Make it happen

 

It is not over yet, and even after the official close of hurricane seson, it is not done. Storms and hurricanes have wisited our location way out of season, in the past, and almost every day there is an historic return of something we have forgotten a long time ago. This seems all part of the 'new normal' we were being introduced to a year ago. Everything has to be treated as 'new' because it will never be business as usual ever again. This also means that our amateur radio has to be treated as 'new', because there are now 'protocols' to follow, but fortunately, no 'protocols' can be established for certain aspect of amateur radio, so many of us can still enjoy our ham radio as it was, and hopefully will forever be.

Amateur radio participation is taking off with the introduction of the 'new normal' lifestyle, the ham radio scientists are still looking for the triggers which are making amateur radio so popular at this time during and after the global pandemic. Many people may now see ham radio as a solution or missing link in their life. In time the ham radio scientists will pin down the triggers and inform us. In the meantime, amataeur radio societies, clubs and associations, need to do their research among new entrants, in order to capitalise on and to capture this wave of new and potential ham radio operators.

It is a case of making it happen. Amateur radio organisations have to give this new ham radio wave the best shot possible, before it wanes. This could take a year or two or three, depending on the country and the ham radio fallout, from the pandemic. I see a few people ending up with ham radio equipment, and are asking what to do with them. Most times they are advised to become a ham radio operator, and use the ham radio gear, instead of disposing it on eBay. This is an enticing challenge to young people, who love to entertain a challenge. In our Caribbean this scenario may vaguely exist, and we have to look for the specific reasons.

However this scenario seems to have either opened up, or created some wounds between new ham radio operators, newbies, and some older and experienced ham radio operators. I do not believe that this attitude will enter the ham radio relationship in our Caribbean communities, and I fully understand how this "attitude"can develop in certain places of different cultures. It is incumbent upon all ham radio operators to help each other to grow and develop into the best ham radio operator that we can become. Every ham radio operator was once a NEWBIE, but someone cared enough to help US, to reach to where we are today. 

We also need to make it happen for other ham radio operators, who may have lost interest in the hobby, or just do not have the time to follow the activity and developments. Once a ham radio operator, always a ham radio operator, but life throws many curved balls at us over time. The ham radio operators should seek to keep in contact with other ham radio operators, active or dormant, to keep the ham radio fires alive and burning. Many hams are returning to active operations after many years, and I suspect that the pandemic influenced this. This is where active club stations are most helpful.

We also need to make it happen at our station. Those of us with an interest in DX, can become more organised in searching out and working more DX stations. There are many DX nets on all bands, some are on daily, and some are on weekly. Many ham radio operators want to be "all band hunters", and I do not have a problem with that, but I have found that I prefer one or two ham radio bands over all others, and thereafter maximise my time and contacts on these bands. Strategies must be developed for all operations. New hams may be award hunting, and a winning strategy is helpful. A google search is also a life saver.

The storms are going and it is time to ramp up the ham radio activity for the upcoming winter season. Make a plan, plan early, be reliable, be a first class operator, and max out the band openings and conditions. After you have established your band, frequency and time, the rest of the DX world belongs to you. I do not believe that THIS will ever change.

[to be continued]