On Feb 26, 2:52�pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
Klystron wrote:
Alan WA4SCA wrote:
Ham Radio is one of those niche
activities that isn't geared toward the average person.
And that really isn't all that bad a thing.

"Radio for its own sake" (which is what amateur radio is really all
about) has never been a mainstream sort of thing. Just look at
the number of licensed US hams compared to the US population
at any time since licensing began.

At any rate, its all good, I think.

Yep.

Isn't it great that Ham radio can be still pursued by older folks?

It's great that people of all ages can be hams. Young, old,
middleage, newcomers, oldtimers, etc.

In sum, I believe that the small change in licensing numbers
does not
rise to the level of statistical significance.

IMHO, what *is* statistically significant is that what was a slow
decline has turned into a slow increase. What will be interesting
is if it continues long-term.

I think that production of stats on active Hams is very difficult,
certainly it can't be gleaned from totals.

There's also the problem of what constitutes an "active" ham.
Obviously someone who is dead or who never gets on the air
or otherwise participates isn't "active".

But what about the ham who operates a few contests a year?
Or the ham who does a lot of building and experimenting, but
little operating (and whose operating is mostly to check out the
latest project)? The ham whose activity is teaching classes,
running VE sessions, Elmering (in person and online), writing,
etc.? The ham whose focus is public service? Etc.

All sorts of activity - and it's all good!

73 de Jim, N2EY