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Amateur radio operator

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NASA astronaut Col. Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC, Expedition 24 flight engineer, operates the NA1SS ham radio station in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station. Equipment is a Kenwood TM-D700E transceiver.

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[when?] adopted by amateur radio operators.[citation needed]

Demographics

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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 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.[citation needed]

Gender

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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.[citation needed]

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

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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 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

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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] The procedural signal "SK" (or "VA") 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.[citation needed]

[edit]
  • An operator working HF
    An operator working HF
  • An operator working HF
    An operator working HF
  • Amateur Radio station equipped for reception of VLF signals.
    Amateur Radio station equipped for reception of VLF signals.
  • 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. ISBN 978-0-7645-5987-7. OCLC 55092631.
  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. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019.
  4. ^ "FCC License Counts". arrl.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Hamlife.jp Database Ministry of Communication". Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "MCMC Register Of Apparatus Assignments Search". Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  7. ^ CRAC (30 June 2024). "C类业余无线电台操作技术能力验证考核首次在济南举行" (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Amateurfunk". Bundesnetzagentur. 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  9. ^ "News - Canada: Amateur radio statistics 2018". Southgate Amateur Radio Club. Rayleigh, Essex, England. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. ^ "How many UK radio amateurs are there?". Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Triennial Report from KARL". iaru-r3.org. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Deprem sonrası amatör telsizci başvuruları arttı". www.trthaber.com (in Turkish). 14 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  13. ^ REF preliminary callsign statistics
  14. ^ "UKE Radioamator". amator.uke.gov.pl. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  15. ^ "ACMA Radiocomms license data". acma.gov.au. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  16. ^ SSA callsign statistics published in QTC 11/2023
  17. ^ Agentschap Telecom - Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat "Staat van de Ether 2018". Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Energistyrelsen Frekvensregister". frekvensregister.ens.dk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Rufzeichenliste österreichischer Amateurfunkstellen" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  20. ^ Nkom callsign statistics
  21. ^ "Individual licenses and call signs of Radio Amateur Service stations". ctu.cz. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Mitä radioamatööritoiminta on?". SRAL.fi. Archived from the original on 1 June 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  23. ^ "YU Amateur Radio Call Book". yu1srs.org.rs. Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  24. ^ "ANCOM Callbook Radioamatori". ancom.org.ro. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  25. ^ "call_sign_book.xml". nmhh.hu. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  26. ^ "COMREG Licensing Database". www.comreg.ie. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Population and Migration Estimates April 2020 - CSO - Central Statistics Office". www.cso.ie. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  28. ^ "List of Slovakia Radio Amateur call signs". teleoff.gov.sk. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  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 from the original on 6 March 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2006.
  30. ^ Harker, Kenneth E (15 March 2005). "A Study of Amateur Radio Gender Demographics". ARRL.org. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  31. ^ "The ARRL Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program". ARRL.org. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  32. ^ "All about JOTA". Scout.org. September 2006. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  33. ^ a b Amateurs by State generates a SSL_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION error message
  34. ^ "Reporting a Silent Key". Amateur Radio Relay League. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  35. ^ "CW Operating Aids". AC6V. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  36. ^ "David Packard and Amateur Radio" (PDF). Stanford University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  37. ^ "List" (PDF). ariss.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  38. ^ "ULS License - Vanity License - K6FLM - Maytag, Frederick L". Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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