What use is an F-call?

When I started this caper over two years ago, my very first edition of "What use is an F-call?" discussed the idea that it's not power that determines your ability to make a contact, it's your antenna - that and propagation. Of course there are situations where having a high power station will get you places that a low power station won't.

I've often made the observation that having a Foundation License is like being a QRP operator, a station that runs on low power. If you have an Advanced license and decide to operate with 5 Watts and you make contacts, you get accolades from the community, where as a Foundation Licensee, you're doing that by law.

It's quite amazing to hear new operators continue to have the perception that they need more power and that's why they should upgrade their license. This view is perpetuated by many amateurs in our community and I don't think it's helpful, nor is it accurate.

I'm not adverse to upgrading a license at all, but power should not be your first reason. You should think of a higher license as more bands, more modes, more skill and more knowledge. You will have the ability to build equipment that you can't as a Foundation Class License holder and you'll have choice of a wider selection of callsigns.

If you are a Foundation Class amateur, and you want to talk to people who use low power as a matter of pride, get in touch with the QRP community, there's clubs and websites galore, newsletters, social outings, activities and more.

You'll fit right in!

I'm Onno VK6FLAB