Slow start
WOW!! The second quarter of 2022 is upon us. Amateur radio may not be rolling out as some of us thought it would. Question is, what can we do about that? There is always something that we can do, but many of us most times FOCUS on the apparent problem and not the solution or the possible solution. In this time as we get our lives, and everything else back together, we need to be perpetually proactive in every area of our life. We need to erase the word impossible from our vocabulary, because in reality, everything is POSSIBLE, no matter how it may look. What I have discovered over the years, is that when you begin to move towards the goal, it seems to meet you halfway. Some people call it luck, but it is just the way that "things" work, but you only find out IF you try. So to all Amateur Radio operators, everywhere, make your wish list of EVERYTHING that you need to take your ham radio to another level. I will not tell you to meditate on it daily, or do any such thing, but update your wish list as often as you feel, and sooner rather than later you will find the ham radio items on your list gravitating to your environment. I have been doing this for years and it has always worked. If you do not have a wish or a desire for something, it CANNOT find you. Every thing that you now have was once a wish. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
I am in the market for a new radio, since my last Flex transceiver and computer blew out in a lightening storm some moths ago. The computer was replaced but I was advised against sending the Flex for repair, but to get a new radio instead. In between time I developed an interest in the Yaesu FTDX 10. The Yaesu FTDX 101D seems to be the real deal. So I joined the Facebook ham radio and Yaesu groups to see what users were saying. If you are on Facebook I suggest that you join a group and learn more about the radio or product of interest. Of course YouTube is another source of information, but the Facebook discussion groups are something else. To make a long story short, I still admire the Yaesu but I am moving back to my Flex radios. They offer a remote capability that no one else seem to match, and that I like. The Flex cost a little bit more than the Yaesu FTDX 10, but to me, the Flex radio is in a class by itself. I like the Yaesu FTDX 10 for going portable, mobile, and demonstrations, but I am not seeing any reports from this category of users. More research is needed. https://www.flexradio.com/
One more month before the Atlantic Hurricane season begins on June 1. We pray for a quiet season, but you never know and we need to be prepared. In times past the peak hurricane activity for V4 land was August to September. That would seem to give us plenty time to be prepared for anything, but historically, Caribbean people only take things seriously when they find themselves in the cross hairs of the activity. We need to stop doing that, and take the time allotted to get prepared, and adequately prepared. I am not into disaster preparedness, but will give any service as required to make the system function at its best. Within the last few months about ten [10] new amateur radio operators were welcomed into our ham radio fraternity. I wonder how many of these operators have radios, whether VHF radios or HF radios? How many of them can participate in any post hurricane activity? I am of the view that we, the hams of V4, should see how best we can "find" radios that our ten [10] plus operators can use, to help bring relief to our country, if and when we experience any adverse hurricane activity.
Everything is off to a slow start as "all things" are opening up. We hope that by the end of quarter three [3] everything will be good to go again. So what are we doing, individually and collectively, to grow the hobby of amateur radio in Saint Kitts and Nevis? The most recent group of ham radio operators can help to attract and bring more followers to the hobby, if they have the right tools to attract them. This is why we have to "find" some way to get ham radio equipment into V4which can be distributed to the ham radio operators with the desire to get on the air NOW. If I had a spare 10K I would invest it in ten [10] Yaesu FTDX 10 radios for those with a REAL interest in DX operating. Why the FTDX 10 when there are cheaper [and obsolete] radios are available? Over the years I have observed that many ham radio stations do not invest in, nor install a REAL DX antenna. It behooves us [in V4] to use the BEST receiver and antenna possible, at this end if we are to pull in and make contact with any station that we can hear. V4 is a DX country. We may be down to #182 of 340 on the "DXCC most wanted countries 2022" list, but there are many ham radio operators in the world who still desperately need that FIRST contact with V4. The V4 amateur radio stations are still very far from being active on all modes. https://dxnews.com/dxcc-2017/
V4 amateur radio operators should now be aware that since V4 is a serious DX country with a need to contact radio stations anywhere and everywhere in the world, the antenna system deployed must be the best affordable. But here lies a problem because, the materials used in fabricating these sophisticated antenna systems are not readily available in these islands. Antennas here range from home made dipoles and verticals, and most times the best designs and practices are not employed. For example, a dipole is a great effective antenna, but it works best from forty [40] feet up, and when placed in an horizontal position, NOT drooping in any way. Most hams use the ready made aluminum horizontal dipole with great results. However, this calls for an investment in forty [40] feet of pipe or irrigation tubing for support. The cheaper and a better alternative is the half wave vertical dipole. I suspect that many designs can be found from a Google search. My personal half wave vertical dipole design experiments evolved in part from the EI7BA web page article. The whole web site makes for great reading for all ham radio operators, but the antenna is found here, https://www.qsl.net/ei7ba/low_band_antennae.htm
I have not found any simple antenna that can outperform this antenna as yet, and it is just my antenna of choice. A simpler antenna like a quarter wave vertical can be used instead, against quarter wave elevated radials. Two radials seem to be effective, and they have to be raised well above ground to avoid the ground effects. However the half wave vertical dipole produces a lower take off angle than the quarter wave vertical. When these vertical antennas are installed on a beach, nothing can outperform them. Verticals are easier to build and install, and do not need the "height" above ground. Verticals are easier to make into an array, parasitic arrays are better. It is helpful for all ham radio operators to learn all they can about vertical antennas, and how to use them most effectively. With the sunspot cycle peaking soon, the bands should be lively and provides the best time to work the world. This is a time that should NOT be missed by anyone, anywhere.
I could not end without letting readers know that the interference issue caused by the electricity company in Saint Kitts over the last 3 to 5 years in ongoing. See my latest update on the ILLEGAL ACTIVITY here https://www.qrz.com/db/v44kf . No official word from the Telecom Regulator, Authority, the NTRC to date. I hope that the smart meter system of the electricity company could be upgraded or replaced soon with modern equipment that does not cause interference with other telecommunication services and comply with international telecommunication standards. I am waiting for the day when amateur radio in Saint Kitts [V4] can return to normal, no interference, no noise, no frequency jamming, and the ham radio operators can once again enjoy 24x7x365 amateur radio operating. I expect that to be soon and I am getting ready.
Let us see what is coming to amateur radio in the second quarter of 2022.
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