June 29, 2025
Friedrichshafen – The allure of amateur radio brings together people of all ages and from around the world: From June 27 to 29, 2025, 11,600 radio enthusiasts from 52 countries flocked to Friedrichshafen to explore technology trends and exchange ideas in person. The nationwide project initiated by the non-profit partner German Amateur Radio Club (DARC) was officially launched under the trade fair theme of “Remote Radio – Connecting the World.” “Each year, Ham Radio attracts a diverse, international, and technically skilled audience to our exhibition halls. This underscores its status as Europe’s largest amateur radio trade fair and the excellence of our supporting program in partnership with DARC,” says a delighted Klaus Wellmann, Messe Friedrichshafen CEO. After the opening event and a tour of the exhibition halls, the Mayor of the City of Friedrichshafen, Andreas Hein, was also impressed by the diverse array of nationalities that found their way to Lake Constance for the Ham Radio event.
For three days, more than 380 participants showcased the wide-ranging world of radio, including 150 commercial exhibitors and associations, along with 230 flea market vendors on site. “The sense of community at Ham Radio is genuinely one of a kind. Regardless of what corner of the world they come from, visitors prioritize engaging in friendly and constructive discussions about their hobby. Young up-and-coming talents such as Alexandru Ianis Scutaru, who set a new high-speed telegraphy world record at the fair with 1,160 characters per minute, demonstrate the vibrancy of amateur radio,” reports Project Manager Petra Rathgeber. Well-known influencer Liam Carpenter also paid a visit to his father, who had a booth at Ham Radio, where he paused to take a few selfies.
Gaze at the stars starting in 2026: Where amateur radio and astronomy converge
Starting next year, Ham Radio will be expanded to feature a dedicated exhibition zone for astronomy. Among those taking part is the Lake Constance Astronomical Association (Astronomische Vereinigung Bodensee), which already had its own booth this year. “The audience responded with great interest, and the topic of astronomy was warmly welcomed. Fortunately, we were able to quickly expand our booth staff. This was essential because the new topic was so popular, leading to a steady stream of visitors and vibrant conversations. For me, that’s more than a positive sign,” says Second Chairman Michael Denzler with a sense of satisfaction. Potential synergies could also be realized: “Many amateur radio operators are photography enthusiasts or even professional photographers and have suitable equipment at home that, with a few small modifications, can also be used effectively at night.”
Summer, sun, scenic Lake Constance
For our non-profit partner DARC, there were numerous reasons to celebrate in recent days. For example, the starting signal was given for the nationwide “Remote” project, making it easier and more affordable to access the hobby through radio stations that can be controlled from anywhere in the world. “Our slogan at this year’s Ham Radio was ‘Remote Radio – Connecting the World,’ and the event truly lived up to the ambitious promise of its theme. We brought the world together here at the exhibition grounds in Friedrichshafen. In general, the fair is always about ‘summer, sun, and scenic Lake Constance,’” says DARC Spokesperson Stephanie Heine. Since 1950, DARC has stood for technical education and international understanding, which is why the 75th anniversary was celebrated with a new booth concept. The unique aspect of Ham Radio is that its event date has traditionally found a place in the calendars of radio amateurs, making it a fixed meeting point for everyone here. Of course, it also serves as a great conference venue where the latest trade fair innovations are showcased to a broad audience,” Stephanie Heine adds.
Translating theory into practice
From knowledge-sharing sessions and travel tips to radio licensing: A total of 121 lectures, exams, and workshops were enthusiastically received by participants in various diploma programs, along with teachers and technology enthusiasts, resulting in packed conference rooms. Anyone wishing to take an amateur radio exam could do so on any day of the fair. “Numerous questions were raised, particularly regarding remote operation, call sign assignment, and radio interference issues. By Saturday afternoon, 79 visitors had participated in the amateur radio exams,” reports Lutz Heuschkel of the Amateur Radio Department of Germany’s Federal Network Agency.
Radio trade fair boosts commerce and community
With an audience that was affluent and ready to spend, highly interested in the subject matter of the fair, and sociable, the trade fair’s vibrant atmosphere encouraged productive dialog and networking, leading to a positive outcome for the exhibiting companies. “We were very busy, especially on Friday. It felt like there were significantly more visitors than last year, given how busy our stand was,” says Karl Brazier, Sales Manager at Yaesu UK Limited. René Lutz, owner of Lutz-Electronics KLG, shares this impression: “The public’s interest remained so high the entire time that I didn’t even want to stop to take a coffee break, just so I could keep talking with the visitors a bit longer. You can really feel the warmth of the people at an event like this,” he says, adding the following to sum up the experience: “From my point of view, events like this sustain the community, and anyone who takes amateur radio seriously should make it a point to attend.”
Tickets and opening hours
The next Ham Radio will again be held in Friedrichshafen, Germany, from June 26 to 28, 2026.
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