"I can't think of anything to write about..."

[Don]

Are you stuck when it comes to getting ideas for posting something here? Thanks for wanting to get involved. Maybe this topic list will spark some conversation on The Call:

Getting Started & Learning

• How I got my license (and how long it sat in a drawer before I used it)
• The Elmer who changed everything for me
• My first HF contact -- what I expected vs. what actually happened
• Things I wish someone had told me before I got licensed
• The most confusing thing about learning Morse code
• Why I almost quit before I really started

Gear & Shack Life

• Why my wife/husband hates my radio hobby
• The rig I regret selling
• Shack photos -- let's see them!
• The upgrade that made the biggest difference
• My most embarrassing shack disaster
• How many radios is too many radios (asking for a friend)
• The piece of gear I bought that I never actually use
• Antenna restrictions -- how I work around HOA rules
• My first HF rig vs. what I run now

Operating

• The contact that gave me chills
• DX that took me years to finally work
• My worst case of mic fright
• The pile-up story that still makes me laugh
• Operating portable -- why I love it and why I hate it
• Field Day war stories
• The one that got away -- a rare DX I just couldn't close
• Phone vs. CW vs. digital -- the never-ending debate
• My first contest and what I learned the hard way

Antennas

• The worst antenna I ever built that actually worked
• My antenna story -- what I run and why
• Stealth antennas for restricted living situations
• The time my antenna came down at the worst possible moment
• Wire antennas vs. beams -- making the case for simple

Technical & Projects

• A beginner's guide to SWR -- what it really means
• Building vs. buying -- when does it make sense?
• My favorite homebrew project
• Software defined radio -- gateway drug or legitimate tool?
• Getting started with digital modes
• How I built my go-bag kit
• The repair job that taught me the most

Community & Culture

• What ham radio taught me about patience
• Nets I participate in and why they matter to me
• How I introduced someone new to the hobby
• The funniest thing I ever heard on the air
• Ragchewing -- a lost art worth preserving
• Things non-hams say when they see your shack
• Why I think every kid should get a ham license

Emergency & Public Service

• My experience with ARES/RACES -- is it worth the commitment?
• The time ham radio actually mattered in an emergency
• How prepared is your go-kit, really?
• Public service events -- why I volunteer and what I get out of it

Portable & Outdoor Operating

• POTA -- why it became an obsession
• SOTA -- how hard can climbing a mountain with a radio be?
• My favorite portable operating spot
• The camping trip where the radio saved the day (or ruined it)
• QRP -- doing more with less

Philosophy & Reflection

• Why I keep coming back to this hobby after all these years
• What ham radio looks like in another 20 years
• The generation gap in amateur radio -- problem or opportunity?
• Is the hobby dying or just changing?
• What would you tell your younger self about ham radio?

 

[Eric]

Great profile pic Don - and great ideas!