Ever notice how quiet it can get in the ham radio hobby sometimes? Wait, what?

On some repeaters, you might barely hear a peep, while others are buzzing with activity. Why is that? There are plenty of reasons, many of which I won’t cover here, but here’s what I do know:

Clubs and repeater owners put in a tremendous amount of effort to plan, deploy, configure, and maintain repeaters. When those repeaters go unused, it can be pretty discouraging. In fact, a repeater owner recently told me that it’s frustrating to invest so much and hear so little in return.

The same goes for net controllers. These individuals dedicate time and energy to set up and run nets. When they call out and are met with silence, it must feel disheartening.

That said, some repeaters and nets are thriving. Take the famous N2GE repeater on Mount Mitchell in Western North Carolina, for example. It became a vital lifeline during Hurricane Helene and the recovery efforts that followed. Months later, it’s still actively used to coordinate support in the region. N2GE has always had a large base of local users, strong net participation, and remains one of the busiest repeaters I’ve ever heard. So, while inactivity isn’t a problem everywhere, it’s certainly an issue in many areas of the hobby.

Here’s the good news: the hobby is experiencing renewed interest—partly because of how ham radio shined during and after Helene. That means now is the perfect time to get on the air and start learning the calls of these new operators. Where are all these new people? Are they just listening quietly? Are they unsure about speaking up? Either way, we should embrace their enthusiasm and the energy they bring to the hobby.

So, what can you do to help? Here are a few simple ideas:

1. Make it a habit to “throw your call out” once a day on your local repeater or a quieter one nearby. You never know who’s listening, monitoring, or ready to respond. It’s a small effort, but it can make a big difference in sparking activity and building connections.
2. Check into a net once or twice a week. Try a rag-chew net, an ARES/AUXCOMM net, or any net that catches your interest. It’s a great way to engage with the community, sharpen your skills, and make the most of the license you worked so hard to earn.
3. Use your equipment regularly. Staying active helps keep your skills sharp and your gear in good working order.

Let’s keep the airwaves alive and thriving—whether it’s with new operators or old friends. I look forward to hearing you on the air soon!

BT//