getontheairCommunity
Ham radio is a big tent. Clubs and Elmers are the front door (see Clubs & Elmers). This page covers the groups, gatherings and media you may not find on your own, so you can find people who share your situation or interest.
Independent guide, not affiliated with any organization listed. Dates and programs change, so check each group's site. Everything below was checked as of Oct 8, 2026.
Community v1.0 · written 2026-10-08 · event dates and links checked as of Oct 2026
Groups by who you are
| Group | Who it's for | What they do | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| YLRL (Young Ladies' Radio League) | Women in amateur radio ("YL" is ham shorthand for any woman operator, of any age) | Founded in 1939. Nets, awards, the YL Harmonics newsletter, scholarships and periodic conventions (check their site for the next one). | ylrl.net |
| Courage Kenny Handiham Program | Hams and future hams with disabilities | Assistive technology, equipment help, license study support, a yearly Radio Camp and a daily Handiham Radio Club net (11:00 AM Central, per their site) | handiham.org |
| YOTA in the Americas (Youth on the Air) | Young operators up to age 25 | Summer camps for ages 15–25, the December YOTA Month special event, a YOTA contest and a youth contesting program | youthontheair.org |
| Army MARS | Licensed hams who want to support the US Army's auxiliary communications | Military Auxiliary Radio System: trained volunteers who pass traffic and support DoD and civil exercises | usarmymars.org |
| Teachers | K–12 and college teachers, homeschool and after-school leaders | The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is a donor-funded summer program. ARRL says the grant covers travel, hotel and a meal per diem. Participants pay a $100 enrollment fee. 2027 applications open in December. | ARRL Teachers Institute |
Parents and young hams: see Parents & youth and Scouting.
Veterans. Many vets bring radio, electronics or communications experience and pick up a license quickly. Ask your local club about veterans in the group, look into MARS, and check exam fees: on What a license costs, one VEC (GLAARG) lists exam fee waivers for active-duty military and veterans with proof. A note of caution: some websites using "MARS" in their names aren't official. Army MARS says its site above is the official distribution point.
Seniors and retirees. Many people take up ham radio, or come back to it, after they retire. A few things help:
- Daytime nets and clubs. Many clubs hold weekday lunches, breakfasts and daytime nets.
- Accessible gear. Bigger displays, voice announcements and computer control can make a radio easier to use. Handiham helps with assistive options.
- Returning after years away? The no-code license has been in place since 2007, and digital modes and online logging are new. Your old call sign may still be on file in ULS, or available again as a vanity call. See What a license costs.
- Old-timer clubs. Associations such as the Quarter Century Wireless Association are for hams licensed for many years.
Hamfests and conventions
A hamfest is a flea market, a set of talks, a license exam session and a reunion, all in one day. Bring cash and see Buying used before you shop the tables.
| Event | When and where (as of Oct 8, 2026) | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton Hamvention | May 21–23, 2027, Greene County Fairgrounds & Expo Center, Xenia, Ohio. The biggest in the US. | hamvention.org |
| HamCation | Feb 12–14, 2027, Orlando, Florida | hamcation.com |
| Pacificon | Yearly Northern California convention. Check the site for dates. | pacificon.org |
| Your local hamfest | Most weekends somewhere | ARRL hamfest calendar |
Magazines
| Magazine | What it is | Link |
|---|---|---|
| QST | ARRL's monthly members' magazine | arrl.org/qst |
| On the Air | ARRL's bimonthly magazine for beginner to intermediate hams, launched in 2020. It also has a podcast. | arrl.org/on-the-air-magazine |
| QEX | ARRL's bimonthly technical journal | arrl.org/qex |
| RadCom | The RSGB's (UK) monthly magazine | rsgb.org RadCom |
Podcasts, news and video
- Amateur Radio Newsline: weekly news in audio and text. Report 2553 was posted Oct 2, 2026.
- ICQ Podcast: a long-running show. Episode 494 was posted Oct 4, 2026.
- ARRL's On the Air podcast, a companion to the magazine.
- Ham Radio Crash Course on YouTube for beginner how-tos. Our Resources page lists more videos by topic.
Online communities
| Where | Good for |
|---|---|
| QRZ.com forums | Big general forums, the swap meet (read Buying used first) |
| eHam.net | Forums and equipment reviews |
| r/amateurradio | Beginner questions, news and photos |
| groups.io | Email groups for specific radios, software and clubs. Many manufacturers' user groups live here. |
| Program communities | POTA, SOTA and others list their official Discord, Facebook and forum links on their own sites. See Programs. |
Online advice varies in quality. When rules or safety are involved, check the primary source: eCFR for Part 97, the program's own rules, or the manufacturer's manual.
Habits / gotchas / checklist
Notes & edits
Comments and proposed markdown sit in a queue. Nothing is public until it is reviewed. How this works.