ARLA/CLUSTER: Episódio 144 da série " Foundations of Amateur Radio "

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Foundations of Amateur Radio #144

Amateur Radio Minimalism

The ultimate radio shack is a nirvana that most amateurs I've met
strive for all their life. One of the many views I've heard on the
topic keeps speaking to me, one of minimalism, less is more, what is
the absolute minimum that you can use and still call yourself an
amateur?

As you know, I've recently moved and my shack was packed up into some
boxes and is now slowly being unearthed. At the moment there are two
antennas, a radio and a power supply. Keen observers will note that
this is the same as it was last week.

I've left well enough alone because of two reasons, one being that I'm
trying to catch up on lost work during the move and the time where my
internet connection was less than optimal, the other reason being that
I've been attempting to work out what I actually want from my shack.

Unlike my previous QTH, my current location affords me more
flexibility, much more, as in four to six times more space to call my
own. That's not to say that I was previously living in a shoebox and
now I'm in a mansion, just that the distribution of space this time
around is working out very well.

So, I could go crazy, install computers, screens, multiple radios, a
work bench, a soldering station, a weather monitoring station, a
contest computer and the likes, or I could spend some time enjoying
the breathing space around me and contemplate what I should do with
this new found freedom.

Initially I pictured setting up a dedicated DX cluster screen, a
propagation screen, write some scripts to show the current maps using
something like a raspberry pi, set up a dedicated space for doing
contests and figure out how to mount several HF antennas, but the more
I think about this, the more I wonder if this is what I really want.

I've said many times that I adore contesting, it's a pull, a
challenge, a bridge I have to cross, a mountain to climb, whatever the
metaphor you see, but is that all there is about amateur radio that I
enjoy? I know that I'm working on several bits of software, another DX
project, some research and other activities, all related to amateur
radio, but not specifically contesting.

The thing I'd like to attempt to avoid, perhaps foolishly, given my
less than latent hoarding tendencies, is the clutter that I see in
other shacks. They're perfectly homely places, comfortable, full of
interesting things, but I'm wondering what a minimalist shack might be
instead, think of it as a "tiny houses" equivalent of getting rid of
clutter in my life.

What minimalist successes and failures can you share that helped you
along the way?

I'm Onno VK6FLAB



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