"Michael Coslo" wrote in message
...


Just what percentage of Amateurs are active ones, defining active as either
being on the air regularly, or participating in Amateur related activities on
a regular basis? (like say on a weekly basis?)


First, I'd argue that your definition of "active" is much too restrictive. I
consider myself "active" in the hobby but my activity isn't on a "regular basis"
and certainly not "weekly". I live in rural southern Arizona and have offices
and keep apartments in two other cities, one 100 miles away and another 700
miles away. About 1/3 of my time is spent in each of these locations, and I
keep a station only at home. I may go for many months without turning the
transmitter on, then have 1,500 contacts in a weekend contest, or just a couple
of ragchews or DX contacts.

In my life I have sometimes not had a station for a year or two, but didn't
consider myself an inactive ham. I also know a ham who has been
transmitter-less for at least 15 years, but plans to return to the air. Still
subscribes to all the magazines and belongs to CADXA up in Phoenix (he's on the
Honor Roll). His work has just not allowed him to operate, but has not
abandoned the hobby and considers himself "active".

So I'll use a different definition of active --- keeps his/her license current,
gets on the air at least a couple of times a year, or if currently off the air
he/she expects to be back on the air in the future. By that definition I'd
estimate that 75% of the current US license holders can be consider active.

The Man in the Maze
QRL at Baboquivari Peak, AZ

--
Iitoi