The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has warned its membership today that the impending import tariffs of the Trump administration will cause major disruptions to the cost of Amateur Radio gear due to  almost all radio such equipment being manufactured in Asian countries. Given the wildly fluctuating statements the President-elect has made, ranging from 20% to 100%, import tariffs will undoubtedly make millions of products go up in cost to the American consumer and Amateur Radio will be no exception.

Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, ARRL Director of Regulatory Affairs, has stated that "All manufacturing brands will be affected, from Yaesu to Baofeng, from Icom to Retevis.  The long list of items includes much more than radios, it will touch things like Raspberry Pi computers and Hot Spots. " Further Jahnke suggested that as the Trump presidency approaches, "Hams may want to make those important purchases now of gear they have been considering before the prices spike  in 2025."

Expected big winners will be Canadian retailers along border states, US Hams are expected to just drive up North to such places as Radioworld in Toronto, Ontario and buy gear there, thus avoiding the import tariff that Trump says he will impose.  Jahnke said, "We don't really understand what the point of these tariffs is and we will be advocating hard to put an end to them. Can you imagine paying $18,000 for a Kenwood TS 990S instead of the current $9000 or $20 for a Quansheng UV-5r instead of the current $10?"

We reached out to RadioPlanet President Angelo Teffe (We had to change it from RadioWorld as they have no sense of humour) for his comments and said, "We are really looking forward to the tariffs kicking in, we are now considering opening new locations and hiring more staff to handle the demand.  Prices will be 20% to 100% cheaper in Canada and you can bring the wife up to see Fall colours in Ontario or tour the old city of Quebec with the savings!"

-reporting from RadioPlanet (absolutely not RadioWorld, we would never use their name, seriously it's RadioPlanet! We don't want anymore emails from RadioWorld telling us not to use their name, and by name we mean RadioWorld), Toronto, Ontario, Scott VA7SL 

The DIPOLE - the World's finest Amateur Radio News Source, like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.

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Today the ARRL announced the results of their 20 year long program to  lower the age of the average Amateur Radio Operator.  ARRL President Rick Roderick said today that, "When we started this program in 2004 the alarm bells were ringing as the average age had crept up to 68 years old."  

The ARRL board authorized 10 million dollars to promote a program which was released in schools and other public institutions such as community centres all across the United States and Puerto Rico.  Aimed at children between 10 and 18 years old it saw millions of participants over the last 20 years, introducing them to all types of Amateur Radio from HF to communicating with astronauts on the International Space Station. 

"Seeing these kids playing with radios really made it all worth while to our membership." Roderick went on to say, "therefore, today we are proud and happy to say that the results speak for themselves."  The ARRL released that as of November 2024, the average age of the Ham Radio operator in North America has dropped to 67.8 years old.

-reporting from ARRL HQ, Newington CT, Scott VA7SL

​The DIPOLE - the World's finest Amateur Radio News Source, like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.

New Republican Senate leader John Thune has stated in his first interview that,  "The next four years will be all about Science and innovation in America and the Federal Communications Commission will  lead the way."  The Trump agenda under the Tump endorsed Project 2025 is to fold the FCC into the responsibility of the US Space Force which was founded in 2019 by the first Trump administration.  Thune went on to say, "The Space Force is not seen as doing much by the general public so we are going to give them  total control of communications and they will answer only to the President."
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Up until now the FCC has been an independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the commission is the United States' primary authority for communications law, regulation and technological innovation but that all changes in 2025 when oversight and responsibility will be given to the Executive Branch via Space Force.  This move is seen as a slam dunk as the Republicans now control all three branches of government.

The Amateur Radio community in America can expect total control of communications much like Trump has proposed for television networks.  "If you spout lies and fake news on the air you will be shut down, " Thune said, "The airwaves are for sharing the truth, our truth, no matter how alternative it may be or contrary to facts, Science or reason."

-reporting from another world, Washington D.C., Scott VA7SL
The DIPOLE - the World's finest Amateur Radio News Source, like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.



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In a groundbreaking scientific study conducted jointly by the National Institute of Health and the American Journal of Health Studies into long-term radio frequency energy exposure, serious life changing health consequences were found.

The double-blind study followed 500 licensed Amateur Radio Operators for a 20-year period who had a daily exposure to emissions from all sorts of radio equipment. The operators used various power levels and equipment configurations at close distances and were monitored for health for changes as compared to a control group who were not exposed daily to emissions. 
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"The results were stunning,” said researcher and Princeton University PhD candidate Rosemary Delahunty, "the physiological changes were clear and seem irreversible."

There is a lengthy list of health changes of which included the inability to read a paragraph from start to finish, and a serious decline in the ability to distinguish satire from reality. It was noted that many persons subjected to long-term exposure had a change in the way they saw themselves in a mirror which impacted their choice of apparel.
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Another notable personality change was the need to point out that something was "fake" although only half the group could tell the difference. 

-reporting from the  National Institute of Health,  Adrian VE7NZ & Scott VA7SL
The DIPOLE - the World's finest Amateur Radio News Source, like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.
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