What use is an F-call?

Often I talk to fellow amateurs and ask what they've been up in Amateur Radio since I last spoke with them. I'm surprised to report that regularly the response is "nothing much". Digging deeper, it's not that the person hasn't got time, or even a project to do, but more often than not it seems that they're not sure where to start with their idea.

Let me give you some examples.

One amateur I speak with regularly wants to put a single-person erect-able mast on the back of their ute. Another wants to make a multi-band dipole kit for field-days. Another wants to set-up an ATV repeater and another wants to get on air with HF at home.

These examples are real. I'm not naming the amateurs involved - this is not intended to embarrass them. I could list many more, but I won't.

Just to make sure. These projects have not been started because of lack of money, or lack of expertise, or time. They have not started because people are not sure where to start.

So, riddle me this.

In the list I just read out, how many projects would you know how to start? The likely answer is at least one, and these projects are more than likely not your project.

So, next-time, instead of banging your head against a wall when you have a project, why not ask another amateur for suggestions or assistance?

I know that sitting in a shack behind a radio is a solitary activity, but not all of this hobby needs to be done on your own and I can tell you, from personal experience, doing stuff like this often makes the idea better and the outcome exceed initial expectations.

So, dream up your plans and talk to others. Who knows, you might end up with a project you can share with others and advance the hobby in the process.

I'm Onno VK6FLAB