by Matt Sepic
Source: www.npr.org
April 5, 2010

Listen to the story

Only a few years ago, blogs listed ham radio alongside 35 mm film and VHS tape as technologies slated to disappear.

They were wrong.

Nearly 700,000 Americans have ham radio licenses — up 60 percent from 1981, a generation ago. And the number is growing.

Ham radio will never have the sex appeal of the iPhone, but it does have a certain nerd appeal, says Allen Weiner, an analyst at the technology research firm Gartner.

“If it creates its own experience, that’s really what’s key here,” he says. “If it just emulates an experience that you can get online, it’s not going to grow.”

Newcomers to ham radio include Helen Schlarman, 89, who has a compact, two-way radio in her home in suburban St. Louis. She looks up a friend across town by pushing the talk button, announcing the letters and numbers of his call sign (W-0-S-J-S), and then announcing her own (W-0-A-K-I).

Steve Schmitz’s voice crackles through Schlarman’s radio.

“Hi Helen, how you doing, W-0-S-J-S?” he says, ending his response with his own call letters.

Many “hams,” as they’re known, hang postcards from global contacts on their walls, the way hunters show off deer antlers, but Schlarman’s chats are mostly local. She says this hobby is perfect for an outgoing person who spends a lot of time inside.

“It’s a different community,” she says. “There [are] no stereotypes of age; it’s just talking and sharing and enjoying.”

Until recently, ham radio was declining as older operators died. Then the Federal Communications Commission phased out the Morse code test that many saw as a stumbling block to getting a license. Last year more than 30,000 new applicants signed up to become ham radio operators, according to Maria Somma, an official with the American Radio Relay League.

At a ham radio convention near St. Louis, the crowd swapping antenna parts and other equipment is mostly male, and over 50. But 15-year-old Jonathan Dunn is attending along with his father. He says Facebook and texting are fun, but making friends using a $200 radio that doesn’t come with monthly fees is more rewarding.

“With ham radio you can talk to new people, all kinds of ages, races, and it’s just amazing what a little radio can do. Because no matter where you’re at, if you have the right stuff and the right power you can talk to anyone,” he says.

Jonathan’s dad, Steve Dunn, says the polite chitchat between ham radio operators is good for teenagers. “If young people have the opportunity to communicate with a wide range of people, that instills a certain amount of confidence in their ability to carry on the lost art of small talk,” he says.

Even the most die-hard hams concede that amateur radio will never be a mainstream hobby. With smart phones and other devices, people are more plugged in to the Internet than before. But people are still discovering the joy of communicating with a technology that’s existed for nearly a century.

Read the story on NPR

Here is the latest (January 4th) weekly audio reports from:

1) Amateur Radio Newsline (1/1)
2) This Week In Amateur Radio (TWIAR) (1/3)

Amateur Radio Newsline

You can also scroll down at the bottom of the audio player for previous weeks reports!

For those that prefer a mp3 download: AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”.

This Week in Amateur Radio (TWIAR)

Audio here – Streaming

Here is the latest (December 27th) weekly audio reports from:

1) Amateur Radio Newsline (12/25)
2) This Week In Amateur Radio (TWIAR) (12/27)

Amateur Radio Newsline

You can also scroll down at the bottom of the audio player for previous weeks reports!

For those that prefer a mp3 download: AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”.

This Week in Amateur Radio (TWIAR)

Audio here – Streaming

Here is the latest (December 13th) weekly audio reports from:

1) Amateur Radio Newsline (12/18)
2) This Week In Amateur Radio (TWIAR) (12/20)
3) ARRL Audio (12/17)

Amateur Radio Newsline

You can also scroll down at the bottom of the audio player for previous weeks reports!

For those that prefer a mp3 download: AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”.

This Week in Amateur Radio (TWIAR)

Audio here – Streaming

ARRL Audio News

Audio here – Streaming

Here is the latest (December 13th) weekly audio reports from:

1) Amateur Radio Newsline (12/11)
2) This Week In Amateur Radio (TWIAR) (12/12)
3) ARRL Audio (12/10)

Amateur Radio Newsline

You can also scroll down at the bottom of the audio player for previous weeks reports!

For those that prefer a mp3 download: AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”.

This Week in Amateur Radio (TWIAR)

Audio here – Streaming

ARRL Audio News

Audio here – Streaming

Here is the latest (December 6th) weekly audio reports from:

1) Amateur Radio Newsline (12/4)
2) This Week In Amateur Radio (TWIAR) (12/5)
3) ARRL Audio (12/3)

Amateur Radio Newsline

You can also scroll down at the bottom of the audio player for previous weeks reports!

For those that prefer a mp3 download: AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”.

This Week in Amateur Radio (TWIAR)

Audio here – Streaming

ARRL Audio News

Audio here – Streaming

Here is the latest (November 21st) weekly audio reports from:

1) Amateur Radio Newsline (11/20)
2) This Week In Amateur Radio (TWIAR) (11/21)
3) ARRL Audio (11/19)

Amateur Radio Newsline

You can also scroll down at the bottom of the audio player for previous weeks reports!

IN THIS WEEKS NEWSCAST

* RADIO LAW: FCC CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES ON DISTRACTED DRIVING
* RADIO RULES: FCC HOLDING WORKSHOP ON DISTRACTED DRIVERS
* THE BPL WAR: MANASSAS VA TO PULL THE PLUG ON BPL
* RESTRUCTURING: 60 METER OPERATION IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
* RESTRUCTURING: INDIA EXPECTED TO EXPAND 40 METER HAM BAND
* RADIO DEDICATION: VU2DWA- 13 YEARS FROM EXAM TO LICENSE
* HAM RADIO TESTING: NEW TECHNICIAN QUESTION POOL TO BE RELEASED
* PUBLIC SERVICE: HAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOT HONOLULU MARATHON

This weeks newscast anchored by Don Wilbanks, AE5DW

For those that prefer a mp3 download: AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”.

This Week in Amateur Radio (TWIAR) #690

Audio here – Streaming

Stories covered and special features in This Weeks edition:

01. ARES/RACES teams handle flood duty in north east and mid atlantic states.
02. The UN makes if official: Montenegro now number 336 on the DXCC list.
03. Arizona & New Mexico amateurs keep a close eye on wild fires.
04. New technicial class question pool goes into effect on July first.
05. The FCC affirms a fine for marketing non-certificated CB’s as ham gear.
06. The FCC tells a New Orleans FM pirate station to get off the air “now!”
07. Post your field day 2006 pictures on the ARRL Contest Soapbox.
08. A look at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Free Flea”.
09. Australia to celebrate 100 years of morse over open water this month.
10. Auckland NZ, North Shore city council proposes amateur radio restrictions.
11. Technology News and Commentary with Leo Laporte.
12. TWAIR Special QSL Card is now available.
13. The Random Access Thought visits the SMARA Field Day Site with N2FNH.
14. European Space Campers chat with the ISS via amteur radio.
15. Working Amateur Radio Satellites with Bruce Paige, KK5DO from AMSAT-NA.
16. President Bush tells Homeland Security of upgrade the EAS system.
17. Special event station listings.
18. The Gateway 160 Meter Net Report with Vern Jackson, WA0RCR.
19. Weekly propagation forecast.
20. The Senate Commerce Committee defers 700mHz spectrum auction amendment.
21. More Musings with Wil Rogers, W4WLR-”Internet Controlled HF Transceivers”
22. Japan plans to implement Asimovs rules for robots.
23. A Sacremento, California FM pirate is fined by the FCC.
24. Courage Handi-Ham System Up-date with Pat Tice, WA0TDA.
25. Tower Climbing and Antenna Safety with Greg Stoddard, KF9MP.
26. LPFM antenna mistake not minor says the FCC, and affirms LPFM fine.
27. Tropospheric Ducting between Southern California/Hawaii creates pile-up.
on two meter repeater.

ARRL Audio News

Audio here – Streaming

Here is the latest (November 13th) weekly AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT (Audio MP3)

This is a great professional audio report of the latest happenings in Amateur Radio.

IN THIS WEEKS NEWSCAST

IN THIS WEEKS NEWSCAST

* EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW LED HAM RADIO LIGHT COMMUNICATIONS RECORD SET DOWN-UNDER
* HAM RADIO IN SPACE: INDIANOSIA TO LAUNCH RESCUE RADIO HAMSAT
* RESTRUCTUTRING: FINLAND ALLOWS LIMITED 4 METER ACCESS
* RESTRUCTURING: NORWAY GIVES HAMS 4 METERS
* AWARD CONFLICT: C91VM QSL ‘S FOR RECENT IOTA REJECTED
* RESCUE RADIO: I.T. HAM SPEARHEADS RESCUE RADIO TECHNOLOGY
* RADIO LAW: CONDO RESIDENTS WIN DECLATORY RULING TO KEEP TV ANTENNA
* RADIO LAW: PHILADELPHIA CELL BAN COULD IMPACT MOBILE HAMS
* HOLIDAY HAM RADIO: OH9SCL FROM SANTA CLAUS LAND

and much more…

This weeks newscast anchored by Don Carlson, KQ6FM

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”. For Mac and Linux, please consult your operating system instructions.

Here is the latest (November 6th) weekly AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT (Audio MP3)

This is a great professional audio report of the latest happenings in Amateur Radio.

IN THIS WEEKS NEWSCAST

IN THIS WEEKS NEWSCAST

* GEORGIA HAMS GIVEN $165,000 TO BUILD D-STAR RESCUE RADIO NETWORK
* TWO HAMS CREDITED WITH SAVING A LIFE ON CATALINA ISLAND
* GAREC-2010 TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER 2010 IN CURACO
* HAMS TO HELP FIGHT AIDS WITH HIV/AIDS AWARENESS THROUGH AMATEUR RADIO OPERATION
* CANADA BEGINS ISSUING 500 kHz EXPERIMENTAL LICENSES – FIRST TRANS-ATLANTIC CONTACT MADE
* THAILAND EXPANDS 40 METER HAM ALLOCATION
* ARISS CELEBRATES ITS 500th SCHOOL ROOM CONTACT
* IARU GLOBALSET 2009 ON NOVEMBER 14
* and much more…

This weeks newscast anchored by Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”. For Mac and Linux, please consult your operating system instructions.

Here is the latest (October 23th) weekly AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm) REPORT (Audio MP3)

This is a great professional audio report of the latest happenings in Amateur Radio.

IN THIS WEEKS NEWSCAST

* THE BPL WAR: A BIG WIN IN SWEDEN
* NEWSLINE FOLLOW-UP: MORE ON THE C6APR TRAGEDY
* HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SUMBANDILLASAT DESIGNATED AS SO-67
* RADIO LAW: GROUP PROPOSES REVISING 97:111 TO PERMIT UNRESTRICTED HAM RADIO EMCOMM
* RESCUE RADIO: NEW ADVANCES IN EMCOMM FEATURED ON THE BBC
* EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: COMMUNICATIONS IN A SHRIMPS EYE
* PUBLIC SERVICE: HAM RADIO AND THE ING NYC MARATHON
* and much more…

This weeks newscast anchored by Don Wilbanks. AE5DW

On a PC, right click on the file you want to download. In the drop-down box that appears click on “Save Target As” and when the next box appears select a file destination and click on “Save”. For Mac and Linux, please consult your operating system instructions.