Best return on your radio investment

There are three types of amateur radio operators: tech nerds who make their own stuff. To them: respect! When they talk, I listen and take notes. They are smart people who we should thank that we, ordinary hams, have a hobby.

The second group are those who enjoy the social aspect of two way communication.

They have their favourite band (usually 40m, SSB) and chat with like minded friends Australia-wide. They’ve known each other for decades, most of them are very helpful and very courteous. These are your people if you need a phone patch, to relay a message to a non-amateur friend, or to check the modulation of a new radio. Always happy to help. Nice people – kind of people you’ll find at your local RSL club or church.

The third group are DXchasers and contesters.

In Australia, this group is almost extinct. You won’t find them easily – they spend a great deal of time listening and chasing, searching and pouncing. Highly focused, always in a hurry, every bit tense not to miss out on something.

Of course, there are some overlaps, but here is my point: it is the chasers who get the best return on their radio investment. Chasers use the entire ham radio spectrum, and operate morse, sideband and digital modes. Hopping from band to band, they know their propagations, and have brushed up their skills to perfection.

Get into chasing. Start gently with setting a realistic goal. Working 100 countries is a nice starting point. Have fun.

The other evening, I was tuning along the 40m band. And there he was, calling CQ: Chris, VP8KCA from Falkland Island. Quite a DX on 40m band. Not very loud, but he got me, and we had a short contact. Chris works at  RAF Mount Pleasant Complex (MPC). He was running 100 Watts into a dipole, which is as modest as it gets.

After the contact, I went to Wikipedia to out find more about MPC base. The photo of the jets is courtesy of Wiki. Bottom line: I’ve learned a fair bit, and in my opinion, I’ve got an excellent return on my radio investment. Chasing DX is fun.