The hobby grows 15% yearly despite digital alternatives. Emergency communication roles expand after natural disasters. Vintage equipment appreciates - 1970s rigs double in value. License exams modernize to include digital modes. Solar-powered setups gain popularity. Youth engagement programs increase diversity. Satellite radio operation becomes accessible to amateurs. However, spectrum allocation battles with telecom companies continue.
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After Hurricane Maria, ham operators restored Puerto Rico's communications for 72 hours until help arrived. Groups like ARRL now train 10,000 volunteers annually in emergency protocols. The old tech thrives because it's EMP-proof and needs no infrastructure. Governments increasingly license amateur bands for disaster prep - a smart pivot as Starlink's vulnerabilities emerge (one solar flare knocked out 40 satellites). The community's average age dropped from 68 to 42 since rebranding as "backup communicators."
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Radio operators train neighborhoods in mesh network building for grid failures.
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