#arrl — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #arrl, aggregated by home.social.
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Anyone else going to Hamvention this weekend? #hamradio #arrl #hamvention
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Just saw the June cover of #QST. Once again it does not represent the amateur community at all. A bunch of old white dudes and maybe one older white woman?
At this point, I really don't think #ARRL is capable of self-reflection. This miss every chance to be a community for everyone, and they keep failing at it.
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April 18th is World Amateur Radio Day!
"Every April 18, radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. It was on this day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris."
https://www.iaru.org/on-the-air/world-amateur-radio-day/
https://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day
#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #hamr #radio #IARU #April18 #WorldAmateurRadio #WorldAmateurRadioDay #WARD #WARD2026 #ARRL
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@HopelessDemigod @k4fmh has suggested doing this. I think for this to happen, someone has to be really committed to pursuing this, and it's just a lot easier to quit the #ARRL and let them wither away.
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My wife is interested in trying again to study for her #Technician #AmateurRadio license. She finds the standard #ARRL license manual to be boring and dry. Can anyone else out here in #HamRadio land recommend current alternative study materials that are actually interesting and practical along the way?
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Boy, the ARRL does not make it easy to figure out what is in their magazine anymore, especially if you're not a current member. It used to be your magazine/newsletter was the way you recruited new members and got the news out about your hobby/cause. I think they decided it's now a profit center. 🤔
(I admit to letting my membership lapse, because they no longer send magazines unless you pay an additional premium to get the magazine... )
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whaaaat?
when did TQSL from ARRL become available on Linux?
did I miss this last time I had to renew my certificate? 😮
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#amateurradionewsline (https://www.arnewsline.org/) 2526 just carried the story about #OMIK #HBCUs on the Air. #blacksinSTEM #BlackMastodon #echolink @amateurradioinclusivitypledge #arrl
project page:
https://sites.google.com/view/hbucs-on-the-air/home -
#amateurradionewsline (https://www.arnewsline.org/) 2526 just carried the story about #OMIK #HBCUs on the Air. #blacksinSTEM #BlackMastodon #echolink @amateurradioinclusivitypledge #arrl
project page:
https://sites.google.com/view/hbucs-on-the-air/home -
#amateurradionewsline (https://www.arnewsline.org/) 2526 just carried the story about #OMIK #HBCUs on the Air. #blacksinSTEM #BlackMastodon #echolink @amateurradioinclusivitypledge #arrl
project page:
https://sites.google.com/view/hbucs-on-the-air/home -
#amateurradionewsline (https://www.arnewsline.org/) 2526 just carried the story about #OMIK #HBCUs on the Air. #blacksinSTEM #BlackMastodon #echolink @amateurradioinclusivitypledge #arrl
project page:
https://sites.google.com/view/hbucs-on-the-air/home -
#amateurradionewsline (https://www.arnewsline.org/) 2526 just carried the story about #OMIK #HBCUs on the Air. #blacksinSTEM #BlackMastodon #echolink @amateurradioinclusivitypledge #arrl
project page:
https://sites.google.com/view/hbucs-on-the-air/home -
Mentioned to a #HAM friend that now that the weather is turning nice again, I plan to take my #RTLSDR out to somewhere in visual range of BOS and try to pick up some ACARS (I don't have enough sky to pick up any in my apartment)
And because I started talking about radio stuff to a licensed and experienced radio operator, now I am listening to the #ARRL Heavy Hitters Traffic Net on 146.82 MHz.
My friend tells me this is a repeater installed in the Prudential Tower and he is somewhere else in the relay chain.
Here's part of a message readout.
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Got a shoutout in the ARRL ARES Letter!
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I guess that member rights and “transparency” are bad words at the ARRL these days
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Another #ARRL #Dx #CW contest has concluded. I made a total of 90 contacts with 35 different countries. The bands were hopping this weekend with fantastic propagation! #AmateurRadio #HamRadio
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So far in this weekend's #ARRL #DX #CW contest, I've worked 20 countries across 32 contacts. Watch https://hamdash.affirmatech.com/ to see how we're doing with these fantastic #HF conditions. #AmateurRadio #HamRadio
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Its been about 5 weeks since I made any #HamRadio contacts so I'm trying my hand at the #ARRL #DX contest this weekend. #AmateurRadio
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@dl2ul
Ich habe leider, leider damals (2022) keinen Screenshot davon gemacht, stand wortwörtlich auf der Startseite des DCL.
Die #ARRL juckt das hingegen nicht. Digitalvoice über z. B. 70 cm gilt für's DXCC Diplom. Gut, die sind geschäftstüchtig, schließlich eine AG. Die verkaufen die Diplome auch für teures Geld. -
The @arrl #ARRL #StraightKeyEvent Straight Key Event is at 0000 UTC. I'll use my #HeathkitHW8 #HW8 & #BencherStraightKey. Oh, I've got #QRO rigs but why make it easy, when you can make it fun with #QRP. Happy New Year from #Hamonabike #AmateurRadio #HamRadio #MorseCode CW
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I finally updated my Awards page on my blog from #ARRL #LoTW and it looks like I'm three (3) states away from #WAS on #12m (digital)!
(I had not updated this page in a *year*, lol)
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Looks like GMRS license holders can also send letters about the HOA bill:
https://send-a-letter.org/gmrs
For more info about the HOA bill working its way through Congress:
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Too many HOAs are trying to silence amateur radio operators with antenna bans and other restrictions, cutting off innovation, communication, and even emergency readiness.
I wrote about why this matters and how you can help change it -> https://kj5fte.radio/dont-let-hoas-silence-ham-radio/
We can’t let HOAs turn the airwaves into dead air. Send your letter and make some noise. 📡
#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #ARRL #EmComm #SendALetter
https://kj5fte.radio/dont-let-hoas-silence-ham-radio/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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i've started a new blog about my ham radio adventures. I just can't get on the Discord train as much as I want for sharing content so I'll just stick to what I like. My latest post is about visiting my hometown ham fest in Enid, OK.
I won a TYT TH-9800! Very fun
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The ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest be all like, “ask me about my grid square!”
You know, if I could hear anyone bothering with FM. I’m trying. Someone will probably make two moonbounces on 241 GHz and win all the points.
#ARRL #222MHzAndUp #222AndUp #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #UHF #VHF #SHF #EHF #contesting #DX
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Men of the Mic: Legendary Hams Who Built the Community
2,179 words, 12 minutes read time.
There’s something timeless and quietly powerful about a man at a desk, microphone in hand, patiently tuning across the bands for a distant voice. It’s more than just a hobby; for many, amateur radio is a testament to curiosity, craftsmanship, and the deep desire to connect. Over the last century, countless men have sat at their radios, some unknown beyond their local nets, others rising to legendary status. Their stories still ripple through our repeaters and field days, inspiring the next wave of men who will pick up a mic and join this global fraternity.
If you’re a man eyeing your first license or dreaming of building your own shack, this journey through the lives of legendary hams will be more than history — it’s a roadmap, showing how technical skill, generosity, and camaraderie have always been the bedrock of amateur radio. And by understanding the men who built this community, you’ll find your own place among them one day.
The Founding Fathers of Ham Radio
It’s impossible to appreciate amateur radio’s rich tapestry without tipping our hats to the men who quite literally invented the medium. Their stories are the origin myths of our shared obsession.
Hiram Percy Maxim, whose call sign W1AW still echoes daily as the flagship station of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), was far more than a hobbyist. An engineer and inventor, Maxim was the quintessential tinkerer, a man who found beauty in complex gears and wires. In 1914, he founded the ARRL to organize a chaotic landscape of independent amateurs, many of them teenagers stringing wire from their parents’ rooftops. By setting standards for relaying messages across the nation, Maxim didn’t just build an organization — he fostered the first large-scale brotherhood of radio amateurs.
His creation of the “Wouff Hong,” a whimsical yet stern device supposedly used to enforce good operating practices, underlines his belief that with the freedom of the airwaves came responsibility. When today’s operators remind each other to maintain discipline on the bands, they’re echoing Maxim’s century-old ethic.
Long before Maxim, of course, came the men whose breakthroughs made radio possible. Samuel Morse, though best known for the code that bears his name, was also a relentless promoter of long-distance communication. Guglielmo Marconi took that spark and pushed it across oceans, becoming arguably the first “amateur” by experimenting well outside established commercial infrastructure. When Marconi’s signal crossed the Atlantic in 1901, it was less an engineered certainty and more a daring gamble — the sort of risk every good ham instinctively understands.
Even Hugo Gernsback, remembered by many as the father of science fiction, played a vital role. His radio magazines educated thousands of young men who would become the first true amateurs, laying the groundwork for the clubs and societies we rely on today.
Engineers, Innovators, and Celebrity Operators
What is it about men who build things with their hands that so often draws them to amateur radio? Perhaps it’s the perfect blend of theory and practical tinkering. The hobby attracts those who yearn to know not just that something works, but precisely why and how.
Take Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. Before he revolutionized personal computing, Woz was WV6VLY, fascinated by radio circuits and pushing RF signals into the ether from his California home. Even after his Apple success, he remained an advocate for ham radio’s power to teach electronics in a hands-on way that books alone never could.
Then there’s Bob Moog, whose name is synonymous with the synthesizer. Lesser known is that Moog was K2AMH, a dedicated operator who found joy in both music and radio frequency design. The careful balancing of voltages in an oscillator isn’t far removed from tuning a VFO. For men like Moog, amateur radio was as much a canvas as a utility.
Joseph Taylor, K1JT, stands at a fascinating crossroads. Already a Nobel laureate in physics for his work on pulsars, Taylor turned his brilliance to the amateur bands by developing WSJT, the software suite behind modes like FT8. These digital modes have revolutionized weak-signal work, letting hams complete contacts on bands once thought impractical. Taylor’s example shows how intellectual curiosity doesn’t stop at professional borders — sometimes, the professor wants to come home and see if he can snag a new country on 6 meters just like the rest of us.
Ray Dolby, of Dolby noise reduction fame, shared similar passions, holding an amateur license. It’s a telling pattern: men who push technical frontiers in their day jobs often retreat to the shack not just to relax, but to keep exploring. They’re proof that whether you’re designing world-changing technologies or soldering a kit on your workbench, the same thrill of discovery pulses through every good ham.
Ham Radio in Space and the Competitive Spirit
Few stories better capture the adventurous spirit of ham radio than those of operators who quite literally took it out of this world. In 1983, Owen Garriott, W5LFL, made the first amateur radio contacts from space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. His casual QSOs from orbit to operators below were historic, proving the technology and launching the entire concept of “space stations on the air.” Garriott was followed by countless astronauts and cosmonauts, many of whom held amateur licenses before ever donning a flight suit.
Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, was himself a licensed operator (UA1LO), though most of his radio work was symbolic rather than operational. Still, there’s something profoundly moving in knowing that the men pushing humanity’s boundaries into orbit were often the same kids who once wound coils and trimmed antennas in their garages.
On Earth, that same pioneering spirit shows up in the fiercely contested world of radio sport. John Scott Redd, K0DQ, is a perfect example. A retired U.S. Navy vice admiral, he also happens to be a contesting legend, having won world championships in nearly every major DX contest. Men like Redd demonstrate that ham radio is as much a test of skill and endurance as any traditional sport — requiring strategy, technical acumen, and the unshakeable nerve to dig signals out of the noise when the clock is ticking.
Humanitarians, Educators, and Global Connectors
While it’s easy to be drawn to the technical marvels and competitive highs, some of amateur radio’s greatest men are remembered not for their rigs or contest scores, but for their compassion and commitment to public service.
Consider Marshall D. Moran, 9N1MM, an American Jesuit priest who became Nepal’s first ham operator. Arriving in the 1940s, Moran soon realized his modest station was the only reliable link between Kathmandu and the outside world. Countless climbers and trekkers owe their lives to the emergency traffic he relayed. In remote Himalayan villages, the reassuring crackle of 9N1MM on the air meant help was on the way.
Leslie R. Mitchell, G3BHK, similarly wove amateur radio into a global network of goodwill by founding Jamboree-On-The-Air (JOTA), the worldwide event that connects Scouts through amateur radio every October. Since its start in 1957, millions of young men have spoken to their first foreign friends over a radio Mitchell’s inspiration helped set up. In a world growing ever more polarized, these simple conversations — about hobbies, school, or what it’s like to camp under different stars — remind us that radio can be the ultimate bridge.
Early Experimenters and Broadcasting Pioneers
Long before the airwaves became crowded with thousands of daily QSOs, early experimenters were learning the hard way how to coax electrons into carrying voices.
Charles “Doc” Herrold of San Jose, California, was building primitive radio transmitters by 1909, predating even the first commercial broadcast stations. Herrold’s Sunday night shows were informal affairs, often just reading local news, but his enthusiasm laid crucial groundwork. Similarly, Charles E. Apgar, a mild-mannered insurance executive by day, used his home-built equipment to record clandestine German naval transmissions during World War I, helping break codes and ultimately saving ships.
These stories are worth retelling not only for their technical firsts but because they showcase amateur radio’s classic DNA: curious men, tinkering alone or with a handful of buddies, accidentally changing the world.
Kings, Anchormen, and Hollywood’s Quiet Operators
If amateur radio has a secret, it’s how often it lurks in the lives of men we wouldn’t expect. Walter Cronkite, whose authoritative baritone narrated America’s triumphs and tragedies, was also KB2GSD. Cronkite once narrated an ARRL film, famously concluding, “Amateur radio: what a wonderful hobby.” Coming from the most trusted man in journalism, it was an endorsement money couldn’t buy.
King Hussein of Jordan, JY1, was not content to be a figurehead. He operated regularly, chatting with common hams across the globe, reportedly insisting they drop the royal titles and just call him “Hussein.” And then there’s Marlon Brando, KE6PZH, who set up a radio on his private Tahitian island, reportedly making contacts to New Zealand just for the pleasure of breaking through the static.
Whether it’s Hollywood icons or heads of state, these men found in amateur radio the same satisfaction we all do: the joy of sending a signal into the dark and hearing a voice come back.
What These Men Teach Us
So why dwell on these stories? Because they prove again and again that amateur radio is more than a pastime. It’s a proving ground for technical skill, a sanctuary for curiosity, and, perhaps most importantly, a forge for character.
Every one of these legendary operators — whether Nobel physicist, pioneering priest, or retired sailor — shared the same humble beginnings as any newcomer. They struggled with code speed, burned fingers on soldering irons, fought RF feedback, and cursed propagation when their signals vanished into the ether. They became legends not by starting with extraordinary talent, but by pursuing their interest with steady, masculine resolve.
Their legacies tell us that the best hams aren’t defined by their equipment or QSL card collections, but by their willingness to serve, teach, and open the mic to strangers. This is the true brotherhood of amateur radio, and it’s as alive on your local repeater as in the halls of the ARRL.
A Word to the Men Still Considering Their License
If you’re reading this and still on the fence about getting your license, let these stories be your push. You don’t need a PhD, a palace, or even a fancy rig to join this fraternity. All you need is the spark that drove Maxim, the patience that guided Taylor, and the generosity that marked Moran’s every QSO.
Start by listening. Grab a cheap scanner, or tune into online SDRs. Visit a local club — you’ll find men who were once exactly where you are now, and who will be delighted to help you along. When you’re ready, pick up a study guide. Don’t worry if the material looks intimidating. Remember: every Nobel laureate and king we mentioned once puzzled over the same resistor color codes and license manuals.
Above all, understand that by stepping into this world, you’re joining a continuum stretching back more than a century — a line of men who built not just circuits and antennas, but a global brotherhood.
Wrapping Up: Join the Conversation
Amateur radio is richer for the men who made it their passion, and it waits for you to add your voice. If these stories of legendary hams have sparked something in you — if you find your mind drifting to DXpeditions, contest pileups, or late-night chats with faraway strangers — don’t let it fade. Take the first step.
Before you go, we’ve got even more stories waiting. This is the first of a special two-part series. Next week, we’ll shine the spotlight on the incredible “Women of the Mic: Legendary Hams Who Built the Community.” Don’t miss it — subscribe to our newsletter so you’ll be the first to know when it drops. Let’s keep exploring this amazing brotherhood (and sisterhood) together!
Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Who are the operators that inspire you? Have you had a mentor, or perhaps a memorable first contact that set your course? Drop a comment below and join our growing community of men exploring what’s possible over the air. And if you want more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter. Together, we’ll keep this brotherhood strong for the next century of men at the mic.
D. Bryan King
Sources
- ARRL – Ham Radio History (founder Hiram Percy Maxim & Wouff Hong)
- Ham Radio Prep – Famous Ham Radio Operators (Wozniak, Owen Garriott, Joseph Taylor)
- NOFARS – Famous Amateur Radio Operators (Maxim, Taylor, Moog, Cronkite, Atkins)
- NewHams.info – Famous Hams list including Vermilya, Moog, Beverage, etc.
- Red Pitaya – Famous hams like Yuri Gagarin, Les Hamilton, John Sculley
- KB6NU – Top figures: Morse, Marconi, Maxim, Gernsback, Taylor, Collins, Heathkit, Wayne Green
- EarlyRadioHistory – Pioneering amateurs 1900–1917 (Herrold, Apgar) :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Wikipedia – Marshall D. Moran, first ham in Nepal, humanitarian operator
- Wikipedia – John Scott Redd, contesting legend and CQ Hall of Fame
- Wikipedia – Leslie R. Mitchell, founder of Jamboree‑On‑The‑Air (JOTA)
- Wikipedia – Charles “Doc” Herrold, radio broadcaster pioneer :
- Wikipedia – Charles E. Apgar, early wireless experimenter and recorder
- HFUnderground – Famous hams including cosmonauts, royalty, dignitaries
- Oxley Region ARC – Celebrity hams (Brando, Tim Allen, Hughes, Dolby, Priscilla Presley)
- WIRED – Why ham radio endures, mentions King Hussein, Marlon Brando, Gagarin :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.
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#9N1MM #AmateurRadio #amateurRadioClubs #ARRL #BobMoog #buildingAntennas #digitalModes #DXing #DXpedition #electronicsForMen #fieldDay #FT8 #G3BHK #getYourCallsign #getYourHamLicense #globalHamCommunity #hamRadio #hamRadioAstronauts #hamRadioBrotherhood #hamRadioHistory #hamRadioLearning #hamRadioLegends #hamRadioService #hamRadioStories #hamShack #HiramPercyMaxim #inspiringHamRadio #joinHamRadio #JosephTaylor #JOTA #JY1 #K0DQ #K1JT #KB2GSD #KE6PZH #KingHussein #legendaryHams #LeslieMitchell #MarlonBrando #MarshallMoran #menAndTechnology #menBuildingCommunity #menSHobbies #menSTechnicalHobbies #MorseCode #OwenGarriott #radioContesting #radioEnthusiasts #radioSport #shortwaveRadio #spaceHamRadio #SteveWozniak #voiceOnTheAir #W1AW #WalterCronkite #WSJT
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Logbook of the World, #LOTW has been returned to service today!
https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-logbook-of-the-world-return-to-service
#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #hamr #ARRL #LogbookOfTheWorld #ARRLLOTW
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Last chance to upload to Logbook of the World before they shut down for a systems upgrade. What was the ARRL thinking? Field Day is basically here. If this were my client, we would dual-upload, test, and schedule a date to cut over painlessly.
You want young and middle-aged people to get involved? Great, I will, if I can recommend we not shut down for ham radio’s biggest “holiday” of the year. Even AI could recommend that.
#ARRL #LotW #LogbookOfTheWorld #AmateurRadio #HamRadio #logging #radio
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Hackaday Links: September 8, 2024 https://hackaday.com/2024/09/08/hackaday-links-september-8-2024/ #AmericanRadioRelayLEague #HackadayColumns #Hackadaylinks #eavesdropping #hackadaylinks #sailingvessel #exoskeleton #Animagraff #ransomware #smartphone #Starliner #blender #Festool #privacy #rigging #boeing #ARRL #nasa #iss
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Hackaday Links: September 8, 2024 - OK, sit down, everyone — we don’t want you falling over and hurting yourself when ... - https://hackaday.com/2024/09/08/hackaday-links-september-8-2024/ #americanradiorelayleague #hackadaycolumns #hackadaylinks #eavesdropping #sailingvessel #exoskeleton #animagraff #ransomware #smartphone #starliner #blender #festool #privacy #rigging #boeing #arrl #nasa #iss
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Lots of non-experts chiming in with their expert commentary on the #ARRL #Ransomeware disclosure. The main thing I hear people bitching about is the wrong thing to be focusing on. Your anger should be more focused on why the organization didn't have immutable/offline backups and didn't take the secure storage of members data more seriously. #HamRadio
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Many spaces in #AmateurRadio such as #ARRL #Yaesu #WSJT-X either directly or indirectly tell #blind and #disabled #HamRadio ops every day that we just don't belong and we don't count through their ongoing and flagrant unwillingness to consider implementing even the most basic concepts of #inclusive or #universal #design principles in any of their products, programs or services. Let's all agree that it is long past time for that to change! #accessibility #disability #a11y
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ARRL Kids’ Day
1800 UTC - 2359 UTC today
#ARRL #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #hamr #SpecialEvent #ARRLKidsDay :
“ . . . designed to give on-the-air experience to young people & to foster interest in getting a license of their own . . . “
~ arrl.org/Kids-Day
suggested bands & freqs (in MHz):
▪️#10M : 28.350 to 28.400
▪️#12M : 24.960 to 24.980
▪️#15M : 21.360 to 21.400
▪️#17M : 18.140 to 18.145
▪️#20M : 14.270 to 14.300
▪️#40M : 7.270 to 7.290
▪️#80M : 3.740 to 3.940Info:
~ arrl.org/Kids-Day
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#ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® #StraightKeyNight (#SKN) is held on January 1, 2024, from 0000 UTC through 2359 UTC. #MorseCode #AmateurRadio #HamRadio ~ http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-straight-key-night-2024
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We're doing a night on the air at the Club Ham Shack (Bevis 040) on Sunday, May 7th, 2023 from 6:00 PM (UTC-4) until whenever!
If you are a student at #OhioState come join us!
#AmateurRadio #HamRadio #Columbus #Ohio #radio #electronics #hamr #ARRL #W8LT #RF
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We're doing a night on the air at the Club Ham Shack (Bevis 040) on Sunday, May 7th, 2023 from 6:00 PM (UTC-4) until whenever!
If you are a student at #OhioState come join us!
#AmateurRadio #HamRadio #Columbus #Ohio #radio #electronics #hamr #ARRL #W8LT #RF
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We're doing a night on the air at the Club Ham Shack (Bevis 040) on Sunday, May 7th, 2023 from 6:00 PM (UTC-4) until whenever!
If you are a student at #OhioState come join us!
#AmateurRadio #HamRadio #Columbus #Ohio #radio #electronics #hamr #ARRL #W8LT #RF
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We're doing a night on the air at the Club Ham Shack (Bevis 040) on Sunday, May 7th, 2023 from 6:00 PM (UTC-4) until whenever!
If you are a student at #OhioState come join us!
#AmateurRadio #HamRadio #Columbus #Ohio #radio #electronics #hamr #ARRL #W8LT #RF
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We're doing a night on the air at the Club Ham Shack (Bevis 040) on Sunday, May 7th, 2023 from 6:00 PM (UTC-4) until whenever!
If you are a student at #OhioState come join us!
#AmateurRadio #HamRadio #Columbus #Ohio #radio #electronics #hamr #ARRL #W8LT #RF
