Waiting for conditions to get wide open to finalize my thoughts on ham radio, but so far it hasn't lived up to 11m for me. The nearest to it is actually VHF/UHF in terms of local radio fun.
On HF folks seem so desperate for that DX contact, and dropping way too difficult to copy or remember convoluted call signs on top of each other trying to break a pile up. On 11m just put together a homebrew antenna, throw out a homebrew easy to remember set of numbers or handle, no formal ballet with mile long call signs, and snag a a dozen to 200 contacts from 500 to 5,000 to 10,000 miles away. Just fun in survival of the fittest form for DX, and anyone with a radio is part of the local rag chew. Easy peasy...
I find myself wondering if I will be alive when the next decent cycle finally arrives. So, waiting to see if ham radio can truly deliver.
On HF folks seem so desperate for that DX contact, and dropping way too difficult to copy or remember convoluted call signs on top of each other trying to break a pile up. On 11m just put together a homebrew antenna, throw out a homebrew easy to remember set of numbers or handle, no formal ballet with mile long call signs, and snag a a dozen to 200 contacts from 500 to 5,000 to 10,000 miles away. Just fun in survival of the fittest form for DX, and anyone with a radio is part of the local rag chew. Easy peasy...
I find myself wondering if I will be alive when the next decent cycle finally arrives. So, waiting to see if ham radio can truly deliver.