PRSENTER OPINION : AM Radio’s Death Has Been Grossly Exaggerated→

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PRSENTER OPINION : AM Radio’s Death Has Been Grossly Exaggerated

The pending death of AM broadcasting is a common refrain these days.

Claims based on highly publicized station closings (e.g., author Stephen King), over-generalized personal experiences, the uncertainty of AM’s presence in automobiles, sentiment surrounding the medium and miscellaneous random events have fed this narrative.

But as in the infamous obituary for Mark Twain, this corpse can still fog a mirror. Here is why I say that.

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National Preparedness Month: Use Your Ham Radio for Public Service

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Amateur radio has long been a vital partner with served agencies in providing communications support, passing traffic, and performing other tasks, both in times of crisis and in times of community service. Through community events, hams help out before and When All Else Fails®.

The best way to become a part of serving the greater good in your area is by joining your local ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) group.

“Every disaster starts and ends at the local level, and so should community resilience through radio. Local ARES groups are set up based on the needs of the local community and local volunteers are critical to making sure they are able to serve when needed.”
— ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has a tool to help hams get plugged in with a group near them. An interactive map at http://www.arrl.org/find-an-ares-group will let those interested in serving connect with local leadership.

As September ends, the lessons from National Preparedness Month shouldn’t stop with the change of the calendar. As ARRL Sections prepare for the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) in October, being a trained member of a local ARES group will add to your personal, family, and community resilience.

PRESENTER OPINION : A Travesty at the Huntsville Hamfest ARRL Forum→

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PRESENTER OPINION : A Travesty at the Huntsville Hamfest ARRL Forum

The famous Southern comedian, Lewis Grizzard, had many, many funny sayings. Some got Baptist churches riled up at times. One of those was the title to a comedy album released in 1985, “I’ve Seen England, I’ve Seen France, I’ve Seen Miss America Without Her Underpants.” Well, Lewis didn’t make an appearance at the 2025 Huntsville Hamfest. Neither did that particular Miss America. But this line came to mind as I sat among about 30 or so hams in the ARRL Forum. It was hosted by Mikey Baker, N4MB, ARRL Director, Southeastern Division. This Division covers Alabama, Georgia, Northern Florida, Southern Florida, West Central Florida, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands sections of the League. They claim to be the largest Division in the ARRL. There are a lot of licensed hams in those states but far fewer members.

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