Re:how much of a loss? (Score 2)

It's not dying out any longer. We're heading toward having 700,000 U.S. hams due to the final elimination of the code test (you're welcome) and the fact that it's technically getting more fun due to software radio, etc. That's more than we've had in a very long time.

Interesting -- thanks for the info. However, that 700,000 figure would include people like me, who are no longer active. Seems like there ought to be more reliable indicators than number of licenses -- e.g., sales of radios.

I believe there were more new licenses issues last year than ever before. A lot of the new hams are associated with emergency responders (CERT groups, etc.)