Category: Clubs

  • CERT and Amateur Radio: How the Programs Overlap

    Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. CERT and ARES get confused for each other constantly, and while they are separate programs with different scopes, they overlap enough that many hams find real value in doing both. What CERT Actually Is Community Emergency Response Team training is a FEMA-backed program that teaches civilians basic disaster…

  • How to Run an Effective Club Meeting

    Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. A lot of ham radio clubs struggle with attendance not because interest in the hobby has dried up, but because the meetings themselves have become something members quietly dread rather than look forward to. Respect People’s Time Start on time, end on time, and have a real agenda…

  • Running a Public Service Event: Parades, Races, and Marathon Comms

    Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. Public service events are one of the most underrated ways to get real, practical net experience without waiting for an actual emergency to force you into it. Marathons, charity walks, parades, and bike races regularly rely on ham radio volunteers for course communications, and it is one of…

  • Mentoring a New Ham: How to Be a Good Elmer

    Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. Elmer is one of those ham radio traditions that everyone talks about fondly and almost nobody explains well. It just means a mentor, someone experienced who takes a new ham under their wing and helps them actually get on the air instead of just passing a test and…

  • The Ultimate Guide to Arizona Amateur Radio & GMRS Clubs (Plus Regional Frequency Cheat Sheet)

    Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. Whether you are hitting the backroads in a 4×4, preparing for emergency communications, or scanning the airwaves from your shack, Arizona has one of the most active radio communities in the country. From massive statewide VHF/UHF repeater networks to dedicated regional GMRS systems, keeping track of frequencies, tones,…

  • How to Run a Net People Actually Want to Check Into

    Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. I have sat through weekly nets that were nothing but a name, a call sign, and a signal report to know exactly why check-in numbers decline over time. Running a net well is a skill, and most of what separates a net people look forward to from one…

  • What’s Wrong With Amateur Radio Clubs in 2026

    Amateur radio sits at the intersection of electronics, software, emergency communications, and pure experimentation. So why do so many local clubs feel like they’re actively working to drive newcomers away?

  • Weekly Nets Are Stuck in the Past, and They’re Not Preparing Anyone for SHTF

    Most weekly nets have become a comfortable check-in ritual that teaches nothing and tests nothing. Here’s why that’s a problem for preparedness-minded hams.

  • How to Find (and Vet) a Ham Radio Club Worth Joining

    Not every club is worth your dues or your Saturday mornings. Here is what separates a club that actually helps you grow from one that is just going through the motions.

  • Is ARRL Membership Actually Worth It?

    Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. Nothing about being a licensed amateur requires ARRL membership, and plenty of hams operate happily for decades without ever joining. But the League does provide real value for a lot of members, and it’s worth an honest look at what you’re actually paying for. What membership actually gets…

  • Starting Your Own Ham Radio Club From Scratch

    Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. I’ve written before about what’s wrong with a lot of amateur radio clubs today, and about how to vet an existing one before joining. Sometimes the honest answer is that nothing local fits what you’re actually looking for, and starting your own is a genuinely realistic option. Start…

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