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Amateur radio operator

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NASA astronaut Col.Doug Wheelock,KF5BOC,Expedition 24flight engineer, operates the NA1SS ham radio station in theZvezda Service Moduleof theInternational Space Station.Equipment is aKenwoodTM-D700E transceiver.

Anamateur radio operatoris someone who uses equipment at anamateur radio stationto engage intwo-waypersonal communications with other amateur operators onradio frequenciesassigned to the amateur radio service.Amateur radio operators have been granted anamateur radio licenseby a governmental regulatory authority after passing an examination on applicable regulations, electronics, radio theory, and radio operation. As a component of their license, amateur radio operators are assigned acall signthat they use to identify themselves during communication. About three million amateur radio operators are currently active worldwide.[1]

Amateur radio operators are also known asradio amateursorhams.The term "ham"as a nickname for amateur radio operators originated in a pejorative usage (like "ham actor" ) by operators in commercial and professional radio communities, and dates to wired telegraphy.[2][3]The word was subsequently[when?]adopted by amateur radio operators.[citation needed]

Demographics

[edit]
Country Number of amateur
radio operators 		% population Year of
Report 		Source
United States 748,519 0.223 2024 [4]
Japan 381,899 0.304 2021 [5]
Thailand 101,763 0.147 2018 [6]
China 240,000 0.017 2024 [7]
Germany 63,070 0.073 2019 [8]
Canada 70,198 0.187 2018 [9]
Spain 58,700 0.127 1999 [6]
United Kingdom 75,660 0.114 2018 [10]
South Korea 42,632 0.082 2012 [11]
Russia 38,000 0.026 1993 [6]
Brazil 32,053 0.016 1997 [6]
Turkey 32,000 0.037 2023 [12]
Italy 30,000 0.049 1993 [6]
Indonesia 27,815 0.011 1997 [6]
France 13,500 0.019 2022 [13]
Ukraine 17,265 0.037 2000 [6]
Argentina 16,889 0.042 1999 [6]
Poland 15,805 0.041 2024 [14]
Australia 15,448 0.060 2023 [15]
India 15,679 0.001 2000 [6]
Sweden 12,790 0.113 2023 [16]
Netherlands 12,582 0.07 2018 [17]
Malaysia 11,273 0.03 2023 [6]
Denmark 9,079 0.152 2022 [18]
Slovenia 6,500 0.317 2000 [6]
Austria 6,930 0.077 2022 [19]
New Zealand 6,000 0.12 1994 [6]
South Africa 6,000 0.012 1994 [6]
Norway 6,818 0.125 2022 [20]
Czech Republic 5,332 0.05 2023 [21]
Portugal 5,116 0.051 2023
Finland 5,000 0.090 2016 [22]
Serbia 3,962 0.056 2020 [23]
Romania 3,527 0.018 2017 [24]
Hungary 3,234 0.033 2023 [25]
Ireland 1,945 0.039 2020 [26][27]
Slovakia 1,745 0.032 2023 [28]
Estonia 700 0.052 2020

Few governments maintain detailed demographic statistics of their amateur radio operator populations, aside from recording the total number of licensed operators. The majority of amateur radio operators worldwide reside in theUnited States,Japan,and the nations ofEast Asia,North America,andEurope.The top five countries by percentage of the population areSlovenia,Japan,theUnited States,Canada,andDenmark.Only the governments ofYemenandNorth Koreacurrently prohibit theircitizensfrom becoming amateur radio operators. In some countries, acquiring an amateur radio license is difficult because of thebureaucraticprocesses or fees that place access to a license out of reach for most citizens. Most nations permit foreign nationals to earn an amateur radio license, but very few amateur radio operators are licensed in multiple countries.[citation needed]

Gender

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In the vast majority of countries, the population of amateur radio operators is predominantlymale.InChina,12% of amateur radio operators are women,[29]while approximately 15% of amateur radio operators in the United States are women.[30]TheYoung Ladies Radio Leagueis an international organization of female amateur radio operators.[citation needed]

A male amateur radio operator can be referred to as an OM, an abbreviation used inMorse codetelegraphyfor "old man", regardless of the operator's age. A single female amateur radio operator can be referred to as a YL, from the abbreviation used for "young lady", regardless of the operator's age. A licensed married female is sometimes referred to as an XYL.

Age

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Most countries do not have a minimum age requirement in order to earn an amateur radio license and become an amateur radio operator. Although the number of amateur radio operators in many countries increases from year to year,[citation needed]the average age of amateur radio operators is relatively high. In some countries, the average age is 68 years old.[citation needed]

The unfavourable age distribution has led to a slow decrease in amateur operator numbers in most industrialised countries due to attrition, but in countries which do not apply yearly licence fees, the effects are not immediately noticed. It has been estimated from German statistics, which are considered the most reliable, that the net decrease currently is in the order of 1 to 1.5% per year.[citation needed]The average age of most amateur radio operators is approaching 70 in most European countries.[citation needed]

Some national radio societies have responded to the aging ham population by developing programs specifically to encourage youth participation inamateur radio,such as theAmerican Radio Relay League's Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program.[31]TheWorld Wide Young Contestersorganization promotes youth involvement, particularly among Europeans, in competitive radiocontesting.A strong tie also exists between the amateur radio community and theScoutingmovement to introduce radio technology to youth.WOSM's annualJamboree On The Airis Scouting's largest activity, with a half million Scouts and Guides speaking with each other using amateur radio each October.[32]

US amateurs by state

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State Total % Rank Club
AA 4 0.00 59 0
AE 157 0.02 56 0
AK 3847 0.46 45 80
AL 13228 1.59 22 244
AP 144 0.02 57 1
AR 8914 1.07 31 129
AS 25 0.00 58 3
AZ 22166 2.78 12 249
CA 115787 13.93 1 1528
CO 20369 2.45 16 222
CT 8178 0.98 32 188
DC 587 0.07 52 54
DE 1930 0.23 50 38
FL 46856 5.64 3 610
GA 20650 2.48 14 390
GU 334 0.04 54 13
HI 4386 0.53 43 117
IA 6993 0.84 35 119
ID 10404 1.25 28 85
IL 21467 2.58 13 367
IN 16798 2.02 18 303
KS 7953 0.96 33 143
KY 10376 1.25 29 147
LA 6823 0.82 37 166
MA 14641 1.76 21 272
MD 12139 1.46 25 184
ME 4980 0.60 41 81
MI 22834 2.75 9 375
MN 12520 1.51 23 185
MO 16699 2.01 19 262
MP 353 0.04 53 18
MS 5849 0.70 39 131
MT 4450 0.54 42 63
NC 23549 2.83 8 337
ND 1729 0.21 51 53
NE 4083 0.49 44 81
NH 6035 0.73 38 112
NJ 14834 1.78 20 295
NM 7237 0.87 34 131
NV 8918 1.07 30 112
NY 29588 3.56 6 531
OH 30148 3.63 5 511
OK 10701 1.29 27 152
OR 22242 2.68 10 354
PA 26132 3.14 7 437
PR 5117 0.62 40 108
RI 2143 0.26 48 71
SC 10844 1.30 26 147
SD 2122 0.26 49 33
TN 20416 2.46 15 261
TX 58415 7.03 2 737
UT 19513 2.35 17 116
VA 22217 2.67 11 298
VI 298 0.04 55 27
VT 2307 0.28 46 59
WA 37494 4.51 4 515
WI 12178 1.47 24 215
WV 6854 0.82 36 78
WY 2281 0.27 47 37

NOTE:[33]
AA..US Armed Forces Americas
AE..US Armed Forces Africa/Canada/Europe/Middle East
AP..US Armed Forces Pacific
AS..American Samoa
GU..Guam
MP..Mariana Islands
PR..Puerto Rico
VI..US Virgin Islands

Canadian amateurs by province

[edit]
Province Total Rank
AB 7700 4
NL 1473 10
ON 23270 1
YT 214 12
BC 18827 3
NS 2647 5
PE 311 11
ZZ 1774 7
MB 2161 6
NT 95 13
QC 19039 2
NB 1688 8
NU 28 14
SK 1624 9

NOTE:[33]
ZZ..Canadian amateurs outside of Canada

Silent Key

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When referring to a person, the phrase Silent Key, and its abbreviation SK, is a euphemism for an amateur radio operator who is deceased.[34]Theprocedural signal"SK"(or"VA") has historically been used inMorse codeas the last signal sent from a station before ending operation,[35]usually just before shutting off the transmitter. Since this was the last signal received by other operators, the code was adopted to refer to any amateur radio operator who is deceased, regardless of whether they were known to have used telegraphy in their communications.[citation needed]

[edit]
  • An operator working HF
    An operator workingHF
  • An operator working HF
    An operator workingHF
  • Amateur Radio station equipped for reception of VLF signals.
    Amateur Radio station equipped for reception ofVLFsignals.
  • Amateur radio students
    Amateur radio students

Notable amateur radio operators

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References

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  1. ^Silver, H Ward (23 April 2004).Ham Radio for Dummies.Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing.ISBN978-0-7645-5987-7.OCLC55092631.
  2. ^Hall, L. C. (January 1902). "Telegraph Talk and Talkers".McClure's Magazine.Vol. 18, no. 3. pp. 230–231.
  3. ^"Word Origins - Ham".United States Early Radio History.Archivedfrom the original on 15 November 2019.
  4. ^"FCC License Counts".arrl.Archivedfrom the original on 7 June 2024.Retrieved7 June2024.
  5. ^"Hamlife.jp Database Ministry of Communication".Archivedfrom the original on 11 October 2021.Retrieved13 October2021.
  6. ^abcdefghijklm"MCMC Register Of Apparatus Assignments Search".Archived fromthe originalon 16 December 2023.Retrieved17 December2023.
  7. ^CRAC(30 June 2024)."C loại nghiệp dư điện đài vô tuyến thao tác kỹ thuật năng lực nghiệm chứng khảo hạch lần đầu ở Tế Nam cử hành"(in Simplified Chinese). Archived fromthe originalon 24 August 2024.Retrieved24 August2024.
  8. ^"Amateurfunk".Bundesnetzagentur. 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2023.Retrieved13 January2019.
  9. ^"News - Canada: Amateur radio statistics 2018".Southgate Amateur Radio Club.Rayleigh, Essex,England.Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2019.Retrieved20 November2020.
  10. ^"How many UK radio amateurs are there?".Archived fromthe originalon 15 March 2023.Retrieved25 June2023.
  11. ^"Triennial Report from KARL".iaru-r3.org.Archived fromthe originalon 2 February 2016.Retrieved4 November2012.
  12. ^"Deprem sonrası amatör telsizci başvuruları arttı".trthaber(in Turkish). 14 March 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved14 April2023.
  13. ^REF preliminary callsign statistics
  14. ^"UKE Radioamator".amator.uke.gov.pl.Archivedfrom the original on 23 September 2023.Retrieved7 June2024.
  15. ^"ACMA Radiocomms license data".acma.gov.au.Archivedfrom the original on 15 January 2021.Retrieved29 December2023.
  16. ^SSA callsign statistics published in QTC 11/2023
  17. ^Agentschap Telecom - Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat"Staat van de Ether 2018".Archived fromthe originalon 23 October 2019.Retrieved23 October2019.
  18. ^"Energistyrelsen Frekvensregister".frekvensregister.ens.dk.Archivedfrom the original on 22 December 2023.Retrieved15 May2022.
  19. ^"Rufzeichenliste österreichischer Amateurfunkstellen"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 10 August 2022.Retrieved15 February2022.
  20. ^Nkom callsign statistics
  21. ^"Individual licenses and call signs of Radio Amateur Service stations".ctu.cz.Archivedfrom the original on 5 October 2023.Retrieved21 September2023.
  22. ^"Mitä radioamatööritoiminta on?".SRAL.fi.Archived fromthe originalon 1 June 2004.Retrieved6 March2016.
  23. ^"YU Amateur Radio Call Book".yu1srs.org.rs.Archivedfrom the original on 17 September 2019.Retrieved30 March2020.
  24. ^"ANCOM Callbook Radioamatori".ancom.org.ro.Archivedfrom the original on 11 January 2018.Retrieved11 January2018.
  25. ^"call_sign_book.xml".nmhh.hu.Archivedfrom the original on 28 March 2023.Retrieved28 March2023.
  26. ^"COMREG Licensing Database".comreg.ie.7 March 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 24 October 2017.Retrieved18 April2021.
  27. ^"Population and Migration Estimates April 2020 - CSO - Central Statistics Office".cso.ie.20 August 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 24 August 2020.Retrieved18 April2021.
  28. ^"List of Slovakia Radio Amateur call signs".teleoff.gov.sk.Archived fromthe originalon 5 October 2023.Retrieved21 September2023.
  29. ^Chinese Radio Sports Association (2004)."The Current Status of Amateur Radio in the Mainland of China".Proceedings of the International Amateur Radio Union's Region 3 Twelfth Regional Conference.Document No. 04/XII/057. Archived fromthe originalon 6 March 2006.Retrieved2 June2006.
  30. ^Harker, Kenneth E (15 March 2005)."A Study of Amateur Radio Gender Demographics".ARRL.org.Archived fromthe originalon 23 February 2007.Retrieved13 July2007.
  31. ^"The ARRL Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program".ARRL.org.Archivedfrom the original on 25 June 2007.Retrieved13 July2007.
  32. ^"All about JOTA".Scout.org.September 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 9 May 2008.Retrieved30 April2008.
  33. ^abAmateurs by Stategenerates a SSL_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION error message
  34. ^"Reporting a Silent Key".Amateur Radio Relay League.Archivedfrom the original on 7 January 2017.Retrieved6 January2017.
  35. ^"CW Operating Aids".AC6V. Archived fromthe originalon 28 February 2017.Retrieved6 January2017.
  36. ^"David Packard and Amateur Radio"(PDF).Stanford University.Archived(PDF)from the original on 25 July 2021.Retrieved15 September2021.
  37. ^"List"(PDF).ariss.org.Archived(PDF)from the original on 5 October 2023.Retrieved25 June2023.
  38. ^"ULS License - Vanity License - K6FLM - Maytag, Frederick L".Archivedfrom the original on 5 October 2023.Retrieved30 April2022.
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