I watched the complete interview with WO5T but this well-written summary is also helpful. Specifically, these real-world stories of individuals improving their amateur radio performance are helpful to me as I strive to do the same.
I struggle with a mediocre antenna, an off-center fed dipole laying on my roof, and my power limit of 100 watts. My plan was to prioritize skill building and later work to improve the station. After a disappointing NA QSO Party last night, I'm thinking station improvement should come sooner rather than later. Yet I'm limited by an HOA and I'm not sure I can much improve my antenna while maintaining stealth. Also, the DFW suburbs are flat and noisy. I have terrible performance during summer days which I believe is related to air conditioning all around me.
Sam's insight was helpful. I might be able to improve with a portable antenna and an amplifier. While amps are expensive, it is less expensive than moving to a place in the country (still a long-term goal). It would also be good for me to work a contest from an excellent station so I can better understand how much of my mediocre performance is due to hardware and how much can be improved with practice.
As for the topic of bringing youth into the hobby, Sam makes a great point about the appeal of the analog, traditional and social aspects of amateur radio. To me, amateur radio resonates as an activity involving real people in real time in the real world. It is fundamentally not a game or a simulation (though we create games on top of it). The collateral skills developed, especially in electronics, are useful in all sorts of ways.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Matt. I’m trying to reach people wherever they are coming from so it’s nice to hear your response to the written word in addition to video and audio interviews. 73, Kevin W1DED
I watched the complete interview with WO5T but this well-written summary is also helpful. Specifically, these real-world stories of individuals improving their amateur radio performance are helpful to me as I strive to do the same.
I struggle with a mediocre antenna, an off-center fed dipole laying on my roof, and my power limit of 100 watts. My plan was to prioritize skill building and later work to improve the station. After a disappointing NA QSO Party last night, I'm thinking station improvement should come sooner rather than later. Yet I'm limited by an HOA and I'm not sure I can much improve my antenna while maintaining stealth. Also, the DFW suburbs are flat and noisy. I have terrible performance during summer days which I believe is related to air conditioning all around me.
Sam's insight was helpful. I might be able to improve with a portable antenna and an amplifier. While amps are expensive, it is less expensive than moving to a place in the country (still a long-term goal). It would also be good for me to work a contest from an excellent station so I can better understand how much of my mediocre performance is due to hardware and how much can be improved with practice.
As for the topic of bringing youth into the hobby, Sam makes a great point about the appeal of the analog, traditional and social aspects of amateur radio. To me, amateur radio resonates as an activity involving real people in real time in the real world. It is fundamentally not a game or a simulation (though we create games on top of it). The collateral skills developed, especially in electronics, are useful in all sorts of ways.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Matt. I’m trying to reach people wherever they are coming from so it’s nice to hear your response to the written word in addition to video and audio interviews. 73, Kevin W1DED