What use is an F-call?

A recent lunchtime conversation between HAMs revealed that the perception that you need to upgrade your license is still alive and well.

Now, I should start by saying that I'm all for upgrading your skill level and learning. Getting a higher grade license is an excellent way to formalise the process of training and encouraging yourself to learn specific skills, but that notion is not related in any way to your ability to participate as an active amateur.

I know that I keep saying that Power is not the Answer, it's what you do with what you have that makes all the difference.

The more I come across other amateurs, the more I realise that if I look at my Foundation License as a QRP, or low-power license, the more I can find challenges to tackle and investigate. I'm actively investigating new antenna types and ways to get my signal out to the world.

Last weekend I spent several hours looking for new take-off points around my QTH, my home-town, and have found several promising locations that need investigating.

The thing I like about Amateur Radio is that it's as much about being self-driven and motivated as it is about joining forces with other Amateurs who are either trying to achieve something that runs in parallel to your goals, or who have achieved what you're aiming for.

My personal goal, for no other reason that I'd like to prove to myself that it can be done is to achieve the DXCC, an amateur radio award, earned by making contact with 100 or more geographic entities around the world, using just my Foundation License. I don't know if it has been done or not and while I could spend an enjoyable Sunday finding out, it's more about showing myself that it can be done. I don't know if I am going to take a month, a year or a decade to do this, but that's my aim. One thing I know is that I'll be talking to lots of people around the world to get there - hi hi.

So, my question to you is, what motivates you to use your License, Foundation or otherwise?

I'm Onno VK6FLAB