Then again, amateur radio is obsolete too. Why would anyone get a radio transmitter to communicate anymore? Everyone has a mobile cellular phone.
Why would anybody want a car when we can fly everywhere ?
There are a couple of reasons for ham radio. The first is it's fun.
The second is that it's educational and for the younger readers who are thinking of technical careers, it's a very good place to start.
And of course amateur radio isn't exactly obsolete. If you're not involved in it you could be forgiven for thinking that it's a bunch of grumpy old men tapping away on morse keys.
And sure there are still a few grumpy old men and people using morse (because it's fun).
But obsolete equipment. No.
Just in voice communications we have DSTAR, and P25 radios. Not exactly cutting edge technology, but not obsolete yet. My local mounties are still installing and upgrading to P25 equipment.
Spread spectrum communications is still cutting edge, and there are many low data rate high reliability modes which have been developed over the past decade.
New modes and protocols are being developed all the time.
There are more and more complex satellites being built and launched.
Hams playing with all kinds of complex radar systems and high stability, low noise microwave communications right up into the submillimeter bands. Complex atmospheric and ionospheric radar systems are also being built and tested.
Not forgetting television. While a lot of us still run analog TV, more development in digital TV modes has been made in the last 10 years as the price of mpeg chipsets has come down.
And I'm sure I've missed a couple of other non-obsolete applications and systems.
In Australia the place to start for a Ham radio licence is with the WIA.
www.wia.org
They will be able to direct you to a local ham radio club that may also be able to help you get a licence.
Our Foundation licence is designed to be very easy to get. 10 year old girl scouts have done it with 100%, so it gives you an idea of how easy it is.
The next level up is our Standard which requires a reasonable amount of electronics and radio knowledge. And the Advanced is not a lot harder than that.