SocialHams

I have been licensed since 2011. Like a lot of hams, I got into the hobby because I was curious about radio and stayed because of the people.

SocialHams started because I kept noticing the same thing across amateur radio, community broadcasting, and local FM stations: radio connects people in a way that other media does not quite replicate. There is something about a live voice on a frequency, whether it is a net control calling for check-ins or a small-town DJ reading local news, that creates a real sense of community. I wanted a place to write about that.

This site covers amateur radio culture, community broadcasting, radio culture more broadly, and the practical side of getting on the air. The guides are written for people who are curious or just getting started, but I try to keep things honest enough that experienced operators find them useful too.

The original SocialHams community was a group of radio enthusiasts sharing operating tips, station photos, and signal reports. That spirit carries over here. The focus is on the human side of radio, the conversations, the mentoring, the local connections that happen when people pick up a microphone or tune across a band.

Most of my operating has been on HF and VHF. I have spent more hours ragchewing on 40 metres than I probably should admit, and I still think local repeaters are underappreciated. I also spend a lot of time listening to community radio and small-market stations, which is how the community radio side of this site came together. Radio is bigger than any one licence class or frequency band, and I try to reflect that here.

I am not affiliated with any radio manufacturer, club, or organization. The opinions here are my own, informed by fifteen years of operating, building, and listening. If you want to get in touch, the easiest way is to find me on the air.

73.