%), digital modes (56.4%), HF ragchewing (48.6%), local ragchewing (40.1%), homebrewing/kit building (39.8%), contesting (36.1%), and emergency communications (36%).
- 40m was the band most frequently operated, closely followed by 20m and 2m.
- When asked to rate the health of the hobby, responders gave it an average of 3.32 out of 5. Those who are club members generally gave this question a higher score.
- Responders also express a slightly higher than average satisfaction (3.14/5) with their “radio governance bodies.” I’m guessing that in the U.S., they’re talking about the ARRL. A similar result was obtained when asked if they were satisfied with their “radio lobbying organization.”
- 44% of responders have engaged in some kind of public service in the past year.
- Yaesu is our favorite radio brand, but not by much over Icom.
Take a look for yourself. I’d be interested in hearing what you have to say about the results.
Walter Underwood says
If I was asked about my radio governance body, I would answer for the FCC. With respect to governance, the ARRL is an advocacy organization.
Dan KB6NU says
Yeah. I didn’t particular like the wording of that question, either.
Bob K0NR says
It is great to see someone gathering data like this. Good work by Dustin/N8RMA.
I will point out that the data will be heavily influenced by the sampling technique. His method is going tend to reach active hams more than inactive hams. So read the results as representative of hams who frequent qrz.com and ham radio content at reddit, facebook, etc.
Todd KD0TLS says
I’m taking these results with a grain of salt, as only 19% of licensees in the U.S. are Extra Class, and the majority (52%) of survey respondents are Extra. That doesn’t make the survey worthless, but you need to be careful in drawing conclusions about the wider amateur community.
I’m surprised that so many (46%) of these higher-Class operators see “local ragchewing” as a favourite activity.
Pete Babacheck says
Perhaps they considered time on local repeaters as ragchewing. That could perhaps account for a higher percentage.