A few Weeks ago i had the idea of making a Challenge for HamRadio operators. Not a Challenge like eating a spoon full of Cinnamon or post a picture from a pen that will stay under your boobs (really?!)
No. I thought of something like:
Scenario: X-Event occured today. There is Y-Problem.
Goal: You will have to find a way to build/make/hack Z
Rules: Because of the X-Event you only have Q-Parts to reach your goal.
Rewards: Recieve something (like a Diploma) for the 3 People with the most points.
Points are given by different factors like speed, creativity, “1337-value”, …
I am not sure if you understand what i mean so let me make a easy example:
Scenario: You made it. You are the only CW guy that will take part to the DX-Pedigion to P5! While taking a Nap on the Airplane you suddenly awake and it comes to your mind that you have forgotten your Morse-key at home. You remember that you put a big piece of Paper over it with the Inscription: “DO NOT FORGET!!”. You grab the Telephone on the seat in front of you, swipe your Creditcard and call all Hamradio shops in P5 but noone has a Morsekey for sale. You realize that you have a big problem and that you have to come up with a solution quick because kenny (the main organizer) is getting suspicious.
Goal: Build a Morsekey with the things you find in your Hotelroom. Special points will be given if you can build the Morsekey with parts from Insode the Airplane (parts you have access as a passanger! Dont rip the plane apart).
Rules: Use whatever parts are in a “normal” hotel/airplane. A normal guest/passanger must have access to these parts. No vandalism! You may also use parts that a “normal” person has in its hand luggage. You can also modify things. The Morsekey has to work with a normal HF Radio/Your Radio.
Prove: Make Pictures/Videos, write a small text what you used and why. Make a Call/QSO. Confirm that QSO with a Video. If you havent learned CW yet Send a Call: “YourCall HAM Challange” and get a video from a receiving station.
Points: Points will be given for speed (time from anouncement to QSO/Call), creativity, “HackValue” by a Jury containing: Me
Rewards: The winner of every Category will get a Printed Diploma and the official Title:”Problemsolver” (issued by:Me)
That is just a small and easy Challange that came in my mind right now but i have a few ideas for interesting and funny Challanges.
So Why should we do that? Why wasting time instead of logging some DX stations instead?: Well i dont know you but i personally think that the HAM Radio Hobby is really special in what it is and what you can do. And it went from “i made all of my own stuff with nothing like a bunch of old stuff” a little bit to “i shopped that VooDoo endfed long wireantenna that can do all bands with just 6.4m lengh”. I dont judge anybody. I fully understand that some people like to build and some people like to use. I am ok with that and i am also one of the electronics consumer and not that big of a electronics builder.
I think the Spirit of HAM Radio is to make and test stuff and its always fun when you have a Problem and solve it. You can solve it quick and dirty. You can hack that thing laying in the corner to something usefull. And you can build something beautifull and good that everyone admires you. It is up to you to choose your path.
The other thing is: (and i really dont want to hop on that survival/emergency train!) What if you have to make something with really a habd full of parts. Very much can be done with very little parts. Believe me.
I would like to publish your ideas to inspire other people. To help them learn and understand the principles of physics and how things work.
Please write me a email or contact me on twitter and tell me your opinion on my idea. I would really like to try this and see if its the fun that i think it is.
Best wishes
Hoonse
Email: oe8hsr [at] oe8hsr.at
Twitter: @MeltdownCore