The Secret To Energizing Ham Radio

[@JoseArrom]

We have much of the concern here in the USA. Youth engagement. Role of clubs. Integrating emerging technologies. Mental health of elders. Reducing costs … QRP, antennas.

[@pauls8456]

As a long term WIA member I would like them to have a vision, not just advocacy to govt. If a WIA committee member is asked ‘what do you have on the horizon’ the answer should be exciting and inspiring.

[@dan_in_sd]

Hayden, I always likened you to a Professor. Seeing you on a stage just reinforces that notion. Cheers mate.

[@HamRadioDX]

Cheers mate, thanks for the kind words! Not sure I want to be a professor though 😄

[@leafyleafyleaf]

I liked the comment from the 50-year old in the audience saying that we need to not be scary or grumpy. Mind the way we talk, the way we act, and the way we dress (I really laughed at that last one because wow- is that ever true). Be engaging! Kids are spoiled for choice these days, after all.

[@bctoner]

I was interested in general electronics at about 11 years of age.

[@waynehendrix4806]

Me also.

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

Hey thanks for this Hayden! Hope you're having a Merry Christmas, Happy 2025 in advance!

[@HamRadioDX]

Thanks, you too mate!

[@Penske_Logistics_Roseburg-Ore]

I enjoy GMRS over ham radio all day long. I tried ham radio, but when I was new on the Repeater 2 meters some old sad ham called me a bootlegger and chased me off the repeater and then going on to tell every other ham that I was not licensed and that I was a bootlegger. Then the Old ham dude came to my home with the Sheriff's deputies and said that I was an illegal station and that they need to take me down. I refused to open my door at my home and the sheriff's want me to come out I said no and go away. The lousy ham dude was demanding that I come out and get arrested for Illegally transmitting on 2 Meters. I had ended up filing a lawsuit against the accuser and the sheriff's department because they were out of their jurisdictions and do not know what law I have broken; this is all federal case law, and the state has nothing to do with it. The old ham radio dude later disappeared, I do not here him on that repeater anymore, but the last jerk KR6DD he is also a snitch for the FCC "OO" on his free time, and is out there doing the same things to people calling them bootleggers when in fact they have no proof if you have a license or not, just like what happened to me. I have an Extra Class, but was so badly turned off from ham, I'm enjoying GMRS with my friends and family and all can talk together on one license. All I see is old hams bothering young sounding voices on the Bands and these same young voices with General class or Extra Class license, the old hams hate it saying you only memorized the answers and don't know morse codes, real hams know morse codes. All I see is bullying on the young sounding voices on the band here in the Bay Area, no one wants ham radio over here, I noticed many of these young hams move on and came over here to GMRS and MURS. The problems went away after that. GMRS is live and well.

[@LarryAllenTonar]

Maybe you should send this comment with context to the CWOPS people (based in bay area, I think, or SoCal) and bay area ARS club BoD members with a "this is on you to crean up"?

[@AnnaKissed36]

Not gonna lie, I'm going to be doing my Foundation course soon, and my biggest fear about actually engaging with clubs is that there seem to be, from the outside looking in, very few women involved, queer folk, or poc. Perhaps it's an overall perception of hams being gatekeeing, conservative, white men.

[@leafyleafyleaf]

It’s just a fear. It’s not reality. Reality is what you make it.

[@theblank-up7hw]

I don't like it pepole undermining us young Hams. I think a lot more needs to be done to get people like me interested In ham radio

[@JimmyCall]

Is there' is concern how Wind Farms and Solar Farms will affect Amateur Radio? People are livid on the attack on nature's vistas, and farming land being destroyed.

[@NebulaHatesWatchdog]

Idk, I think people should be able to lease their land to solar companies if they want to, because it’s theirs. I don’t think everyone else should have a say in what they’re doing. We *need* solar power or wind power eventually, people seem to hate nuclear and we can’t keep burning coal. I’m personally a fan of decentralized power with people putting panels on their roofs, but that’s unlikely to be widespread anytime soon since it’s expensive to install and cuts out the middle man.

[@JimmyCall]

@@NebulaHatesWatchdog Coal is clean burning and readily available in Australia. Efficient centralised system. Covering farm land is Eco Terrorism.

[@JimmyCall]

"AI Overview" "Yes, wind turbines and solar farms can affect radio frequencies and amateur radio use: " "Wind turbines can interfere with radio frequencies and television reception through electromagnetic interference (EMI). The tower, blades, and generator of a wind turbine can all contribute to EMI. The blades can obstruct, reflect, or refract electromagnetic waves. However, modern blades are usually made from synthetic materials that have a minimal impact on electromagnetic radiation. The generator can also be a source of interference, but this can be eliminated with proper insulation and maintenance." "Solar farms can also cause EMI, which can interfere with radio and TV reception. Solar farms can also trigger malfunctions in nearby electronic equipment."

[@shutthegate8232]

@@NebulaHatesWatchdog agricultural/land providing food, shouldn't be allocated to solar/wind. Plenty of the arid areas, areas where agriculture is less likely that could fit that bill for solar/wind/whatever. Swapping farmland to solar is a dumb thing to carry out. Short term financial gain for these entities, short term and intermittent energy capture whilst weakening food security for the country.

[@bassangler73]

​@shutthegate8232 exactly, and they forget to mention the millions of birds that wind turbines kill..New age nuclear is the answer in my opinion