What next?

 

Alure of the Seas at Port Zante, Basseterre, St Kitts. 2022-01-03

It is a nice warm, bright, not cloudy, and not windy day in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.  A wonderful day to begin taking our amateur radio on a journey to another level. Amateur radio in this Federation can only go upward, as all of us seek to make our amateur radio mark in 2022. We all need to seriously consider what is next, so that we can effectively and efficiently take our amateur radio to the next level. I suspect that all of us wish to take our amateur radio knowledge and education to that next level. I know for a fact, that some amateur radio operators used the pandemic "stay at home" and "lockdown" to update their radio knowledge online.

There are problem situations in V4. There are almost 200 amateur radio operators by call sign, and many of them are not active, as in being on the air regularly. That is not a real problem. Our resident amateur radio population are either operators who have a functional radio station, or amateur radio operators who do not. All amateur radio operators should seek to take their amateur radio to the next level. The local amateur radio clubs and societies are obligated to help ALL operators without their own amateur radio station, to take their personal amateur radio to a new level. That should be one of the main goals of the amateur radio clubs and societies. This could possibly mean that these organisations could seek the help of commercial business entities to help them fashion and implement plans and programs to achieve the desired results for the members.

Amateur radio operators with their own radio stations only need to identify how they will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of whatever they do.  I get the impression that many amateur radio operators are not making real DX contacts. I consider a real DX contact to be one made over five thousand [5,000] miles. Unfortunately, most of the cheap antennas that are used may just get an amateur radio station around the block, and not into any real DX zones. Until the amateur radio operator decides to invest in a real antenna system, and not just a piece of wire in the sky, no real DX will result. The radio equipment is capable, and the antenna must also be made capable, if the best results are desired.  

Making DX contacts and getting confirmation is a big part of amateur radio for many operators. I think this is sadly lacking in V4. I salute the amateur radio operators who are active and keep the ham bands warm with activity. The amateur radio bands are opening up as we approach the sunspot peak, and V4 needs to be in the mix of first heard signals and call signs. This may also mean that operators have to re evaluate their antenna systems. All antennas work, but some work far better than others. After all these years as a ham radio operator, I am now learning that simple antennas are the most efficient and effective, and most times perform as good as and better than some of those which require heavy investment. This is a significant plus for those of us living in third world countries.

Some of us believe that the antenna is the most important item in the amateur radio station. It is proven that a simple vertical antenna properly installed, can out perform beams and arrays on towers on the HF frequencies. And there are published facts, figures and data to back this up. So, let us spend this week and maybe the next if necessary, examining our amateur radio, and plan how we are going to take it up a notch or two this year. Let us begin to march towards our goal quickly, keeping in mind that the Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1st and could place a damper on our ham radio DX activities for the rest of the year.

[to be continued]