Amateur radio operator explained

An amateur radio operator is someone who uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way personal communications with other amateur operators on radio frequencies assigned to the amateur radio service. Amateur radio operators have been granted an amateur radio license by 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 a call sign that they use to identify themselves during communication. About three million amateur radio operators are currently active worldwide.[1]

Amateur radio operators are also known as radio amateurs or hams. 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 adopted by amateur radio operators.

Demographics

CountryNumber of amateur
radio operators		% populationYear of
Report		Source
748,5190.2232024[4]
381,8990.3042021[5]
101,7630.1472018[6]
150,0000.0102019[7]
63,0700.0732019[8]
70,1980.1872018[9]
58,7000.1271999
75,6600.1142018[10]
42,6320.0822012[11]
38,0000.0261993
32,0530.0161997
32,0000.0372023[12]
30,0000.0491993
27,8150.0111997
13,5000.0192022[13]
17,2650.0372000
16,8890.0421999
15,8050.0412024[14]
15,4480.0602023[15]
15,6790.0012000
12,7900.1132023[16]
12,5820.072018[17]
11,2730.032023
9,0790.1522022[18]
6,5000.3172000
6,9300.0772022[19]
6,0000.121994
6,0000.0121994
6,8180.1252022[20]
5,3320.052023[21]
5,1160.0512023
5,0000.0902016[22]
3,9620.0562020[23]
3,5270.0182017[24]
3,2340.0332023[25]
1,9450.0392020[26] [27]
1,7450.0322023[28]
7000.0522020

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 the United States, Japan, and the nations of East Asia, North America, and Europe. The top five countries by percentage of the population are Slovenia, Japan, the United States, Canada, and Denmark. Only the governments of Yemen and North Korea currently prohibit their citizens from becoming amateur radio operators. In some countries, acquiring an amateur radio license is difficult because of the bureaucratic processes 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.

Gender

In the vast majority of countries, the population of amateur radio operators is predominantly male. In China, 12% of amateur radio operators are women,[29] while approximately 15% of amateur radio operators in the United States are women.[30] The Young Ladies Radio League is an international organization of female amateur radio operators.

A male amateur radio operator can be referred to as an OM, an abbreviation used in Morse code telegraphy for "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

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, the average age of amateur radio operators is relatively high. In some countries, the average age is 68 years old.

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. The average age of most amateur radio operators is approaching 70 in most European countries.

Some national radio societies have responded to the aging ham population by developing programs specifically to encourage youth participation in amateur radio, such as the American Radio Relay League's Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program.[31] The World Wide Young Contesters organization promotes youth involvement, particularly among Europeans, in competitive radio contesting. A strong tie also exists between the amateur radio community and the Scouting movement to introduce radio technology to youth. WOSM's annual Jamboree On The Air is 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

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

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:
ZZ..Canadian amateurs outside of Canada

Silent Key

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] The procedural signal "" (or "") has historically been used in Morse code as 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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Silver, H Ward . Ham Radio for Dummies . Wiley Publishing . Indianapolis . 23 April 2004 . 978-0-7645-5987-7 . 55092631.
  2. Telegraph Talk and Talkers . . L. C. . Hall . 18 . 3 . 230–231 . January 1902.
  3. Web site: Word Origins - Ham . United States Early Radio History . https://web.archive.org/web/20191115034734/http://earlyradiohistory.us/sec022.htm . 2019-11-15 . live.
  4. Web site: FCC License Counts . arrl.com . 2024-06-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240607141726/http://www.arrl.org/fcc-license-counts . 2024-06-07 . live.
  5. Web site: Hamlife.jp Database Ministry of Communication . 2021-10-13 .
  6. Web site: MCMC Register Of Apparatus Assignments Search . 2023-12-17 .
  7. Web site: 业余电台操作证书核发信息公告（ABC类及香港B类） . Amateur Radio Operation Certificate Issue Information Announcement (ABC Class and Hong Kong Class B) . Chinese Radio Amateurs Club . June 2019 . 2019-03-28 .
  8. Web site: Amateurfunk . Bundesnetzagentur . 2019.
  9. Web site: News - Canada: Amateur radio statistics 2018 . Southgate Amateur Radio Club . . 20 November 2020 . 3 March 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190303141441/http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/canada-amateur-radio-statistics.htm .
  10. Web site: How many UK radio amateurs are there?. 25 June 2023. 15 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230315145232/http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2018/september/how-many-uk-radio-amateurs-are-there.htm. dead.
  11. Web site: Triennial Report from KARL . iaru-r3.org . 2012-11-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160202022502/http://www.iaru-r3.org/15r3c/docs/019.doc . 2016-02-02 . dead .
  12. Web site: Deprem sonrası amatör telsizci başvuruları arttı . 2023-04-14 . www.trthaber.com . 14 March 2023 . tr.
  13. REF preliminary callsign statistics
  14. Web site: UKE Radioamator. amator.uke.gov.pl. 2024-06-07.
  15. Web site: ACMA Radiocomms license data . 2023-12-29 . acma.gov.au.
  16. SSA callsign statistics published in QTC 11/2023
  17. Agentschap Telecom - Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat Web site: Staat van de Ether 2018 . 2019-10-23 .
  18. Web site: Energistyrelsen Frekvensregister. frekvensregister.ens.dk.
  19. Web site: Rufzeichenliste österreichischer Amateurfunkstellen . 2022-02-15 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810204451/https://www.fb.gv.at/dam/jcr:78fda5c9-4e40-45b4-a48c-36d14d7b7692/Rufzeichenliste_AT_Stand_010222.pdf . dead .
  20. Nkom callsign statistics
  21. Web site: Individual licenses and call signs of Radio Amateur Service stations . ctu.cz . 2023-09-21.
  22. Web site: Mitä radioamatööritoiminta on? . https://web.archive.org/web/20040601133035/http://sral.fi/info/ . dead . 2004-06-01 . SRAL.fi . 2016-03-06.
  23. Web site: YU Amateur Radio Call Book . yu1srs.org.rs . 2020-03-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190917051420/http://callbook.yu1srs.org.rs/list/operator . 2019-09-17 . live.
  24. Web site: ANCOM Callbook Radioamatori . ancom.org.ro . 11 January 2018.
  25. Web site: call_sign_book.xml . nmhh.hu . 28 March 2023.
  26. Web site: COMREG Licensing Database. live. 2021-04-18. www.comreg.ie. 7 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171024032222/https://www.comreg.ie/industry/radio-spectrum/licensing/statistics/ . 24 October 2017 .
  27. Web site: Population and Migration Estimates April 2020 - CSO - Central Statistics Office. 2021-04-18. www.cso.ie. 20 August 2020.
  28. Web site: List of Slovakia Radio Amateur call signs . teleoff.gov.sk . 2023-09-21.
  29. The Current Status of Amateur Radio in the Mainland of China . Proceedings of the International Amateur Radio Union's Region 3 Twelfth Regional Conference . Chinese Radio Sports Association . 2004 . Document No. 04/XII/057 . 2 June 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060306192403/http://www.jarl.or.jp/iaru-r3/12r3c/docs/057.doc . 6 March 2006 . dead.
  30. News: A Study of Amateur Radio Gender Demographics . ARRL.org . Kenneth E . Harker . 15 March 2005 . 13 July 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070223193600/http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2005/03/15/1/?nc=1 . 23 February 2007.
  31. Web site: The ARRL Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program . ARRL.org . 2007-07-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070625204553/http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ . 2007-06-25 . live.
  32. Web site: All about JOTA . Scout.org . September 2006 . 2008-04-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080509184558/http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/events/jota/all_about_jota . 2008-05-09 . dead.
  33. http://hamdata.com/states.html Amateurs by State
  34. Web site: Reporting a Silent Key . Amateur Radio Relay League . 6 January 2017.
  35. Web site: CW Operating Aids . AC6V . 6 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170228194724/http://www.ac6v.com/morseaids.htm . 28 February 2017 . dead .

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