ARRL wants to raise its dues. Here is what I think. - Ria’s Ham Shack 05 May 2023

Great show Ria. Thanks for all that you do. 73 Joe

My problem with QST magazine is it is more add catalog then anything . Would like to see more entry to middle level projects for new Hams like they had in the past. 40 years in the hobby so far ; ) N8QJU

The financial position shown in the annual report doesn't show a need for a dues increase.

I would rejoin ARRL and drop the hard copy magazine cost (printing, handling, postage) if they can figure out how to professionally deliver the magazine digitally. The last time I tried to read the digital magazine it made me embarrassed to belong to a supposed technology oriented organization.

I only know one friend of mine that is still an ARRL member.Another just became a SK last month and his wife is giving me his QST’s through next February when his membership runs out.I have not read QST in at least 5 years but I will scan through the Free ones until then.They would be smarter just offering a magazine subscription for those like me who don’t want a membership with them.

Hi Ria, I absolutely agree with you regarding a membership fee increase will reduce the numbers of ARRL members. I also think the new FCC license fee will reduce the number of US hams. We know that there are over 700K licensed amateurs in the US but I don’t think anyone knows how many of them are active. I renewed my license during an inactive period, but I’m sure may inactive hams won’t renew because of the $35 fee.

Howdy Ria ... Yes, blind hams get QST through the National Library Service. Read by someone with little technical knowledge (the last guy was a good cure for insomnia, the guy that read April's made many careless errors...), and a month or more behind the print version. I did join as a life member with blind membership, and I've said I'd be happy to have joined at regular membership rates if I could read the digital edition of ARRL publications, but, when they changed publishing platforms several years ago, as Steve Ford told me at the time, they had to make decisions about that, and unfortunately accessibility was a casualty of those decisions. In other words, it wasn't an important enough consideration. The new CEO made statements about the importance of accessibility for disabled hams, but I've seen relatively little change in this regard, none insofar as the major publications are concerned. I stand by my statement that I'd be happy to pay for real access to the digital publications.

I am not an ARRL member because as far as I am concerned, the dues are already too high. The information they have for free on line is all I have ever used. There are so many other options available in the technology focused world today.

Are you broadcasting on Shortwave?

Haven't been a member of ARRL in the entire time I've been licensed. They don't represent me, and haven't since they started focussing on EMCOMM whackers, frankly. It's past the time when we should have had an alternative organization set up in parallel to be more inclusive

I agree: I also don't like referring to car crashes as accidents. Especially as they're usually caused by carelessness on some level and often preventable. By not driving while drunk or texting or not paying attention or ... And calling them an accident lessens their import and the responsibility for them.

I do support the ARRL, have they looked at other organizations to compare dues to members, IMHO a lower cost may bring in more members, I know several hams that are on a fixed budget and a lower cost may bring these hams back. As for an organization I would like to see more on the legislation side to help ie HOA’s and antennas. Something we all need to do is start promoting and using VHF/UHF bands before we lose them. The main reason I support the arrl is it’s the only real voice we have

There’s a 70+ Life Membership that is reduced.

ARRL needs to put more effort into getting the amateur tower restrictions by HOA overturned.

There is no reason for them to raise rates. Look at a copy of qst. The money made off ad sales are crazy. Ask MFJ how much they pay every month for ads. ARRL should lower the rate not raise it.

Who cares about the ARRL? They are one reason I've not been much active in Ham for over 30 years. I always hated the ARRL!! They have always been too big for their breeches and the FCC allows them way too much latitude to make rules about what frequencies can be used for what. And now these days there are even local and state 'governing bodies' that think they can tell you which simplex channel you can use and which you can't. Bottom line, you can use whatever frequency you want as long as you don't interfere with anyone that was on the frequency first. The ham radio scene is being dictated by communist style control freaks. Of course you can't use a repeater input or output for simplex, there has to be some rules, just not as many as there are. It's a nightmare. I only make sure I have a working radio for emergencies and renew every ten years. That's it!!