On the amateurradio subreddit, someone asked:
I have always wondered what subscriptions/memberships are worth having? Is ARRL worth the $50/year? What about QRZ $30/year for XML data? Is there something that is a must have ?
Several replied in the affirmative about the ARRL:
I joined the ARRL so they can lobby for amateur radio when needed.
I think ARRL is worth it.
If you care about things like DXCC awards, and are in the US, you will need to be an ARRL member. Now that QEX, The National Contest Journal, On the Air and QST digital are all member benefits, I would say you get enough for your $50 to make it worthwhile
Of course, there were differing opinions:
They [expletive deleted] up the Parity Act so badly that it’s almost hilarious. ARRL will never see a dime from me.
There were a lot of comments about subscribing to QRZ.Com:
I spend a bunch of time on QRZ every day, and I log every contact in their logbook, and then send it to LoTW, so the XML is well worth it. Also, will all the time on the forums and the articles I spend I enjoy not having the ads, and supporting what I believe is a fantastic website.
QRZ is worth it so you can integrate with logging software or if you want upload your ADIF file from WSJT-X, if you do FT8, that sort of thing.
I’ve never felt the need for a QRZ subscription. Only when I was the noobest of noobs and couldn’t tell the difference between ON4 and OH2 did I ever run up the 100 lookup a day limit. Now with…alternate… lookup services even hitting the limit might not matter for most hams.
There were some comments about supporting local groups:
You should definitely seek out your local club(s) and join whatever ones seem like a good fit to you. You can learn a lot from a good club, and having a couple of hands to help with antennas/ loan equipment is a fantastic benefit.
I donated to the repeater I use the most.
As for me, I am a member of the ARRL, and at various times, have been a member of:
- AMSAT
- Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS)
- TAPR
- QRP Amateur Radio Club Intl. (QRP-ARCI)
- Quarter Century Wireless Assn. (QCWA)
- Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF)
- Michigan QRP Club
- ARROW – the amateur radio club here in Ann Arbor
My membership is current in AMSAT, ARLHS, QRP-ARCI, MI QRP Club, and ARROW.
I would encourage you to become an ARRL member and a member of other groups that serve your particular interest in amateur radio. I like operating from lighthouses, so I’m a member of ARLHS. If you’re a big DXer, join NCDXF. If you’re a QRPer, then QRP-ARCI is the group for you.
I never found the need to subscribe to QRZ.Com. It occurs to me from time to time, but I’d bet that they make enough from the advertisements to keep it going.
So, now the question is what clubs do you belong to and what services do you subscribe to?
Paul Butzi (W7PFB) says
How depressing that all the answers are couched in terms of “is what I get worth what I must pay?”
That’s just such an ugly way to go through life. It’s looking at things through the wrong end of the telescope. No wonder everything seems small, venal, and petty.
A better way to look at things is this: what opportunities does offer for me to *contribute*? Will I be better able to serve other people? Will I be better able to share what I’ve learned with others? Does this organization foster the sort of community that makes ham radio a good thing?
One of the best things about amateur radio is the culture, where the implicit assumption is that if you know something and someone else wants to learn it, you have some obligation to help them learn it. I have never, ever asked another ham a question and gotten a brushoff instead of a helpful answer. I have never had another ham (or ham aspirant) ask me for help and declined to provide assistance.
My value proposition is this: is this organization working to foster that sort of ham culture? When I give money, does it make it easier for aspiring hams become hams? Does it foster the sharing of knowledge and experience? Does it make ham radio more fun for other people?
Dan KB6NU says
Good point, Paul.
Bob Cady says
Dan,
I believe the LICW is the best bargain out there today! I’m upgraded to a lifetime membership one week after I joined. What it has done for Amateur Radio is huge and for women and kids in the hobby and cw is wonderful. We do a lot more than just cw now although the focus is still there.
Bob
W7JNM