Rephonic
Artwork for On the Air
Ham Radio
Amateur Radio
ARRL
ARRL Field Day
Slow Scan Television
Morse Code
Emergency Management
ARES Taskbook
Incident Command System
W1AW
10 Meters
Automatic Packet Reporting System
FT8
Go-To Station
Arrl Emergency Communication Courses
Vhf-Uhf Antennas
Contest Clubs
Public Outreach
Field Day Locator
Solar Cycle 25

The On the Air podcast is a monthly companion to On the Air magazine, ARRL’s magazine for beginner-to-intermediate ham radio operators.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes73Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducation

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Artwork for On the Air

Latest Episodes

In support of the November/December 2025 article “Ten Tips for Programming Your 2-Meter Handheld,” Karin Thompson, KD4DXX, of RT Systems, joins the podcast to talk about how to approach the crucial task of programming your handheld.

Jessica Crotty, CEO of C. Crane, a northern California company known for designing and supporting quality radios and communication products, visits the podcast in support of her November/December 2025 On the Air article “Confidence in Preparedness St... more

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, joins the podcast in support of the September/October 2025 article “The EOC: Serving at the Hub,” by Rick Palm, K1CE, which talks about what an Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, is, and ... more

The podcast welcomes Violetta Latham, KN2P, a young contester who has had the opportunity to operate at some big, famous contest stations such as K3LR, PJ2T, and W3LPL. Violetta will talk about how she got started in contesting and how she got to whe... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Karin Thompson
A ham with 35 years of experience, currently works for RT Systems specializing in amateur radio programming.
RT Systems
Episode: Programming Your Handheld
Jessica Crotty
CEO of C. Crane, known for designing and supporting quality radios and communication products
C. Crane
Episode: Preparedness Takes Practice
Violetta Latham
Young contester who has operated at major contest stations
Episode: Get Inspired for Contest Season
Colin Wheatley
Ham radio operator and contributor to On the Air Magazine
Episode: Getting in on the POTA Fun
Bart Jahnke
ARRL Radio Sport and Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL
Episode: A VHF/UHF Antenna Menagerie
Paul Bork
ARRL Contest Program Manager
ARRL
Episode: A VHF/UHF Antenna Menagerie
Sierra Harrop
ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager
ARRL
Episode: Have a Ham Radio Open House in April
Nathaniel Frissell
Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering at the University of Scranton
University of Scranton
Episode: Have a Ham Radio Open House in April
Wayne Greene
ARRL Educational Specialist
ARRL
Episode: Learn Even more with On the Air Live

Host

Becky Schoenfeld
Host and editor of On the Air, focusing on providing educational content for amateur radio enthusiasts.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 122 ratings
  • EDC?

    You lost me in the first few minutes when you didn’t mention firearms. The concept of EDC originated in the firearm community.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    VVATC
    United States6 months ago
  • The Host makes this hard to listen to…

    The content is okay and of course anyone who loves Ham Radio wants to listen. However the Uh Um Um and drawn out lengthy questions to make them seem more important makes this show overbearing. Hate to tell the truth but it needs a new host.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Hammy 1.0
    United States2 years ago
  • companion - Yes!

    happy to have a companion to the publication

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RadioWire
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Pod

    Please add Spotify to your RSS!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DBA08021802
    United States3 years ago
  • Excellent podcasts

    I completed technician license June 2020.

    Completed general license December 2020

    Completed extra license April 2021

    Glad that ARRL has so many learning tools.

    73

    KO4ESA

    WRJR757

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    triquetra 88
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the informative nature and practical advice provided, finding it particularly valuable for beginners and intermediate operators.
There are criticisms regarding the delivery style of the host, with some suggesting it could benefit from a more streamlined approach.
Positive feedback highlights the engaging discussions with expert guests, who bring useful insights into ham radio operations and preparedness topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#159
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#203
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#193
Italy/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#36
Ukraine/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#73
India/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#100
Austria/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Programming Your Handheld
Q: What kind of situations do you think are especially good for computer programming a radio?
It is most helpful when traveling or setting up complex communications, allowing for easier organization of data and errors correction.
Programming Your Handheld
Q: What balance between reading the manual and playing around do you suggest?
Karin advises a mix of both, encouraging listeners to read the manual but also to experiment and push buttons to learn about the radio.
Programming Your Handheld
Q: How do you recommend beginning to familiarize yourself with a new radio like a two meter handheld?
Karin suggests doing research before buying a radio and understanding local repeater frequencies and what you want to achieve with the radio.
Preparedness Takes Practice
Q: How do you recommend somebody begins to familiarize themselves with a new radio?
Start by using it regularly, get the instructions, engage with a group, and utilize resources like YouTube for tutorials.
All About the EOC
Q: What advice do you have for new hams interested in working at EOCs?
New hams should get involved with local groups, start working through ARRL training taskbooks, and build relationships with local officials to increase their chances of being assigned to EOCs in the future.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About On the Air

What is On the Air about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on educational topics tailored for beginner to intermediate ham radio operators, providing guidance on emergency preparedness, equipment usage, and various ham radio-related skills. Conversations with knowledgeable guests often highlight practical advice for using specific equipment, understanding emergency operations, and building community connections in ham radio activities. Episodes explore engaging themes such as contesting, Parks on the Air (POTA), antenna building, and innovative communication methods, making it accessible and informative for those new to the amateur radio world while also appealing to seasoned operators looking to deepen their knowledge.

This podcast offers a unique blend of hands-on advice, exp... more

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How many listeners does On the Air get?

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Which podcasts are similar to On the Air?

These podcasts share a similar audience with On the Air:

1. ARRL Audio News
2. Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
3. The DX Mentor
4. QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio
5. Ham Radio 2.0

How many episodes of On the Air are there?

On the Air launched 6 years ago and published 73 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on On the Air?

Recent guests on On the Air include:

1. Karin Thompson
2. Jessica Crotty
3. Violetta Latham
4. Colin Wheatley
5. Bart Jahnke
6. Paul Bork
7. Sierra Harrop
8. Nathaniel Frissell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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