So recently I had to travel to Canada for a couple of weeks and I thought that since there is a operating agreement with Canada I would take some gear with me and maybe do an activation or two,
Fueled by memories of past failures, I went full survivalist-ham. I lugged a ton of gear, two radios, multiple antenna’s, enough battery power to run a small city, and a toolkit that could rebuild the entire rig from scratch. I even packed extra socks – essential for any operation, right?
So after customs and getting to my destination my carefully curated ham radio setup sat untouched in my overstuffed suitcase.
The Reality Check:
Turns out, I really didn’t learn anything from field day. I over thought everything along with over packed with my gear sitting quietly in the corner of my room.
Lessons Learned (the Hard Way):
Context is King: Preparation isn’t just about having the right gear; it’s about having the appropriate gear for the specific situation. I was so focused on overcoming potential technical failures that I completely overlooked the practical realities of my operating location.
Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) is Real: Sometimes, less is truly more. My overly complex setup was not only cumbersome to transport but also ultimately unnecessary. A simpler, more portable approach would have been far more effective.
Overpacking Breeds Frustration: Dragging all that extra equipment around was a massive headache. The weight alone made travel less enjoyable, and the sheer volume of stuff added unnecessary stress to the setup process.
Plan, Activate, Review…Repeat I need to sit down and figure out the next steps for my ham journey. What are the goals I want to achieve? How can I prepare for the next ham experience, and when it comes time to activate really analyze and reflect on how I went about the whole experience.
A Moment of Reflection:
My “lets activate Canada” debacle has forced me to re-evaluate my approach to ham radio. It’s not just about collecting gear and prepping for worst-case scenarios. It’s about defining my goals, understanding the limitations of my operating environment, and choosing equipment that aligns with those needs.
Moving Forward:
This experience has ignited a newfound desire for a more strategic and intentional approach to my ham radio activities. I’m thinking about:
Focusing on Specific Modes: Instead of trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, I’ll focus on a few specific operation types and modes.
Building More Specialized Kits: Tailoring my equipment to specific operating scenarios, such as backpacking operations or portable HF activations with an eye on modularity so packs can be combined if the use case requires it.
Prioritizing Efficiency: Streamlining my setup and focusing on maximizing performance with minimal gear.
And, of course, really thinking about my goals and objectives from the get go!
So, I hope my overpacking misadventure serve as a cautionary tale. Don’t get caught in the trap of excessive preparation. Instead, embrace the KISS principle, define your goals, and pack with purpose.
What are your biggest packing lessons learned? Share your stories in the comments below! Let’s learn from each other and build a smarter, more efficient, and ultimately more rewarding ham radio experience. Maybe together we can find ways to operate more simply and yet achieve great things!
73,
Chris - K5CTW