While waiting in the doctor’s office today, I got to thinking about some of the issues that amateur radio is facing today. Here’s the list I came up with:
- Lack of on-the-air activity
- Low ARRL membership
- Lack of technical expertise
- Aging of amateur radio operators
- Amateur radio technology lagging state of the art
- Amateur radio technology too advanced for most hams
- Not enough time for the hobby
- The high cost of amateur radio equipment
- Restrictive homeowner’s agreements
I’m not trying to be negative here, but rather positive. Instead of complaining about the problems, I’m thinking that if I could identify one or two things that we could really do something about we could improve our situation.
That being the case, what do you think of this list? Is there anything that you would add? Perhaps if I can refine this list, I’ll put up a survey here, and maybe even do a random mailing to hams in the FCC database.
Rob Carlson says
Most of these can be traced to the fact that unlicensed short-range networks: Part 15, FRS, ISM (including WiFi) and licensed cell networks are more than sufficient for the purposes of short-range communication and getting to the nearest Internet access point. Technical folks can do the experimentation they need and interconnect their devices without ham frequencies, and families who need short range outdoor communication have cell phones and FRS radios.
John Fratcher says
The radios today are sealed boxes. Even if you could work on them you can’t get parts. Scan the bands and very few CQ’s, most are nets where guys who know each other meet and yak. Most hams today are getting pretty old and there isn’t a lot of backfill. When I got my ticket back in the 60’s radio was still a mystery, today with cell phones, internet, sype, kids could care less. Most guys had Heath Kits they built themselves and could work on them when they failed. Today my Flex 5k needs to go back to factory if anything goes wrong. So now my hamming is putting up antennas and asking for signal reports. I used to be an electronic engineer working in R and D but am lost once the cover is off on todays rigs. My two cents.
John, WA8ZPN
Jerry says
All very true points John. When Amateur Radio involved being knowledgeable in communications and electronics and had a code requirement that kept most of the riff raff out, the people that had amateur radio licenses, were all deserving of being granted the privilege of being allowed to operate. Today’s ham is a know nothing, appliance operator that got their license because someone published the questions and answers and gave them a multiple guess test with no code requirement. The privilege that was the permission to be a ham has now taken a downgrade to being a rite. The new hams thinks that it is their right to talk on the amateur radio – anywhere they can, just because they passed a multiple guess test that may or may not have been fudged by his / her ham radio buddies. Listening to most conversations on 2 meters FM reminds me more of listening to cell phone conversations 25 years ago – when the signals were still analog. The handheld mentality is that you don’t have to invest anything to become a ham. Take a test, buy a $30 handheld and talk. You don’t have to learn anything – like how does a radio wave actually work. You don’t have to join a club or give anything back to amateur radio, just take what you need and leave the rest – much like a share a penny bowl in a convenience store.
jeremey says
I have been licensed for 7 years and I do agree with you about the tests. I do not know code personally but I would have learned it to be able to get licensed. But the biggest problem in my eye is the way some older hams present themselves on the radio. They seem to think just because they have been licensed for 30-40 years they can look down upon someone who is newly licensed. And the little close nit groups on the radio is garbage to. There is a repeater about 30 miles away from me that you can sign on all day and nobody will come back to you but this one person who is “in the click” signs and they magically come out of the woodwork. As far as the clubs go there are a lot of good clubs out there but again the ones in my area are what I call the good ol boys club where they do not welcome outsiders who have not been into it for years like them. This is why I don’t even get on the air anymore and have been getting rid of things and decided not to renew when my license expires. I can find a lot better things to do.
Logically Cynical says
We strive to dumb everything down. Everyone is a photographer now. I miss the days when we actually had to learn to do something. Now we can just Google the answers.
Brian says
John, I completely agree with your statements- ..And what would a newbie find interesting about “checking-in” to another silly net?! And the “nets” are what frustrate me the most. I’m 45 years old and have come back to the hobby after about 20 years of inactivity. What do I find? Nets.. Booooring, to say the least. There have been many an afternoon of calling CQ and hearing nothing but crickets.. Spin up the band and hear multiple nets where people are practically standing in line to “check-in…” If people would get off the damn nets and call or answer CQ’s, the hobby would be so much more fun with activity all over the open bands.
And think, what in the hell would a young man or woman find fun or exciting about a net:
1. Check in..
2. Sit around and wait to be called like a little school boy..
3. Say some stupid comment about your weather and band conditions (just a regurgitation of the ham before you…)
4. Wait again..
5. Say “Seventy-Three!!!” in the beloved 73 round.
6. Go look for another net.
This is the pure demise of the hobby as I see it since I cannot – for the life of me – find any young person who finds this at all interesting. And believe me, for the past 5 years I have tried!
Even if the radios were too difficult to understand – or build – or fix, young people would still be excited about radio if it involved more than listening to some old farts talk about band conditions on every round of the net.
Brian -W3ATT
Larry says
I agree with all of the comments here. I am a new amateur, and I am so frustrated with the whole process. I still have a lot to learn, but why would I even try at this point? I spent good money on a radio, and there is no one on it to even listen to, much less talk to. I was so excited at first, and now I am disappointed. I saw one comment that no one will answer them, but when the older hams come on, they all answer. I have reached out to get help setting my ham station set up, and one person replied after asking on different sites. It seems that they don’t want new amateurs to join. They are rude. Today, I had the radio on all day. I heard two conversations, and all they talked about was how they hated the world for about two minutes, and then they are gone. One comment was the good old boys is correct they don’t want us new amateurs. It is a shame because it seems like it would be so much fun. :(
Dan KB6NU says
Hi, Larry. You don’t say where you’re from, but it’s a shame that you don’t live in a place that has an active and welcoming amateur radio community. Fortunately, I can truthfully say that it’s not like that everywhere. If I were you, I’d expand my circle. Perhaps try to find an amateur radio club that’s a bit further out than you’ve previously been looking. Also, you may want to get on EchoLink and try some of the nets on EchoLink. I think that if you stick with it, you’ll find some hams that share your interests and ham radio will be more fun for you.
John AB8O says
I see some bright spots: DX is as fun as ever, even in the bottom of the solar cycle. New modes have reactivated HF bands…WSPR FT8, etc. There’s a resurgence in homebrew (DIY) producing very inexpensive, and surprisingly good kits…some from India. Eg, Bitx. Most of the complexity is handled by software: Arduino. New hams are far more computer literate than I am.
If you can build a fairly simple kit, you can be on the air for far less than $200, including the antenna.
Michael E Davis says
I was a field engineer on IBM mainframes. A licensed ham. Except for old HF rigs. I have no idea what’s under the hood. Not to mention not much of interest on the air. So, still licensed but using the internet for communications.
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
I’m not convinced that amateur equipment is more expensive.
A Heathkit SB-100 was $360 at introduction in 1966, $2,642.80 in 2014 dollars.
A 100W Elecraft K3 kit with ATU is $2470. Assembled, that would be $2770.
The SB-100 was a very good rig, but probably not the best available. One could argue that the K3 is the best performing amateur rig.
A Yaesu FT-450D is $815 (with rebates) today. That is $111 in 1966 prices. I’m not sure you could get an ARC-5 and a BC-348 on the air for $100 back then.
I’d love to see more super-low priced rigs. The Small Wonder Labs PSK-20 was a marvel for $100. It would be great to see an updated, assembled one for $150.
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
I think that “old ops”, “tech lagging”, and “tech too advanced” are all the same issue.
I’m not young (58), but I learned digital modes in my university classes in 1981. And the Viterbi decoder was invented in 1967. That is my personal milestone for the dawn of modern digital comms.
Probably the last significant technical contributions from hams was SSB from W6YX (Stanford) in 1947. Though PSK31 is neat.
Koos van den Hout PD4KH says
I agree with most of the things, but I don’t think radio amateurism as a whole lags the state of the art. There are still areas in which radio leads the same state of the art, for example in doing things with weak signals over long distances without militairy budgets. Also: DMR use is picking up at speed now equipment gets cheap.
I also think limited time influences any hobby: most of the people who are working/raising kids now can’t set apart whole weekends for any hobby.
Yohei, N8YQX says
What about fear of technology and technical ignorance?
For example, D-Star. Google it, and you’ll see both fear (it’s going to ruin all FM communication) and ignorance (it’s proprietary to Icom).
Another example, eSSB. Quick Google search will show both fear and ignorance, yet most people are OK with AM, which takes up even more bandwidth.
How can a technical hobby advance when we refuse to accept and learn new technology?
Jim Myers says
I would add Lack of welcoming attitude by many clubs and individual hams
I do not think lack of technical expertise is an issue – I think a lot of today’s hams are far more technically savvy than in the past – that is why SDR is taking off so quickly.
Too many in the current ham community are stuck in the past and ridicule those that are not interested in CW or contesting or boat anchors.
Too many are filling their on air time ridiculing the so-called “appliance operators.” I know quite a few “appliance operators” that are electrical engineers working in the RF field that have forgotten more about radio than these self-proclaimed “real hams” ever knew in the first place. Just because the average ham today would rather COMMUNICATE than spend 29 days working on a radio and then 2 days transmitting does not mean they are not REAL HAMS.
In essence, I think the biggest issue in ham radio today are the anti-social, stuck in the past, if you use repeaters, and don’t know CW, get out of my hobby people.
Jerry says
It sounds to me like you have a bad case of sour grapes Jim. Most clubs are merely social clubs with no technical aspect.
Most new hams I know has no desire to operate digitally, nor would any old ham believe that just because it was digital that it automatically was better.
The main reason why public service radio is going digital is to create more channels by narrow banding their transmissions. Amateur Radio has more then an adequate amount of bandwidth for which everyone is welcome to share. What we need to see is more technology where a old ham is taught the proper way to operate and maybe this technical guru technician you think knows more and has forgotten more then someone that has been around RF for 40 years, can maybe teach these old hams how to use an amplifier, how to tune and amplifier, when to use an amplifier and the difference between a resonant antenna and no tuner and a non resonant antenna and a antenna tuner. If we could just get rid of all the splatter we have on SSB phone from these people, it would improve the experience most people has when first learning how to operate. I heard one of these new hams the other day trying to operate in the CW portion of the band with some type of computer program and SSB and his CW signal was 3 kc’s wide. That is just plain stupid. Most computer programs won’t even decypher CW unless the op has a perfect fist, makes no mistakes, and does not speed up or slow down..
Logically Cynical says
I agree with Jim on the clubs. The one club here I walked in for their monthly meeting. Not one soul acknowledged who I was. They all talked amongst themselves. I actually thought I was invisible. Meeting adjourned and I slowly walked out with the group and not one person introduced themselves or welcomed me as a first timer. Sure I guess I should have been the social butterfly and forced them to talk but seriously? People are more friendly at a city council meeting. I won’t go back. Don’t need a club to enjoy the hobby.
Jefferson says
Yes, I can see you were ignored. Who calls CQ anymore. Its all radio by the groupies. Had my license since 1959 as a 12 year old. Today I wish I could just sell out and be gone. The dumbs are a real issue. They have not even graduated from 8th grade. All CB
N8Y?? says
As a kid I loved shooting skip on CB so as an adult I decided to get my Novice license.
I joined two local clubs, went to a couple of meetings and no one ever talked to me. Ever!
I made attempts, but ignored.
I worked 2M repeaters at night and found that it was in fact an extremely cliquish, CB radio-like experience without the swearing. I attempted contacting hams on 70cm repeaters and no one ever responded. After ten attempts I would say, “Please ignore me like a rotting piece of trash!” Followed by a ”Thank You” from me. No contact.
When I did join in on 2M conversations I found that the locals to be condescending louts who criticized my witty banter. Holy Cow! I am an affable and comical guy. No off-color comments mind you. Some people say that I am a real wit while others say that I’m only about half. This captious behavior prompted me to quit the hobby.
22 years later I upgraded my license (2015) taking both the General and Amateur Extra tests in one session. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy. All of the questions and answers are online!
I did this because I wanted to get back to my love of QRP/Shooting Skip.
Unfortunately, I live in a neighborhood that doesn’t allow antennae. But, I live on a river. Does the restriction extend 30 feet out on my dock? I know that an antenna mounted over water is not ideal. My T-shaped 36’x4’L x 32’x4’W dock has an aluminum frame and eleven steel posts. It extends WNW (300 degrees) into the water. The river is 190′ wide.
I’ve been thinking about getting a portable Elecraft KX3, but will it work with an indoor antenna?
Your Thoughts?
Ray says
I agree with all of the above. There’s also a lack of effort on the part of Amateur radio operators to create interest in the hobby for non amateurs. Most people I talk to about amateur radio have no idea that the service even exists.
Nick, KF5ZQE says
I’d add to the list “lack of relevance” as Mr. Carlson noted.
People’s ability to communicate has been bolstered (or depending on your viewpoint — harmed) by social networks, cell phones, etc. When I’m out in my office, my wife will call or text me instead of walking out here. The “need” for amateur radio seems to be nearly nonexistent if the sole purpose is just to communicate with other people (unless you’re talking about emergency communications).
Amateur radio is not only a communication medium, but also a social network and a technology playground that explains the whats and whys of what we currently take for granted. It seems like it’s rarely sold that way, though. The _why_ of ham radio isn’t clear to those outside. Initially, I perceived that as being irrelevant. However, what it really is just an inability to capture new participants because “rival” technologies (cell phones, Facebook/twitter, etc) require far less commitment and offer much more/faster gratification than amateur radio does.
Karen M says
I’m taking the Technician licensing exam in mid-October…so, as a soon-to-be newbie, here’s my perspective on lack of on-air activity and a couple of others you mentioned.
The great thing about amateur radio is that it can handle the diverse interests of hams, and that should be able to include the 2m/70cm, repeater interest that many newbies have. I believe on-air traffic could increase a ton (and would show newbies that there IS a community waiting for them on the air!) if folks got back to enjoying their local ham community on simplex and the local repeaters. I understand that interest in “simple” 2m radio use is bo-ring to many highly advanced hams, but it’s how many of us start! As a part-time stay-at-home mom, I’d LOVE to be able to catch other local hams during the day — talk with other stay-at-home parents, retired folks in the area (this is where more experienced hams could nicely instruct us newbies on better technical form), younger homeschoolers, etc.
I realize this isn’t a reality right now in most areas, but I sure plan to get to know the folks in my local club and encourage this type of use once I get my license. I feel like I have to create what I envision for the future of ham radio.
AP says
I agree with some of what Karen is getting at. The amateur radio community as a global entity needs to maintain that it is whatever the members make of it. Ham radio should not be entirely predefined, to which an interested outsider must completely conform. If I want to be in the hobby and only use an HT on 2m local repeaters, then I should be allowed to without any pressure from others to expand into other bands. For me, to be a ham doesn’t require an HF rig on which one only speaks to international hams. It doesn’t require a kW of power on a 50 ft antenna outside my home. It doesn’t mandate that I go to all club meetings and hamfests and field days. Ham radio, like an hobby, should allow one to be as involved as much as they want to be. And, as I have experienced in my local area, ham radio is good in this way.
I appreciate the technological prowess of someone who can exploit physics to bounce a signal to another person 3000 miles away. But for many of us younger hams, long distance contact with others will most likely be made through the internet, fast, reliably, and with a much more pleasing graphical interface.
For now, I’d rather use my 2m HT locally for social interaction and public service than build an HF shack, antenna tower, and talk with people I may never meet until I’m old and overweight. For those who do, however, enjoy your own version of the hobby.
Have fun on the air!
Jerry says
Karen,
Even if there was 800,000 licensed amateurs in the USA, for which there isn’t, because a certain amount is probably dead and exists on paper only. another portion of the licenses is only a licensed ham on paper – because they have no equipment. While another portion of the population has equipment and a license, but has not used their equipment in many years, or their equipment is broke, or they have been delegated to a rest home and can’t get on the air. This leaves the groups of hams that only operates HF – occasionally, usually participating in once a week nets or buddy groups. The population of hams that actually calls CQ and actually operates other than repeaters is very small indeed. The only recourse you have is to upgrade your license to General and get on the HF! You can’t change people, regardless of how hard you try. Most repeater people uses the repeater like a telephone, AA1abc calling KB1DEF – KB1DEF is the only person this person wants to talk to. When they say their seventee three’s – they sign off and turn off the radio and that is the end of their conversation… Being female, your only advantage is that most men will be willing to talk to you, just because you are female.
john says
I am retired Navy and now age 85. I am not a ham operator, but I was big on CB back in 1984 as I traveled a lot for the government. In 1994, I hung up my mic because I didn’t care for all the trash talk.
About a year ago, however, I decided to get back into CB for some entertainment. To my surprise, I heard very little activity and not much trash talk, if any. I was shocked.
I bought an expensive CB radio and then a base unit, and then put up a decent antenna. I found way too much static and hardly any stations on the air, except a few truckers on channel 19, and they sounded like school boys talking on the phone–not a single handle or “10-/4 good buddy.”
So, I thought I’d get a ham license. I was always kind of curious about ham radio, as I was air crew in the Navy and on the radio a lot. I checked the study material for license and wow, most had over 400 possible question for a 35 question test. Now, I was A navy instructor and took many technical while working for the government and Navy. Never did I see that much of a spread. So I told my self that at 85 I wasn’t going to go back to electronics school or spend all that time learning theory to maybe talk a few times to someone on the other side of the world or to talk to locals.
Which brings me to 10 meters. I have a 10m radio, but I’ve been told that I need a license to use it. That’s a joke because 90% of the people that have them use them for DX or CB, and 10 meter radios are just glorified and or expanded CB radios that cost more. So, I will stick with my 10 meter radio tuned to 11 meter frequencies and just listen mostly. There is no way in Hell that I will spend the time or money on a license.
Jay says
Cell phone SMS service passes 6 billion messages a day. Twitter a few billion. Blackberry billions also. Maybe 20 billion messages total every day.
Much of this traffic takes place over radios. Yet ham radio guys treat text messaging with little respect. No portable ham radio equipment has a keyboard or any kind of advanced messaging capability.
Part of this may be in the definition of the service. The rules fight against the doing of anything useful. For that you must go to another service.
So a new guy comes in and wonders why after having learned a bunch and spent thousands on radios, why it would be such a horrible thing to exchange ordinary messages with family and friends over a radio system. This is not commerce. This is just life.
Perhaps the current bands would not support such activity. But maybe hams could advance the public good if they were to help others set up such a thing.
To ignore text messaging or to be happy that an experienced CW operator was able to send a message faster in Morse code is ignore reality. One should not be surprised to be ignored in return.
Jerry says
Jay, you are confused.
It’s amateur radio, not amateur text messaging.
Much like a person that comes from CB radio has to be willing to give up on acting like a CB’r, although it is hard for those people to do this, they eventually do – or else the only people that will talk with them is other cb’rs.
Text messaging is a type of communications where you don’t physically have to have any contact with the other person to communicate with them. You basically make a statement and then send your statement. The other person receives your message, they can either just read the message and then delete it, or they can reply if they wish with their own message. Amateur radio is not a one way transmission of information, that would be called broadcasting. Nor is amateur radio private. A private phone call – be it full duplex phone or a text message is not the same as me calling CQ on 14.285 MHz and having anyone that is listening to 14.285 reply to me and everyone can hear what we say. What you are talking about is privatization of the airwaves. Yes there is PACKET – which is exactly the technology that amateurs developed to communicate keyboard to keyboard via a TNC. We now also have APRS which allows one user to send out simple text messages, but only to other licensed amateurs. I highly doubt if all your family members will be willing to get a license just so they can text message on ham radio with you.
Dale says
I’m new at all this, at age 58. Just to support a couple of comments. Today I got my General. Made 100% on the test. I don’t have an HF radio and really won’t have much of an idea of what I’ll be doing if I get one. Something must be wrong with the exam system if I can be a General operator with my lack of experience and knowledge. If I wanted to, I really think I could pass Extra not long from now. And, I have to add, sadly, that the welcome/support/encouragement piece is, at best uneven. I would have no idea who to ask to mentor me. I went to a local Hamfest today. Introduced myself to a a few people–got no real interest back in trying to find out anything about me. I’ve joined 2 local ham clubs…and the only reason I know that is that my checks got cashed. Weeks later, no note back. No welcoming phone call. No email. I check into nets. You’d think that when the old guys hear a new person checking in, they’d take a minute after the net to welcome and say hello. A little simple outreach and good manners would help everyone involved. At this point, I’m reluctant to invest much more into the hobby.
Dan KB6NU says
Dale: I’m not so sure that there’s anything wrong with the exam system. After all, this is just a hobby, so how high a bar should we set? I would also guess that you know more than you think. You may be unsure of some things, but if push came to shove, you could set up a station, build an antenna, and radiate a signal. That sounds an awful lot like what amateur radio operators do (emphasis on the word “amateur”). And, now that you have your license, you can legally do things that will let you learn more about radio, things that would be more difficult without a license.
Second point. I’m very sorry to hear that you have had a bad experience with the local clubs. Unfortunately, amateur radio operators are often not very socially adept. Fortunately, not all hams are like this, and there are many out there that are willing to help. Please feel free to contact me if I can help you in any way.
BRIAN says
Dan i agree with dale. You study to get your license and than when you can get on the air very few people will talk with you or help you. I also have my general license and am lost most of the time with any problems that i have had with little to no help at all except for youtube. IT IS A VERY DISAPOINTING THING FOR ME Also. I would tell new hams to not give up and keep going by your selves and you will figure things out on your own. Brian KC1EEE
Jerry says
I think Dale that what your problem is is that where you live you don’t have any real hams. Buddy clubs usually fails to produce any real hams because the people in the club are only in the club because one of their friends are in the club and they want to hang out and be a part of the club. When a new ham comes along the best thing the new ham can do is not talk. LIsten, listen and then listen some more. Eventually you will decide if these people are the type of people you want to associate with. Most times than not, you will turn the knob and go elsewhere. The internet is full of self professed experts that will give you their opinion on what kind of radio and antenna and power supply you need to have to have the best equipment to get on the air and make contacts. Your problem is – you had no one to expose you in a positive light to the positives of amateur radio. Once you get on HF you will forget all about how you were treated on FM and the repeaters. It’s a whole different world on HF. The next time you join a club, join a club that has a club house, complete with a working HF radio station and their own antennas. Find the people willing to be your Elmer and treat those people with respect. Don’t be afraid to buy soda pop, pizza or doughnuts for the gang when you go to the club house to be taught how to operate amateur radio. What you put into amateur radio is what you will get out of it..
Radio Free says
This is about the newest post I can find on the subject. All this talk makes me want to watch contact or frequency from back in the 90’s. Two great movies, btw. I’ve always been interested in amateur radio, but something seems lost since you can simply buy a box and shout on it. Nothing like the old school building your own equipment and antenna to see what happened.
Makes me want to pickup some equipment and reuse old dish’s to make my own radio telescope, a more worthwhile endeavor.
Dan KB6NU says
Just because “you can simply buy a box and shout on it” doesn’t mean you have to.
Norm says
I am just about to test for HAM, but I have been around for a long time. I have been monitoring the HAM bands and dealing with HAMs for a quite a while. I am trying to become a HAM now because of things that may happen in the world and I think that the VHF/UHF might come back up the fastest in bad times.
I think that I have seen enough to identify some of the issues of the “low activity”. I can sum up one of the most important factors is that the activity is BORING. I almost fall asleep listening to most of the conversations. We are facing some incredibly dangerous situations in the US and the World, and I never hear anyone mentioning ANYTHING about these items. I am not talking about broadcasts, but discussions on how to do things, such as food, garden techniques, water treatment, how to protect equipment from EMPs, best equipment to own in case of problems, etc., etc., etc. This is not prepper or survivalist it is just common sense, because there are too many potenials that can happen. I can certainly see why the number of HAMS is decreasing so fast, what would drag new members in????????
One of the terms that scares the hell out of me is “Fox Hunt”. There are lots of people that will have many types of radios that will be trying to use them in case of problems. The LAST thing that they will need is to have an “official” vehicle show up at their location with a HAM in the right seat pointing out that there is a “radio” in that house. You have to realize that the days are over when those officials will be on our side. This makes the HAMs complicit in the harm that could happen in these encounters. This is not like the old days and the HAMs are going to have to make some very hard choices.
As far as the “old” HAMs, I have to certainly agree. I have talked to quite a few and I have found them to be much less than helpful to someone that has shown some interest. They have have provided almost zero guidance. The guys at basically the only HAM store in Denver had the great advice of “read the book 3 times and it will come to you.” They did not have any time for questions or help.
In the coming times, I think that there needs to be more attention paid to the type of communications. What will type of communications will be more valuable in a SHTF situation vs DXing to Australia. If my family is in trouble, I am not going to really care about talking to Aussies. This means that there should be a lot of emphasis on what will be the best equipment to own and operate. What are the plans for supporting that type of communications network? How many Faraday cages exist for the repeater network or does anyone even know how to make one of these?
The ground has shifted under the HAM structure of years ago and I think that they have to re-evaluate their purpose and operations based on the realities of the very dangerous world that we live in today.
Thanks for your time.
Norm
Jerry says
As a prepper, I don’t believe that you will glean any sort of intelligence off a local FM repeater after the world comes to an end. Most people will be too busy hunting and gathering to be sitting around the house on the radio, giving public service bulletins of what is going on down in town. Unless all phone communications fails, about the only thing you are going to hear will be the same thing you already hear on your local repeaters. A person needs to have an amateur radio license to talk on amateur radio frequencies. Just because there is a disaster or emergency doesn’t give John Q. Public permission to hijack amateur radio frequencies for personal use. If you spent more than $30 for your handheld, you were probably took. Your money would have been better spent on a Cobra 29 and a 9′ whip antenna, just because of the sheer number of CB radios in the world today.
Gareth C. says
What happened to the novice class license? That’s where I had thee most fun. People say they cannot learn cw. At the Federal bldg. where I took my cw test, I thought something was wrong with the cassette player that ran the audio. It was too slow! And now Elmers cannot give the novice test because there is no novice license. For me, that was where we got our biggest boost in getting kids into ham radio. Most elmers GAVE you a ham rig or receiver or something to use. Today, what teen is going to drop $1000 on a transceiver? And all the clubs dishing out extras by the dozens. Half of them bringing their rigs to the lower class general to fix (me). I say bring back the old way when it meant something. And one more thing, I’m not condoning the “grey area” use of 11m, but time and time again, when 10m is dead, 11m is packed with operators. Someone is at least making use of spectrum.
Tom says
A person today would not even have a clue that amateur radio even exists on the face of the earth, Advertising amateur radio has fallen short, It is not only amateur radio. I will exolain in a bit. The downturn of amateur radio is a result of computerization. I have held my license for 50 years and gave up active amateur radio in 1985 because of computerization of almost everything, lack of accountability of testing, lack of code requirements and the garbage” heard on the air on a daily basis. Taking away code requirements was the nail on the coffin I thought, Sure, some amateurs did not like code and there was a class of license dedicated to them in VHF and above. So be it, But to eliminate the skill of having to communicate in another way than your larynx made a big difference in the quality of operator, no matter what, Back to the advertising of amateur rado of which there is none, zero. I see the same thing happening with my other wonderful hobby. Amayeur astronomy is a dying hobby too, with no new and young blood entering the ranks. Young people are interested is social media and gaming on cell phones and computers, not radios exclusively. They are not interested in the “mystery” of radio or the history of radio, Unless new and young blood is introduced into the hobby amateur radio will ultimately decline.. Amateur radio’s existence resulted fro ther ability to communicate in the face of emergencies to act as a back up to commercial communications that hay fail at some point. The necessity for emergency communications has fropped to a great degree by call phone usage. No license required here, just money and a mouth, So sorry to see ham radio decline.
Duane says
Seeing the decline is a terrible thing here near Pittsburgh PA.
We have people worried about hurricane & tornado drills not radio hobby.
No one talks on 2m FM repeaters after 11 PM there’s all kinds of work shifts
so no excuse. But you’ll hear” I was up last night till 4 AM skype,Fakebook,ect?
Best thing about ham radio too me is HF & 10 meters, 10m could be local but
no one on locally like in the nightly 1990’s + no Band openings happening on
17m,15m,12m,10m at this point.
Went from hearing signals everyday a year ago on a wire or mobil mount to Zero now.
1# Lets see things that need worked on with Ham Radio.
One man said Change…
NO Antenna restrictions: One 50ft mounting structure allowed anywhere
and federally mandated no exceptions to code or scum-lords,housing.
All mode monobander’s on 10m,6m,2m,1.25m,70cm,33cm made buy all manufactures.
Out with all china radios they saved us money costed us hams even more.
Out with un-servicable radio manufactures provide full support & parts up to 10 yrs.
No led-free solder in all ameature & commercial radio devices.
Technician class needs to earn it pass 75 questions to get a ticket.
General or Extra class get all band space the same on all HF freq’s .
Phone spacefor AM SSB added & freq space expanded on 30 Meters.
New Digital Repeaters :
Must be digital only” no mixed mode operations Fusion / DMR.
Promotion of clubs that support of national field day, Hamfests, Hobby Projecting.
Internet linking: DMR, Fusion,Echo-link,All-star,D-Star and others in the United States.
1# Any repeater connecting to another repeater within it’s or out it’s state shall only do so by RF linking from site to site no internet linking as it is un-reliable in emergencies.
2# Internet room, reflector,nodes can only be transmitted or recieved by
its-self in digital or analog within 25 mile range of any other systems doing the
same, on a stand alone repeater with no RF Links these must remain apart
for the purpose of area hams with desire to talk in internet connections.
As an option to communicate long distance at any time.
There you have it my list.
Lets better some of this hobby.
RonF says
Born in 1952, got my license in 2011 after finding out there was no longer a code requirement. Couldn’t hack code. Bought a cheap Chinese HT and operated off of he local repeaters. Got a 30 W amp for it that runs off of a cigarette lighter socket in the car from an older gentleman who no longer drives and ran around town with that in my car for a while. Two years later I bought a Kenwood TS-440S/AT with power supply from a gentleman who refurbishes radios he buys at estate sales. I bring it out to Boy Scout campouts and run it off of a car battery and a 40 M dipole I put up in the trees.
Want to get some kids into the hobby? Call up your local school. Call up your local Scout Troop (you can find the local Scout office on the internet) and ask to come out to a Troop meeting or even a campout, operate and get the kids on. You can even set up a time/frequency with some other operators beforehand to be sure you’ll have some QSO’s set up. What I’m saying is that there are things YOU can do.
Al G. says
Just my hesitant 2 cents, being a new amateur operator, five months now. Observations from being on the air, reading and asking a lot of questions. My reaction to what I’ve learned is “shock”. This isn’t how Amateur Radio was explained to me. The majority of the interactions I’ve had thus far, on the air and popular forums has been negative. It makes me feel that I should avoid further contact with this community and move on. By no means am I an expert or authority on this area but I think the following issues should be added to the list.
Lack of focus in the Amateur Radio Community, compared to it’s origins.
Lack of policing violators.
Needless disgruntled attitudes creating a negative atmosphere for everyone..
Lack of solidarity, social communications.
Steve C - KE8HXM says
Amateur radio is afflicted with everything that all other forms of social contact suffer from – people. As long as society is going down the path of declining social skills, all forms of communication will decline. This is the nature of interaction in today’s world of instant gratification and alienation between individuals. When I was working the last couple of decades I saw a disturbing trend in the population as a whole and that was people becoming less involved with others and preferring to be more “Me” oriented. In the last several years I saw many people who clearly lacked interpersonal skills and I think social media technology had a lot to do with it. This is why I think some perceive experienced Hams as unfriendly and unwilling to share the hobby with newcomers. I also suspect that some of the people who complain about this may not be the most sociable themselves. An old saying goes, “if you want a friend, be a friend”, and if you approach the Elmers with nothing but problems and don’t take their advice, chances are good that they are not going to find you very interesting.
We should also remember that just because someone has a lot of experience does not mean that it was all good experience. We beginners should do our homework first before drilling the Elmers with questions that are easily answered by reading about the subject. Sure, there are some nuances of the material that are not easy to grasp or assimilate, but there are so many resources now with the internet and books on the subject of amateur radio technology that you can with a little work help yourself to get a leg up on the basics. I can imagine that Elmers find it tiresome when they get basic level questions from the newcomers that they could have figured out themselves and it is probably exasperating to deal with that all the time. My point is not every Ham is an expert and has a knack for teaching, and being intellectually lazy by not first trying to find the answers you seek on your own probably aggravates the Elmer, which in turn gives the newcomer the feeling of being unwelcome.
This is a communication field, (amateur radio), and if we can’t communicate with each other at a mutual level of understanding there will be problems. When I was working I used to hear about job candidates and the most common complaint was they lacked “soft skills” or “people skills” in dealing with people one on one. I think this is one effect of the technology of social networking where people live for Likes and emojis in their withdrawal from social interpersonal contact via Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms where followers and up-votes are the scoreboard and the time spent on these activities becomes greater and greater as the person sinks deeper into the internet world where they can be anonymous and say the most outrageous things to others without suffering any consequence.
Radio is nothing like that – it demands manners, social skills, genuine human warmth in our communications and discipline to not be hypercritical of others. Part of it is accepting others as comrades on the air, treating each other with respect and dignity and most of all taking a measure of caring for the others you talk to. The basic principles of treating others as you would like to be treated and treating our fellow operators as we would a guest in our homes will go a long way toward enhancing the amateur radio experience for everyone. Showing consideration for others eliminates most communications problems between people, and at least for some who have written here that does not seem to reflect their experiences. I always try to make sure my behavior is such that it is respectful and that I show appreciation for even small gestures from others. That has worked well for me, but there are some people who are not friendly and who are only interested in themselves and their goals, and I can’t help but feel sorry for them for the loss they will never admit nor recognize.
I have to say, however, my experience as a new amateur radio operator has been quite good. I have been treated very well when I approach Elmers with questions and at least in the club I belong to it is not a place where the new people are excluded, but rather I have felt encouraged to participate. If this has not been your experience, my suggestion to you is perhaps you should try to find another club.
I have the opportunity in this area to participate in several nets daily, and have always been greeted and treated fairly even though I admit I am just a beginner. Patience in check-ins and being humble works for me. I am still getting the hang of joining and contributing to the discussions on the nets, but each time I feel more comfortable each time I check in. By the time I get it down pat, many of the nets and other area operators will have at least heard my voice, and recognize my name and call sign.
It helps to become familiar with the other area clubs and their members.
Leonard Hacker says
I got licensed in 2014. I didn’t have and still don’t have tons of money. I went to several meetings and did find some welcoming people. I bought a “cheap Chinese handheld radio and thanks to the repeater was able to talk to folks across the state of Florida where I found out that repeaters are connected across the state. And in hurricane season that can be important. The thing most impressive thing to me is relearning Morse code. I am in my early 60’sixties but I do have one problem; antennas! But I am working on that.
John Herzog says
Amateur Radio is expensive and a license requires time and effort. CQ was an exciting adventure. 20, 40, and 80m were busy with constant chatter back in 1972, and the conversations were great. I was N6AXT and sadly let my general expire. I wish I had it back or find a way to renew, But now……I listen to 4 letter words and how Trump is destroying the world and just turn it off. :(
Brent says
As a young ham radio operator in my late teen years, I find the hobby to be quite enjoyable. The exception would be dealing with certain individuals who feel the need to be overly critical and who’s disrespectful comments and jamming serve as an encouragement for the few young ham radio operators to find other ways to pass their time. I.E. video games. I am not a gamer and my social media account is pretty much dead to say the least. I got into ham radio though my interest in the outdoors, prepping and electronics. What drew my interest is the equipment and having the privilege of good chunks of bandwidth in which one can operate. As I have become more active within the hobby, I have encountered a higher volume of these individuals. Remarks range from “voice lessons” to “profanities”. Sometimes, I get the urge to stash my equipment for that earthquake and use the time allotted for more reading along and expansions to my exercise routine.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.
Dana Parker says
Brent, thanks for your comment. I hope our future will include people like you interested in sharing their skills and humor to all who will enjoy the experience. In time I feel what we do with amateur radio depends on people enjoying sharing their thoughts as well and the weather at the end of the day. Transmission of an electromagnetic wave across our globe is fascinating and will outlast all who ignore you today. Thanks for your opinion.
Russell Kuespert says
There are too many amateurs that like to hear themselves talk.
Chuck Brainard says
I was once an active Ham Radio guy. I got into APRS, and built antennas, etc., but after a while it just got boring. The local repeaters were very clicky, as people have mentioned. There is a lot of talk here about the old days. The old days are gone, and they aren’t coming back. I think the question posed here was how to save it. I am not sure it can be saved. One reason I think is the lack of interest in science these days, and another reason is the throw away society we live in based on how fast technology changes. Kids don’t need to figure out how to build a radio to talk to someone across town or across the globe when all they need to do is call someone on the cell phone their parents are paying for. Everything is on the phone, it fits in their pocket and there are not batteries, or wires, or dials to tune. I recently thought about getting back into the hobby, but when I see the cost of radios. and I think of the lack of actvity I ask myself – why bother.
Here is the list and my thoughts.
Lack of on-the-air activity – everyone is on their cell phones.
Low ARRL membership – the price of membership in this organization is not cheap.
Lack of technical expertise – lack of interest in science
Aging of amateur radio operators – What has anyone done to try to interest young people. Nothing that I have seen locally anyway.
Amateur radio technology lagging state of the art – If companies aren’t selling the equipment like they used to this will continue.
Amateur radio technology too advanced for most hams – Perhaps too advanced for the older generation, and not cool enough for the younger ones.
Not enough time for the hobby – If you really love a hobby you find the time.
The high cost of amateur radio equipment – Agreed !
Restrictive homeowner’s agreements – That is probably only true in private communities, and I don’t think most people live in private communities.
Overall, sadly I think this hobby may fade away some day unless someone can figure out how to get young people interested. They are the future whether you like it or not.
Jay Davis says
Ok, I will tell you more, but your eyes would glaze over. I was licensed as kid 12 years old 1959. I just sent FCC request to cancel what is left of my ham license, which expires in 25.
The reasons are many, but as a hobby, HR takes even an older intelligent person nowhere.
Its full of vulgar and yes racial bigots plus their cliques. Doubt this? Tune 7200 east coast and anywhere on 75 meters.
So, I have the letter ready to go. I slept on it and said, yes, its time. Do-Not look back move on.
Becky says
Hi, I think its cool we still have the old guard welcoming in the new. Cell phones and internet are king now however. And radio is really the back up to emergencies now, so there is allot of needless chit chat still on air for those who enjoy talking literally about anything. The only thing unnerving about today’s 21st century society is the old ways are still there. Having someone call by phone and welcome a new ham was a thing in the old days, and now, lets face it, someone who finds out your name, researches your phone number and calls you is just a little odd, with all the phone number blocking and scamming, getting a cold call on your phone from someone you don’t know that you didn’t give your number to? Yea, its a little odd for some of us new folks. Sorry.
Albert says
Absolutely, couldn’t agree more. The complete lack of respect and courtesy is why new hams don’t stick around, period. Not the cost of the ARRL membership, not the cost of gear or limited space to put an antenna up. It’s guys shaming the new operator. Real tragedy, lots of young new intelligent folks who pass their tech test, get so excited to make that first contact, then get embarrassed or insulted, so they drop out when they get crapped on by elitist snobs. They get made to feel that they’re not good enough. On top of it, most clubs aren’t welcoming. Attend a club meeting excited to meet other ham radio folks, and you’re invisible. You’re an outsider. Don’t want to know you and don’t care either. They just ignore newer hams. They put them down for the brand of radios they use or if they’re a little awkward when they make a contact. Remedy that by staying strong never giving up, enjoy what you earned and try and try until you find good people or club. Don’t let yourself get beat down, don’t let anyone make you feel bad.
Mike says
A few years ago got into and out of the “hobby” in about a years time. Did not join the ARRL…why? All they complained about was the FCC would not even answer their mail. Why waste my time or money joining a organization that had no influence with the governing authority. Not to mention they were busy being PC more than anything else. Was an army radio operator from back in the sixties so AM and SSB (sloppy side bucket) were cutting edge technology. Old guys (me included) were very proud of our CW and technical skills. Or to put that another way. We paid the price to earn our air time. Learning such skills was very demanding and required many hours of training. Following the training one would expect to spend several months doing housekeeping while learning the craft. Finally, after many months the crew chief might….just…might give you some relief air time. The same rules were true after I left the service. Returned to school earned my EE and was employed as a Jr Associate engineer. In the new and exciting field of digital technology. Ended my career as a project manager on mainframe computers. To achieve such promotions I paid my dues. Every step was one of constant competition. Your boss expected you to take his job. Part of his job was to eliminate you. Thus, one had to prove himself everyday (a day was usually 14 to 16 hours long.) By the time one reached the lofty position of Senior engineer one was rightfully a prima donna. All that to say this. if you are new to the hobby like anything that is really worthwhile in life. Plan on being tested by the old guys. Are you really committed to the hobby and are you really going to give it the best you can. If not, you must expect to be ignored. Such a person (and there seems to be many in the last few years.) Most I suspect who were CB’ers and cheated at that level with amps and or the 10 meter band. Have now found out they can take a thirty five word written test miss 45 out of the thirty five word test. And now operate a fifteen hundred watts radio and make a fool out of themselves in the amature bands with little or no effort. Thus, the reason for my rapid enter and leaving ham radio. If the FCC was really interested in supporting and encouraging ham radio they would not dumb it down like they have. The ARRL (which should be the voice of ham radio) have resigned themselves to political correctness and irrelevancy. Thus, ham radio will linger on life support for awhile longer, but, eventually it will just disappear. 73
Chuckz says
I have been studying for several months to get my technician license and I’m getting around 80% on one online test and sometimes failing more than passing on another online testing site.
Its unfair that the airwaves belong to all but I have to study electronics for a radio that I will never build and Heathkit is dead.
Each level of license has a book which is the equivalent to a high school course. I understand that you have to have order because you can’t control people you cannot see make mistakes when they are on their ham radios.
I don’t want to break any laws or interfere with the proper operation of ham radio but the multiple choice test is making it more about memorization than teaching me how to operate a ham radio properly. They are making me study a radio I have never seen before or used.
In a sense this is a hard sell because someone interested in the hobby has to study for three high school like courses and be good at memorization because I haven’t used the 6, 2, 3o or 10 meter band so I’m trying to memorize stuff I’ve never used before which is unfair. The test makes it hard for new comers and the airwaves are unused because unless a radio club is holding a meeting on the air, I can’t find anyone talking. These frequencies belong to the public but the argument is I can use FRS, C.B. or GMRS radios if I can’t pass the Ham radio test which is exclusion. The reality is that people do not need to pass the electronics quiz for a handheld they would buy so I see this as a bullying tactic to keep people out. I have put extra effort and extra steps into learning and its information overload.
I stayed out of ham radio for years because someone we knew said the ham radio test was hard and he didn’t pass it so the bullying worked and ham radio is dead to most people because of it.
Dan KB6NU says
Hmmmm. So many things to respond to here.
Let me just say that while you’re correct that the airwaves are a public resource, the rationale for requiring a license is that it demonstrates that you know how to use that resource properly. Our roads are a mostly public resource, but we require people to demonstrate that they know how to drive and have some knowledge of traffic laws before issuing them a driver’s license. Having taught many students over the last 20 years or so, I can honestly say that the amateur radio exams are not really that difficult–you say yourself that they are equivalent to a high-school course. Almost anyone who is truly interested in becoming an amateur radio operator can pass the test–especially the Technician Class test–with just a little effort.
You say, “I stayed out of ham radio for years because someone we knew said the ham radio test was hard.” Why take their word for it? Show them that it really isn’t that hard, and that you can do it. I’d be happy to help you, if you really want to do it.
Blake says
The answer is really simple. The hobby is mostly made up of aging white male baby boomers. As baby boomers you are rightfully to blame for most of the problems we face today. You hoard wealth, are racist, put Trump in office, ignore social and climate issues, and run up debt future generations cannot afford to repay. Like Natzis, the world will be a better place without you.
B Hammond says
I have been around ham radio since I was born in the 50’s. Both my parents were hams. I grew up going to ham fests and picnics. I studied the code and it just wouldn’t come to me. The technical part was easy..
I didn’t get my Tech until the 1990s after the code requirement was removed. Both my wife and I got our Tech licenses. I used a handheld and an Arrow antenna to talk on the satellites and it was COOL! Satellite ops now seem to be nothing more than a callsign, grid location, QSL, and gone. There are too many sat operators to have a conversation during the pass.
I was in Phoenix for training one week in the early 2000’s and took my handheld. I attempted contacts on a local FM repeater and was completely and utterly ignored. It really soured me to local FM repeater use.
I got my General in 2022, online studying and then testing via Zoom, and the test administrators/proctors were some of the best “contacts” I’d had in a long time.
I got on a local HF net and found that it was the same guys who had been on when I was a kid 50 years ago. Not much discussion other than the weather. I haven’t returned to that net in over a year and may not ever go back.
I’ll give DXing a try and maybe the sats again.
The overall feeling I have regarding ham radio is kind of negative. The code requirement is gone so get over it. Not having that barrier in my way opened up ham radio to me and I’m glad it did.
I operate ham “boxes” like everyone else. If Heathkit or similar company was still in business, I’d have built whatever was equivalent to my Icom IC-9700 and IC-7300, RTL-SDR, ZachTech WSPR TX, Leo Bodnar GPS Reference Clock, and so on. I did put together my satellite ground station (23cm, 70cm, and 2m antennas, rotator controller, cabling, switches, etc). And set up all the software for sat tracking, contact logging, etc.
I’m glad to see a lot of younger people using the sats but it might be “one and done” for their ham experience. I hope not.
What can be done about VHF and HF? I’m not sure but it is most definitely dominated by the older crowd and they could be what causes ham radio’s demise. I hope not.