What use is an F-call?

Recently I was talking to a non-amateur about Amateur Radio. You know the kind of conversation, sitting around a coffee-table, talking about life, hobbies, etc. I mentionned that I was getting out and about meeting people in Amateur Radio, participating in events, learning and generally having a great time. The person I was talking to immediately responded with: "That's all too technical for me, I could never do that."

And thus began a conversation that went for an hour or so on how radio works, what wave-length and frequency were, how sound is transmitted, how an antenna works, how you get a license, how much it costs and many of the mechanics related to our hobby. At no point did we talk about Ohms, or impedence or electronics as such, it was more along the lines of throwing a pebble into a lake, but at the end of the discussion there was a great deal of demystification that had taken place.

It has taken a little while for me to realise, but the demystification is what hooked me in the first place. My introduction to Amateur Radio was sitting at a dinner table with a bunch of computer geeks one of whom was, and still is, an Amateur. I'll protect her identity - she knows who she is - Hi Hi - but the introduction to the hobby was sideways, in that we started with WiFi to control a quad-copter and the potential for using an Amateur Radio license to increase power and control this device from further away.

The quad-copter WiFi project is still in the back of my mind - and I must stress that I've not investigated in any way, bands, power, etc. My point is that I came across a hobby while I was looking elsewhere.

I know that some feel that our hobby is in decline, that the average age of Amateurs is increasing, but I'd like to point out that we as a society are getting more and more technology in our lives, more and more exposure to ideas and inventions that have a basis in Amateur Radio, more and more accessible to more and more people.

Our hobby isn't in decline. It's easy to talk to other Amateurs, it's hard work talking to the rest of the world. Navel gazing is less work than standing up and looking around. I'd encourage you to consider other groups you're a member of, be it sailing, caravanning, computers, golf or fishing. People are social beings. They want to talk about things that are new and exciting, interesting, captivating. Share your experiences around, be as enthusiastic as you are in your shack, share the twinkle in your eye.

You might be surprised.

I'm Onno - vk6flab