What is Ham Radio?
Well, let's see, in 2021 it was estimated there were an estimated 1,750,000 licensed Hams worldwide. The FCC, on December 16, 2025, reported there were 738,304 active FCC licenses held by individuals in the US, US territories, possessions, and APO/FPOs.
If each Ham answered the question "What is Ham radio?", I would not be surprised to receive thousands of different answers. Ham radio is something different to each Ham. It is rag-chewing with people. you may have never met, talking to friends old and new. It is listening intently or maybe even speaking loudly into your microphone in order to get that new DX station into your logbook. Ham radio is the fun and excitement of contesting most weekends every year or searching the bands for those elusive Special Event Stations in order to get those pieces of paper to hang on the wall.
Ham could be all or none of those things. Ham radio is collecting vintage gear or perhaps buying every new radio that hits the market then selling them off in order to buy the next new one. It could be rebuilding vintage gear in order to breathe new life into the radios that Hams before us enjoyed using. For some Hams Ham radio is spending their time and money building and installing repeaters throughout their area for other Hams to use. Ham radio is all of these things and so much more.
It is different for each individual even when they seem to be doing the same thing. Ham Radio has influenced many aspects of the world as we know it. There have been countless young Hams who have gone on to be engineers, astronauts, and scientists. Ham radio has helped an untold number of people during natural disasters and other emergencies. Hams serve individuals and communities on a daily basis by volunteering their time and equipment to pass traffic messages all across the United States and even the world. They do this also practice their skills so they will ne able to keep messages flowing smoothly during emergencies.
There is something for everyone in Ham Radio. Believe it or not, I have just barely gotten started listing all there is to do and enjoy in Ham Radio. It is truly the hobby for the entire family and for people of almost all ages and from all walks of life.
