Attending the Tassie Ham-E-Con over the weekend left me thinking about something that I find increasingly difficult to ignore: the age of the people involved in amateur radio.
Over the weekend, I attended the Tassie Ham-E-Con, a conference dedicated to amateur radio, its technology, activities and community. There were some interesting presentations, plenty of opportunities to catch up with other radio enthusiasts, and a chance to spend time with people who share an interest in the radio hobby.
But there was one thing that really stood out to me. At 44 years old, I was one of the youngest people attending.
Stop and think about that for a moment. I'm 44. I'm hardly a teenager or someone just starting out in life. Yet, in a room full of amateur radio enthusiasts, I found myself among the younger generation.
That should concern us.
A hobby that is getting older
Amateur radio has an ageing population. This isn't exactly a new observation, and I'm certainly not the first person to raise it. However, seeing it firsthand at a conference made the situation feel particularly obvious.
Where are the operators in their 20s and 30s? Where are the younger people who should be discovering the hobby, experimenting with technology, building antennas, exploring the radio spectrum and developing the skills that have kept amateur radio interesting for generations? Of course, there are younger operators out there. There are people experimenting with SDR, digital modes, satellites, portable operating, software-defined radios and all sorts of interesting projects.
But are we doing enough to attract them, encourage them and, more importantly, make them feel welcome?
I'm not convinced we are.
Have we become too comfortable?
One of my concerns is that parts of amateur radio seem to be very comfortable doing things the way they have always been done.
There is enormous value in experience and tradition. Many operators have decades of knowledge, practical skills and technical experience that should be celebrated and passed on.
But tradition should not become an excuse for resisting change.
Technology has moved forward enormously. We have inexpensive SDR receivers, powerful computers, readily available software, digital communications, online communities and a wealth of information available to anyone with an internet connection.
Someone can now explore large portions of the radio spectrum with relatively inexpensive equipment and a computer.
Yet, sometimes, the hobby still seems to place considerable emphasis on doing things the traditional way.
There is nothing wrong with traditional operating. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a conventional radio, making contacts and participating in established activities.
The problem arises when those traditional approaches become the only approaches that receive attention, encouragement or recognition.
Younger people have different interests, different expectations and different ways of engaging with technology.
If we want them involved, we need to recognise that.
The cost and complexity of getting started
Another potential barrier is the perception that getting involved in amateur radio requires significant financial investment.
Good radios, antennas, power supplies, feed lines and accessories can quickly become expensive.
For someone starting out, particularly a younger person who might not have much disposable income, this can be intimidating.
There is also the learning curve.
Licensing, regulations, operating procedures, technical terminology, equipment configuration and understanding propagation can seem like an awful lot to take on.
We should be making it easier for people to get started, not making the entry point feel like an examination in everything that has happened in amateur radio over the past 50 years.
We need to demonstrate that you don't need thousands of dollars of equipment to enjoy radio.
A simple receiver, a modest antenna, a computer and a willingness to experiment can open up an enormous world of discovery.
Are we making the hobby relevant?
This is perhaps the biggest question.
What does amateur radio offer someone growing up in 2026?
They already have smartphones, instant messaging, social media, online gaming, computers and access to almost unlimited information. We cannot simply expect them to become interested in amateur radio because previous generations found it fascinating.
We need to show them what makes it interesting today.
There are plenty of opportunities:
Software-defined radio and spectrum exploration.
Digital communications and experimentation.
Satellite communications and tracking.
Antenna design and practical electronics.
Portable operating and outdoor radio activities.
Emergency communications and resilience.
Programming, automation and radio-related software development.
Exploring propagation and making contacts around the world.
These are genuinely interesting activities that connect radio with modern technology. We should be promoting these aspects of the hobby much more actively.
We should be making it clear that there is no single correct way to enjoy radio.
It's not just about attracting young people
I don't think the answer is simply to organise a youth day, put some photographs on Facebook and declare that we have solved the problem.
Attracting new people is one thing. Keeping them involved is another. New operators need encouragement, support and opportunities to participate. They need to feel that their ideas are valued, even if those ideas challenge established ways of doing things.
They need access to people who are willing to share knowledge without making them feel inexperienced or unwelcome.
Most importantly, they need to see a future for themselves in the hobby. We should be asking ourselves whether our clubs, conferences, events and online communities are genuinely accessible and welcoming to newcomers.
Are we encouraging experimentation?
Are we supporting people who want to explore different aspects of radio?
Are we embracing new technology?
Are we listening to people who might have a different idea of what amateur radio should look like?
These are important questions.
What happens in another 20 years?
This is what concerns me most. If I'm one of the younger people attending an amateur radio conference at 44, what will the situation look like in another 10 or 20 years?
Who will be organising the conferences?
Who will be maintaining the repeaters?
Who will be running the clubs?
Who will be sharing decades of accumulated knowledge?
Who will be encouraging the next generation?
There is an incredible amount of experience within the amateur radio community. Losing that knowledge because we haven't done enough to encourage people to follow in those footsteps would be a terrible outcome.
We cannot assume that the hobby will simply continue because it has always existed. It needs people. It needs new ideas. It needs enthusiasm and, above all, it needs a reason for people to get involved.
A hobby worth saving
I don't want this to come across as an attack on older amateur radio operators.
Far from it.
Many of these people have contributed enormously to amateur radio. Their knowledge, experience and commitment deserve recognition.
But we need to be honest about the demographic situation and what it might mean for the future. Being 44 and one of the youngest people at the Tassie Ham-E-Con was an interesting experience, but it was also a sobering one.
Amateur radio has so much to offer. It combines technology, science, communication, engineering, experimentation and community in a way that few other hobbies can. I still believe it is a fantastic hobby.
But believing in the hobby also means being willing to question where it is heading. We need to stop assuming that the next generation will automatically find us.
We need to go out and find them, show them what is possible, make it affordable, embrace modern technology and give them a reason to stay.
Because if someone in their mid-40s is considered one of the young people in the room, perhaps it's time we stopped pretending that everything is fine.
The future of amateur radio depends on what we do today, not what we did 30 years ago.
