Skip Navigation
84 comments
  • I found the most effective way to get a nerd into ham is: mention that ham radio is in the criteria to become an astronaut. Suddenly they're doing the study courses all on their own. Granted, they have to already be a nerd. ;)

    For the non nerds, the prepper angle seems to work with some.

    The thing you have to deliver is the "why", not the how. If they've decided they want to learn it, they will.

  • I think it’s pretty screwed. What is ham radio? The name means nothing to today’s youth, it’s just confusing and they’ll move on to something else. Our attention is so fractioned these days that no one will stick around to find out more, we’re never bored. And you need boredom to get into this type of thing.

    What can you do with ham radio? Talk to strangers? You can do that online with milliohms of resistance whereas getting on ham radio is megaohms of resistance in comparison. What I’m saying with this resistance analogy is that ham radio has a big learning curve and friction. You’re competing with the internet, social media, games. Ham radio simply doesn’t have a good hook, it doesn’t have a good incentive.

    • The name means nothing to today’s youth

      Story time: When I was a kid in the late 90s, there was a fad for toy walkie-talkies at my school. I was obsessed with seeing how far I could get my signal, which wasn't very far given the likely minuscule power.

      The teachers decided to capitalize on this trend by inviting a representative of a local ham club to speak at our school. I was absolutely floored when I learned you could talk around the world. Two things kept me from pursuing my license at the time. There was still a code requirement, and nobody for the life of me could tell me what lunch meat had to do with wireless communication.

  • I love the idea of using it, but between getting married, looking for better jobs, and maintaining friendships, I haven't found the time to study for the amateur radio exam, which appears to be considerable.

    GMRS is $35 and a license so that I can use a radio with my family, husband, and licensed friends while skiing or mountain biking, making localized communication easy, while the cert process was mostly friction free (looking at you, ancient FCC website and the guides needed to figure out licensing- something less dedicated people forgo, hint hint). The friction for getting ham licensed makes it difficult for young people who don't have much time for additional hobbies.

    I do hope it's around when I'm older and (hopefully) have more free time!

  • Present it as an alternative to social media -- one without the kinds of mental health issues and corporate controls.

    Present things like electronics tinkering as a life skill instead of a hobby. That includes the Tech license.

    It's a long shot, sure.

  • Offer alternatives such as all-beef radio, or turkey radio.

    Insert "soy radio" / [radio station you dislike] joke here

84 comments