Simplex Is Not the Problem… It's the Solution
12/07/26 06:16
Why Simplex and Weak Signal Operating Still Matter
By Greg Lewis, N5XO
Over the past several years I've heard the same comment repeated more times than I can count.
"Simplex nets are a bad idea."
Usually that opinion comes from someone who simply cannot participate effectively on simplex because their station, antenna system, or operating location doesn't allow it. The conclusion they reach is that all nets belong on repeatersbecause "that's where everyone can hear everyone."
I respectfully disagree.
In fact, I believe that mindset runs contrary to one of the very foundations upon which Amateur Radio was built.
Let's Define the Difference
Before we go any further, let's make sure we're talking about the same thing.
A Simplex Net
A simplex net operates with every station transmitting and receiving on the same frequency, with no repeater or outside infrastructure involved.
Every signal you hear is traveling directly from one station to another.
Your success depends upon:
Your station.
A Weak Signal Net
A Weak Signal Net is a specialized form of simplex operation.
Instead of simply trying to communicate locally, operators intentionally push the limits of their stations to make contacts at remarkable distances using modes such as:
They're looking for the contact everyone else thinks can't be made.
That's experimentation.
That's engineering.
That's Amateur Radio.
Repeaters Are Wonderful...
Let's be perfectly clear.
I own repeaters.
I appreciate repeaters.
Repeaters serve an incredibly valuable purpose.
They allow handheld operators to communicate over large areas.
They support emergency coordination.
They provide daily conversation and fellowship.
They introduce countless newcomers to our hobby.
Repeaters absolutely have their place.
But...
They should never become a crutch.
What Happens When the Repeater Isn't There?
This is the question every Amateur Radio operator should honestly ask themselves.
What happens when:
If your entire Amateur Radio experience depends upon talking through a repeater...
...your communications capability just disappeared.
The operator who regularly practices simplex doesn't have that problem.
Neither does the Weak Signal operator.
They're already accustomed to communicating directly.
Exactly the way Amateur Radio was originally designed.
Emergency Communications Begins With Direct Communications
One of the stated purposes of Amateur Radio is providing emergency communications.
Notice what it doesn't say.
It doesn't say:
"Emergency communications...provided the repeater is still working."
Infrastructure is wonderful...
until it isn't.
History has shown us repeatedly that hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, wildfires, and other disasters don't always leave infrastructure standing.
The operator who has learned how to communicate directly station-to-station possesses a skill that cannot be replaced by a taller tower or a more elaborate repeater system.
Amateur Radio Has Always Been About Pushing Limits
One of my favorite things about this hobby is that hams have spent over a century proving people wrong.
How many times have we heard...
"That band is useless."
"Those frequencies are garbage."
"You'll never communicate very far on that."
We've heard it over...
and over...
and over.
Then hams went out and did exactly that.
Six meters?
Called "The Magic Band."
Two Meter SSB?
Hundreds of miles.
432 MHz?
Hundreds of miles.
1296 MHz?
Hundreds of miles.
Microwave?
Thousands of successful contacts.
Moonbounce?
Signals literally traveling nearly half a million miles.
Every generation of Amateur Radio operators has expanded what people believed was possible.
Not by accepting limitations...
But by challenging them.
Our Nets Are Proving the Point
Here in South Texas, our Simplex and Weak Signal Nets continue demonstrating exactly why these activities matter.
Week after week we hear stations checking in from distances that surprise many operators.
Some are using modest stations.
Others have invested in improving antennas, feedlines, mast height, low-noise preamps, or operating techniques.
Many of those improvements happened because someone listened during a net and thought:
"If they can do it...maybe I can too."
That's exactly the kind of inspiration our hobby needs.
I've watched operators upgrade from:
Each improvement expanded their capabilities.
Each improvement made them a better operator.
No repeater could have taught those lessons.
Don't Lower the Standard...
Raise Your Station
If simplex is difficult...
don't give up.
Improve your station.
Raise the antenna.
Replace poor coax.
Experiment with antenna designs.
Learn about feedline loss.
Study propagation.
Try horizontal polarization.
Optimize your equipment.
Ask questions.
Learn from operators who have already traveled that road.
The answer isn't to abandon simplex.
The answer is to become better at simplex.
That journey is where Amateur Radio becomes truly rewarding.
The Culture We Should Encourage
Instead of saying:
"Simplex doesn't work."
Let's ask:
"How can we make it work better?"
Instead of saying:
"You need a repeater."
Let's ask:
"How can we improve your station so you don't?"
That subtle difference changes everything.
One accepts limitations.
The other overcomes them.
The Spirit of Amateur Radio
At its heart, Amateur Radio has never been about taking the easiest path.
It's about learning.
Experimenting.
Building.
Improving.
Teaching.
Mentoring.
Sharing.
Discovering.
If every contact is made through infrastructure built by someone else...
we miss one of the greatest educational opportunities this hobby offers.
Simplex reminds us that our station matters.
Weak Signal reminds us that our imagination matters.
My Challenge
If you've never joined a Simplex Net...
Give it a try.
If you've never operated 2 Meter SSB...
Borrow a radio.
Listen.
Ask questions.
If your station isn't reaching as far as you'd like...
Don't become discouraged.
Become curious.
Every antenna improvement teaches something.
Every foot of added height matters.
Every better connector, every lower-loss feedline, every improved operating technique moves you one step farther down the road.
You may surprise yourself.
And one evening you'll hear a distant station answer your call—a station you never imagined you could work.
That moment is what Amateur Radio is all about.
Not because a repeater connected you.
But because you connected.
That is the spirit of Amateur Radio.
That is why we continue promoting Simplex and Weak Signal operation.
Not because repeaters are unimportant.
But because Amateur Radio has always belonged to those willing to discover what lies just beyond the horizon.
And history has shown, time and time again...
Those horizons are always farther away than we first believed.
73,
Greg Lewis – N5XO Founder, HAMster Weak Signal Group Emergency Coordinator – Bandera County ARES
By Greg Lewis, N5XO
Over the past several years I've heard the same comment repeated more times than I can count.
"Simplex nets are a bad idea."
Usually that opinion comes from someone who simply cannot participate effectively on simplex because their station, antenna system, or operating location doesn't allow it. The conclusion they reach is that all nets belong on repeatersbecause "that's where everyone can hear everyone."
I respectfully disagree.
In fact, I believe that mindset runs contrary to one of the very foundations upon which Amateur Radio was built.
Let's Define the Difference
Before we go any further, let's make sure we're talking about the same thing.
A Simplex Net
A simplex net operates with every station transmitting and receiving on the same frequency, with no repeater or outside infrastructure involved.
Every signal you hear is traveling directly from one station to another.
Your success depends upon:
- Your antenna
- Your feedline
- Your radio
- Your operating technique
- Your location
- Your understanding of propagation
Your station.
A Weak Signal Net
A Weak Signal Net is a specialized form of simplex operation.
Instead of simply trying to communicate locally, operators intentionally push the limits of their stations to make contacts at remarkable distances using modes such as:
- 2 Meter SSB
- 70 cm SSB
- CW
- Digital modes
- Tropospheric enhancement
- Meteor Scatter
- EME (Earth-Moon-Earth)
- Microwave bands
They're looking for the contact everyone else thinks can't be made.
That's experimentation.
That's engineering.
That's Amateur Radio.
Repeaters Are Wonderful...
Let's be perfectly clear.
I own repeaters.
I appreciate repeaters.
Repeaters serve an incredibly valuable purpose.
They allow handheld operators to communicate over large areas.
They support emergency coordination.
They provide daily conversation and fellowship.
They introduce countless newcomers to our hobby.
Repeaters absolutely have their place.
But...
They should never become a crutch.
What Happens When the Repeater Isn't There?
This is the question every Amateur Radio operator should honestly ask themselves.
What happens when:
- Commercial power fails?
- The backup battery dies?
- Lightning destroys the controller?
- The tower collapses?
- Internet linking disappears?
- Fuel for generators runs out?
- Multiple repeaters fail simultaneously?
If your entire Amateur Radio experience depends upon talking through a repeater...
...your communications capability just disappeared.
The operator who regularly practices simplex doesn't have that problem.
Neither does the Weak Signal operator.
They're already accustomed to communicating directly.
Exactly the way Amateur Radio was originally designed.
Emergency Communications Begins With Direct Communications
One of the stated purposes of Amateur Radio is providing emergency communications.
Notice what it doesn't say.
It doesn't say:
"Emergency communications...provided the repeater is still working."
Infrastructure is wonderful...
until it isn't.
History has shown us repeatedly that hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, wildfires, and other disasters don't always leave infrastructure standing.
The operator who has learned how to communicate directly station-to-station possesses a skill that cannot be replaced by a taller tower or a more elaborate repeater system.
Amateur Radio Has Always Been About Pushing Limits
One of my favorite things about this hobby is that hams have spent over a century proving people wrong.
How many times have we heard...
"That band is useless."
"Those frequencies are garbage."
"You'll never communicate very far on that."
We've heard it over...
and over...
and over.
Then hams went out and did exactly that.
Six meters?
Called "The Magic Band."
Two Meter SSB?
Hundreds of miles.
432 MHz?
Hundreds of miles.
1296 MHz?
Hundreds of miles.
Microwave?
Thousands of successful contacts.
Moonbounce?
Signals literally traveling nearly half a million miles.
Every generation of Amateur Radio operators has expanded what people believed was possible.
Not by accepting limitations...
But by challenging them.
Our Nets Are Proving the Point
Here in South Texas, our Simplex and Weak Signal Nets continue demonstrating exactly why these activities matter.
Week after week we hear stations checking in from distances that surprise many operators.
Some are using modest stations.
Others have invested in improving antennas, feedlines, mast height, low-noise preamps, or operating techniques.
Many of those improvements happened because someone listened during a net and thought:
"If they can do it...maybe I can too."
That's exactly the kind of inspiration our hobby needs.
I've watched operators upgrade from:
- A handheld to a mobile.
- A mobile whip to a quality base antenna.
- Vertical polarization to horizontal polarization for Weak Signal.
- Fifty feet of lossy coax to quality low-loss feedline.
- Simple installations to carefully engineered stations.
Each improvement expanded their capabilities.
Each improvement made them a better operator.
No repeater could have taught those lessons.
Don't Lower the Standard...
Raise Your Station
If simplex is difficult...
don't give up.
Improve your station.
Raise the antenna.
Replace poor coax.
Experiment with antenna designs.
Learn about feedline loss.
Study propagation.
Try horizontal polarization.
Optimize your equipment.
Ask questions.
Learn from operators who have already traveled that road.
The answer isn't to abandon simplex.
The answer is to become better at simplex.
That journey is where Amateur Radio becomes truly rewarding.
The Culture We Should Encourage
Instead of saying:
"Simplex doesn't work."
Let's ask:
"How can we make it work better?"
Instead of saying:
"You need a repeater."
Let's ask:
"How can we improve your station so you don't?"
That subtle difference changes everything.
One accepts limitations.
The other overcomes them.
The Spirit of Amateur Radio
At its heart, Amateur Radio has never been about taking the easiest path.
It's about learning.
Experimenting.
Building.
Improving.
Teaching.
Mentoring.
Sharing.
Discovering.
If every contact is made through infrastructure built by someone else...
we miss one of the greatest educational opportunities this hobby offers.
Simplex reminds us that our station matters.
Weak Signal reminds us that our imagination matters.
My Challenge
If you've never joined a Simplex Net...
Give it a try.
If you've never operated 2 Meter SSB...
Borrow a radio.
Listen.
Ask questions.
If your station isn't reaching as far as you'd like...
Don't become discouraged.
Become curious.
Every antenna improvement teaches something.
Every foot of added height matters.
Every better connector, every lower-loss feedline, every improved operating technique moves you one step farther down the road.
You may surprise yourself.
And one evening you'll hear a distant station answer your call—a station you never imagined you could work.
That moment is what Amateur Radio is all about.
Not because a repeater connected you.
But because you connected.
That is the spirit of Amateur Radio.
That is why we continue promoting Simplex and Weak Signal operation.
Not because repeaters are unimportant.
But because Amateur Radio has always belonged to those willing to discover what lies just beyond the horizon.
And history has shown, time and time again...
Those horizons are always farther away than we first believed.
73,
Greg Lewis – N5XO Founder, HAMster Weak Signal Group Emergency Coordinator – Bandera County ARES
The Next Chapter for the HAMsters Has Begun!
08/07/26 10:17
HAMsters Antenna Building Workshop a Huge Success!
20/06/26 14:44
Building Knowledge, Building Antennas, Building Better Operators
The HAMsters Amateur Radio Group enjoyed an outstanding day of hands-on learning, construction, testing, and camaraderie on Saturday, June 20th, as members gathered for our Carolina Windom Antenna Building Workshop.
This project actually began at our May meeting, where we introduced the Carolina Windom antenna concept to our newer and less experienced operators. During that session, we explored how the antenna works, discussed its unique design characteristics, reviewed the materials required, and explained why the Carolina Windom has earned a reputation as a strong-performing HF antenna capable of providing excellent multi-band performance.
Over the past month, members gathered the necessary components, prepared materials, and came ready to put theory into practice.
Today was build day.
Working together in multiple teams, our members assembled two full-size Carolina Windom antennas designed primarily for 80-meter operation. Once construction was completed, we moved outdoors to the American Red Cross grounds where the antennas were temporarily installed among the trees for live testing and tuning.
One of the most valuable portions of the workshop involved teaching the practical skills that every HF operator eventually needs to master:
- Understanding SWR and antenna resonance
- Determining whether an antenna is too long or too short
- Learning how frequency shifts indicate required adjustments
- Properly lengthening or shortening antenna elements
- Setting realistic performance expectations
- Understanding the tuning process from start to finish
The results were excellent.
By the end of the day, three HAMsters members headed home with antennas that should provide many years of strong HF performance and countless enjoyable contacts across the amateur bands.
Just as importantly, everyone left with a much better understanding of antenna theory and practical station building skills.
The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic. We had enough participation to divide into multiple build teams, allowing experienced operators and newer hams to work side-by-side, share ideas, answer questions, and learn from one another. That spirit of mentorship and fellowship is exactly what amateur radio is all about.
Personally, I had an absolute blast. Judging by the smiles, conversations, and enthusiasm throughout the day, I believe everyone else did as well.
A special thank you goes out to everyone who participated, helped organize the event, and contributed their time and expertise to make the workshop a success.
Photos from the event, courtesy of Ruth Lewis (KE5MHJ) and Frank (K5GNU), have been uploaded to our Events and Activities Photo Library for everyone to enjoy.
In addition, the complete Carolina Windom construction and tuning guide used during the class has been added to our Technical Library for future reference.
This workshop demonstrated something we've always believed within the HAMsters organization: when experienced operators share their knowledge and newer operators are willing to learn, everyone benefits.
Today wasn't just about building antennas.
It was about building skills, building confidence, and building the future of amateur radio.
A great day, great people, and great radio.
73,
Greg Lewis, N5XO Founder, HAMsters Amateur Radio Group
Are Hamfest dying? - A hard truth many of us don't want to admit
13/06/26 18:04
By Greg Lewis – N5XO
I never considered myself a negative person.
I’ve always been the “glass half full” kind of guy. I try to look forward, stay optimistic, and focus on the good in both life and Amateur Radio.
But after today, I honestly have to ask a question that a lot of longtime operators are quietly asking themselves:
Are hamfests dying?
And if they are…what happened?
The last several hamfests we’ve attended have honestly been disappointing, but today was the one that finally hit hard enough to make me sit down and write this.
We drove almost five hours to Dallas for what historically had been considered a pretty decent hamfest.
Not a local quick drive.
Not a casual stop.
A full commitment.
Fuel.
Time.
Planning.
We originally intended to spend the ENTIRE day there.
The plan was simple:
Enjoy the hamfest, spend the evening in Dallas, get a hotel room, relax, and make the long drive home the next morning.
Instead?
We arrived around 8:15 AM.
By roughly 10:30 AM, we were already back on the highway heading home.
And by 3:00 PM…
We were already back in San Antonio.
Think about that for a moment.
A five-hour drive each direction for an event we completely finished walking through—in detail—in barely over two hours.
Not because we were rushed.
Not because we skipped sections.
But because there simply wasn’t much there.
We walked the event twice.
Saw everything.
Talked to a few people.
And realized there was absolutely no reason to stay.
That honestly hurt to admit.
Because it wasn’t always this way.
There was a time when hamfests were absolutely packed.
Parking lots overflowing.
Tailgate areas stretched forever.
Vendor buildings wall-to-wall with equipment.
You could barely walk through some events because of the crowds.
You saw old friends every ten feet.
You found equipment you didn’t even know you needed.
You spent all day digging through treasures, talking radio, learning something new, and soaking in the atmosphere.
Hamfests used to feel alive.
Now many feel like they’re quietly fading away.
And this isn’t just one event.
Over the last four years we’ve seen the same pattern again and again:
That one still had energy.
Crowds.
Real vendor turnout.
Excitement.
You could FEEL the hobby there.
But most others?
They honestly feel like they’re struggling to survive.
So what changed?
I think several things happened all at once.
The Internet Replaced the Marketplace
Years ago, hamfests WERE the marketplace.
If you needed a radio, amplifier, tube, rotor, connector, coax, hard-to-find part, or used gear, you went to hamfests.
Today?
You can buy nearly anything online in minutes.
Amazon.
eBay.
QRZ classifieds.
Facebook Marketplace.
HRO.
DX Engineering.
The entire world became one giant 24-hour online hamfest.
That changed everything.
The Hobby Changed Generations
Another reality people don’t like talking about is this:
A lot of newer operators simply are not interested in older equipment.
The days of people digging through dusty boxes of crystals, tubes, coils, and mystery parts are fading fast.
Today’s newer operators often entered the hobby through:
COVID Changed Social Habits Permanently
I also believe COVID did far more long-term damage to Amateur Radio gatherings than many people realize.
Some older operators stopped attending large gatherings and never returned.
Some became less mobile.
Some lost interest.
And sadly, many became Silent Keys.
At the same time, online communities exploded.
Zoom meetings replaced club gatherings.
Forums replaced coffee circles.
Discord replaced hangouts.
YouTube replaced Elmers.
Convenience replaced physical attendance.
Clubs Are Aging Faster Than They’re Growing
This may be the hardest truth of all.
Many clubs today are being carried by the same small group of aging volunteers trying to hold everything together.
Burnout is real.
Attendance is shrinking.
And newer operators often don’t join clubs the way earlier generations did.
They learn online.
Buy online.
Operate online.
And many simply never develop attachment to local ham communities.
But Here’s What I Do NOT Believe
I do NOT believe Amateur Radio itself is dying.
Not even remotely.
In many ways, the hobby is technologically stronger and more diverse than ever before.
Weak signal work is growing again.
SDRs are incredible.
Mesh networking is exploding.
Digital experimentation is everywhere.
Satellite operations are easier than ever.
Portable operating is booming.
The hobby itself still has enormous life left in it.
But I DO believe the traditional hamfest model is in serious trouble.
Because rows of used equipment sitting on folding tables is no longer enough.
Today’s operators need experiences.
Demonstrations.
Hands-on activity.
Satellite stations.
Weak signal demos.
Portable operating setups.
Mesh displays.
Fox hunts.
Digital workshops.
Maker projects.
Youth involvement.
Energy.
Excitement.
Something that reminds people WHY this hobby is still amazing.
Because if hamfests continue becoming little more than shrinking flea markets full of aging equipment and empty aisles…
We are going to keep watching attendance collapse.
And that would be tragic.
Because hamfests were never just about buying radios.
They were about community.
Friendships.
Mentorship.
Excitement.
Shared passion.
And for many of us…
That part of Amateur Radio was every bit as important as the radios themselves.
I never considered myself a negative person.
I’ve always been the “glass half full” kind of guy. I try to look forward, stay optimistic, and focus on the good in both life and Amateur Radio.
But after today, I honestly have to ask a question that a lot of longtime operators are quietly asking themselves:
Are hamfests dying?
And if they are…what happened?
The last several hamfests we’ve attended have honestly been disappointing, but today was the one that finally hit hard enough to make me sit down and write this.
We drove almost five hours to Dallas for what historically had been considered a pretty decent hamfest.
Not a local quick drive.
Not a casual stop.
A full commitment.
Fuel.
Time.
Planning.
We originally intended to spend the ENTIRE day there.
The plan was simple:
Enjoy the hamfest, spend the evening in Dallas, get a hotel room, relax, and make the long drive home the next morning.
Instead?
We arrived around 8:15 AM.
By roughly 10:30 AM, we were already back on the highway heading home.
And by 3:00 PM…
We were already back in San Antonio.
Think about that for a moment.
A five-hour drive each direction for an event we completely finished walking through—in detail—in barely over two hours.
Not because we were rushed.
Not because we skipped sections.
But because there simply wasn’t much there.
We walked the event twice.
Saw everything.
Talked to a few people.
And realized there was absolutely no reason to stay.
That honestly hurt to admit.
Because it wasn’t always this way.
There was a time when hamfests were absolutely packed.
Parking lots overflowing.
Tailgate areas stretched forever.
Vendor buildings wall-to-wall with equipment.
You could barely walk through some events because of the crowds.
You saw old friends every ten feet.
You found equipment you didn’t even know you needed.
You spent all day digging through treasures, talking radio, learning something new, and soaking in the atmosphere.
Hamfests used to feel alive.
Now many feel like they’re quietly fading away.
And this isn’t just one event.
Over the last four years we’ve seen the same pattern again and again:
- Fewer vendors.
- Fewer tables.
- Smaller crowds.
- Less excitement.
- Less energy.
- More empty space than activity.
That one still had energy.
Crowds.
Real vendor turnout.
Excitement.
You could FEEL the hobby there.
But most others?
They honestly feel like they’re struggling to survive.
So what changed?
I think several things happened all at once.
The Internet Replaced the Marketplace
Years ago, hamfests WERE the marketplace.
If you needed a radio, amplifier, tube, rotor, connector, coax, hard-to-find part, or used gear, you went to hamfests.
Today?
You can buy nearly anything online in minutes.
Amazon.
eBay.
QRZ classifieds.
Facebook Marketplace.
HRO.
DX Engineering.
The entire world became one giant 24-hour online hamfest.
That changed everything.
The Hobby Changed Generations
Another reality people don’t like talking about is this:
A lot of newer operators simply are not interested in older equipment.
The days of people digging through dusty boxes of crystals, tubes, coils, and mystery parts are fading fast.
Today’s newer operators often entered the hobby through:
- SDRs
- Digital modes
- Satellites
- POTA
- Mesh networking
- DMR/Fusion
- Emergency communications
- Portable operations
- YouTube creators
COVID Changed Social Habits Permanently
I also believe COVID did far more long-term damage to Amateur Radio gatherings than many people realize.
Some older operators stopped attending large gatherings and never returned.
Some became less mobile.
Some lost interest.
And sadly, many became Silent Keys.
At the same time, online communities exploded.
Zoom meetings replaced club gatherings.
Forums replaced coffee circles.
Discord replaced hangouts.
YouTube replaced Elmers.
Convenience replaced physical attendance.
Clubs Are Aging Faster Than They’re Growing
This may be the hardest truth of all.
Many clubs today are being carried by the same small group of aging volunteers trying to hold everything together.
Burnout is real.
Attendance is shrinking.
And newer operators often don’t join clubs the way earlier generations did.
They learn online.
Buy online.
Operate online.
And many simply never develop attachment to local ham communities.
But Here’s What I Do NOT Believe
I do NOT believe Amateur Radio itself is dying.
Not even remotely.
In many ways, the hobby is technologically stronger and more diverse than ever before.
Weak signal work is growing again.
SDRs are incredible.
Mesh networking is exploding.
Digital experimentation is everywhere.
Satellite operations are easier than ever.
Portable operating is booming.
The hobby itself still has enormous life left in it.
But I DO believe the traditional hamfest model is in serious trouble.
Because rows of used equipment sitting on folding tables is no longer enough.
Today’s operators need experiences.
Demonstrations.
Hands-on activity.
Satellite stations.
Weak signal demos.
Portable operating setups.
Mesh displays.
Fox hunts.
Digital workshops.
Maker projects.
Youth involvement.
Energy.
Excitement.
Something that reminds people WHY this hobby is still amazing.
Because if hamfests continue becoming little more than shrinking flea markets full of aging equipment and empty aisles…
We are going to keep watching attendance collapse.
And that would be tragic.
Because hamfests were never just about buying radios.
They were about community.
Friendships.
Mentorship.
Excitement.
Shared passion.
And for many of us…
That part of Amateur Radio was every bit as important as the radios themselves.
Are We Slowly Losing the Soul of Amateur Radio?
31/05/26 16:55
N5XO Blog
Are We Slowly Losing the Soul of Amateur Radio?
There are moments in life when you suddenly realize something you love is quietly changing around you. Not with some dramatic collapse or loud announcement, but slowly…almost silently. One day you simply stop, look around, and realize something important feels different.
Lately, I have been feeling that way about Amateur Radio.
That statement honestly surprises even me. I have always been one of the hobby’s biggest optimists. I still believe Amateur Radio is one of the greatest technical and social hobbies ever created. It teaches electronics, communication, emergency preparedness, engineering, physics, friendship, patience, and problem solving all wrapped into one incredible world.
But if I am being truthful, I also fear for where we are heading.
What troubles me most is not that the hobby is shrinking on paper. In fact, by the numbers, Amateur Radio continues to grow. More people are getting licensed. More radios are being sold. More digital modes are appearing every year. More software exists than ever before.
Yet somehow, despite all of this growth, the actual personal involvement in the hobby feels like it is slowly fading away.
And that is the part that hurts.
For many of us who have been around for decades, Amateur Radio was never just about making a contact. It was about the people behind the microphones. It was about conversations that lasted an hour instead of thirty seconds. It was about hearing familiar voices every evening on simplex. It was about helping a new ham put up their first antenna, tuning a cavity filter together in someone’s garage, or sitting around at a club meeting debating feedline losses and propagation conditions until late into the evening.
We were not just operators.
We were a community.
Today, we increasingly live in a world built around isolation and reduced human interaction, and sadly we are beginning to see that same trend inside of what is supposed to be a communication hobby.
Digital modes continue to explode in popularity, and while they absolutely have technical value, many of them remove the very thing that made Amateur Radio special in the first place: actual communication between human beings.
A signal gets exchanged.
Data gets transferred.
The computer logs the contact.
And then both operators move on without ever really speaking to one another.
No conversation.
No stories.
No laughter.
No friendship.
No connection.
We are exchanging information, but in many cases we are no longer truly communicating.
At the same time, much of the experimentation and home brewing that once defined the spirit of Amateur Radio is fading as well. There was a time when hams built things because they wanted to understand how they worked. Operators designed antennas from scratch, modified old commercial gear, built converters on kitchen tables, and spent nights troubleshooting circuits just for the joy of learning.
Today much of the hobby has become appliance operation. Buy it. Plug it in. Update the firmware. Operate it exactly as delivered.
Convenience has replaced curiosity.
And perhaps even more concerning, many clubs and organizations are slowly struggling not because people have lost interest, but because fewer people are willing to actually participate and help carry the load.
That may sound harsh, but it is true.
You still see people joining clubs. You still see memberships being renewed. But too often people join for what they can gain rather than becoming part of the actual community that supports the hobby. The same small group of older hams organize the events, run the repeaters, teach the classes, coordinate emergency communications, handle the finances, maintain the websites, prepare the swap meets, and keep everything alive.
And every year, that group becomes a little smaller.
The old guard is becoming Silent Keys.
Many of the men and women who built this hobby into what it became are leaving us. They spent decades mentoring others, maintaining infrastructure, creating clubs, organizing events, and building communities that lasted generations.
But now there are fewer people willing to step forward and take the reins.
That reality is becoming impossible to ignore.
You can see it clearly at hamfests, conventions, and swap meets.
My wife Ruth and I recently attended a local event, and honestly it was sobering. Just three or four years ago, you could barely walk through the venue. The aisles were packed shoulder to shoulder. Hundreds of people attended. Tables overflowed with old radios, rare tubes, test equipment, military surplus gear, rotators, amplifiers, connectors, and those impossible-to-find parts needed to bring an old rig back to life.
That was part of the magic.
You never knew what treasure you might discover sitting under a dusty table.
But this last event felt very different.
There appeared to be almost as many non-ham-related tables as actual Amateur Radio vendors. Attendance was dramatically smaller. Major manufacturers and dealers increasingly do not seem interested in traveling to many of these events anymore. I do not have exact attendance numbers, but honestly, it did not even look like one hundred people attended this most recent swap meet.
Even some of the larger national events seem different now.
We attended the Huntsville Hamfest, which has always impressed us as one of the major Amateur Radio gatherings in the country. To be fair, attendance this past year seemed somewhat better than the previous year. There was still energy there. Still excitement. Still signs of life.
But even Huntsville somehow felt smaller than it once did.
Less crowded.
Less vibrant.
Less electric.
Maybe part of that is nostalgia. Maybe every generation believes the “good old days” were better. But I do not think this feeling is entirely imagined.
Something is changing.
Over the next six to eight months, Ruth and I plan to attend several larger events around Texas and beyond. In fact, we already have another event planned within the next week. Part of me hopes what we experienced recently was simply an anomaly. I truly want to believe that.
Because despite everything I have written here, I still love this hobby deeply.
I still believe there is nothing else quite like it in the world.
Where else can someone bounce signals off the moon, build antennas in their garage, provide emergency communications during disasters, experiment with microwave frequencies, talk across continents on homemade equipment, and create friendships that last a lifetime?
Amateur Radio still has enormous value.
But if we want this hobby to survive not just as a collection of frequencies and digital protocols, but as a living, breathing community, then we must start investing in it again personally.
We need operators willing to mentor.
We need people willing to volunteer.
We need younger hams willing to lead.
We need conversations instead of only automated exchanges.
We need builders again.
We need communities again.
And perhaps most importantly, we need to remember that Amateur Radio was never supposed to simply connect radios.
It was supposed to connect people.
— Greg Lewis, N5XO
Are We Slowly Losing the Soul of Amateur Radio?
There are moments in life when you suddenly realize something you love is quietly changing around you. Not with some dramatic collapse or loud announcement, but slowly…almost silently. One day you simply stop, look around, and realize something important feels different.
Lately, I have been feeling that way about Amateur Radio.
That statement honestly surprises even me. I have always been one of the hobby’s biggest optimists. I still believe Amateur Radio is one of the greatest technical and social hobbies ever created. It teaches electronics, communication, emergency preparedness, engineering, physics, friendship, patience, and problem solving all wrapped into one incredible world.
But if I am being truthful, I also fear for where we are heading.
What troubles me most is not that the hobby is shrinking on paper. In fact, by the numbers, Amateur Radio continues to grow. More people are getting licensed. More radios are being sold. More digital modes are appearing every year. More software exists than ever before.
Yet somehow, despite all of this growth, the actual personal involvement in the hobby feels like it is slowly fading away.
And that is the part that hurts.
For many of us who have been around for decades, Amateur Radio was never just about making a contact. It was about the people behind the microphones. It was about conversations that lasted an hour instead of thirty seconds. It was about hearing familiar voices every evening on simplex. It was about helping a new ham put up their first antenna, tuning a cavity filter together in someone’s garage, or sitting around at a club meeting debating feedline losses and propagation conditions until late into the evening.
We were not just operators.
We were a community.
Today, we increasingly live in a world built around isolation and reduced human interaction, and sadly we are beginning to see that same trend inside of what is supposed to be a communication hobby.
Digital modes continue to explode in popularity, and while they absolutely have technical value, many of them remove the very thing that made Amateur Radio special in the first place: actual communication between human beings.
A signal gets exchanged.
Data gets transferred.
The computer logs the contact.
And then both operators move on without ever really speaking to one another.
No conversation.
No stories.
No laughter.
No friendship.
No connection.
We are exchanging information, but in many cases we are no longer truly communicating.
At the same time, much of the experimentation and home brewing that once defined the spirit of Amateur Radio is fading as well. There was a time when hams built things because they wanted to understand how they worked. Operators designed antennas from scratch, modified old commercial gear, built converters on kitchen tables, and spent nights troubleshooting circuits just for the joy of learning.
Today much of the hobby has become appliance operation. Buy it. Plug it in. Update the firmware. Operate it exactly as delivered.
Convenience has replaced curiosity.
And perhaps even more concerning, many clubs and organizations are slowly struggling not because people have lost interest, but because fewer people are willing to actually participate and help carry the load.
That may sound harsh, but it is true.
You still see people joining clubs. You still see memberships being renewed. But too often people join for what they can gain rather than becoming part of the actual community that supports the hobby. The same small group of older hams organize the events, run the repeaters, teach the classes, coordinate emergency communications, handle the finances, maintain the websites, prepare the swap meets, and keep everything alive.
And every year, that group becomes a little smaller.
The old guard is becoming Silent Keys.
Many of the men and women who built this hobby into what it became are leaving us. They spent decades mentoring others, maintaining infrastructure, creating clubs, organizing events, and building communities that lasted generations.
But now there are fewer people willing to step forward and take the reins.
That reality is becoming impossible to ignore.
You can see it clearly at hamfests, conventions, and swap meets.
My wife Ruth and I recently attended a local event, and honestly it was sobering. Just three or four years ago, you could barely walk through the venue. The aisles were packed shoulder to shoulder. Hundreds of people attended. Tables overflowed with old radios, rare tubes, test equipment, military surplus gear, rotators, amplifiers, connectors, and those impossible-to-find parts needed to bring an old rig back to life.
That was part of the magic.
You never knew what treasure you might discover sitting under a dusty table.
But this last event felt very different.
There appeared to be almost as many non-ham-related tables as actual Amateur Radio vendors. Attendance was dramatically smaller. Major manufacturers and dealers increasingly do not seem interested in traveling to many of these events anymore. I do not have exact attendance numbers, but honestly, it did not even look like one hundred people attended this most recent swap meet.
Even some of the larger national events seem different now.
We attended the Huntsville Hamfest, which has always impressed us as one of the major Amateur Radio gatherings in the country. To be fair, attendance this past year seemed somewhat better than the previous year. There was still energy there. Still excitement. Still signs of life.
But even Huntsville somehow felt smaller than it once did.
Less crowded.
Less vibrant.
Less electric.
Maybe part of that is nostalgia. Maybe every generation believes the “good old days” were better. But I do not think this feeling is entirely imagined.
Something is changing.
Over the next six to eight months, Ruth and I plan to attend several larger events around Texas and beyond. In fact, we already have another event planned within the next week. Part of me hopes what we experienced recently was simply an anomaly. I truly want to believe that.
Because despite everything I have written here, I still love this hobby deeply.
I still believe there is nothing else quite like it in the world.
Where else can someone bounce signals off the moon, build antennas in their garage, provide emergency communications during disasters, experiment with microwave frequencies, talk across continents on homemade equipment, and create friendships that last a lifetime?
Amateur Radio still has enormous value.
But if we want this hobby to survive not just as a collection of frequencies and digital protocols, but as a living, breathing community, then we must start investing in it again personally.
We need operators willing to mentor.
We need people willing to volunteer.
We need younger hams willing to lead.
We need conversations instead of only automated exchanges.
We need builders again.
We need communities again.
And perhaps most importantly, we need to remember that Amateur Radio was never supposed to simply connect radios.
It was supposed to connect people.
— Greg Lewis, N5XO
