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ZS6BNE's Blog

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RaDAR - An 2022 evaluation from the perspective of the designer

Posted: 23 May 2022 11:31 AM PDT https://zs6bne.wordpress.com/2022/05/23/radar-an-2022-evaluation-from-the-perspective-of-the-designer/



RaDAR has come a long way from being something very similar to other ham
radio activities to something increasingly unique although staying very
much the same as any other ham radio activity. RaDAR once was seen as
Daring to be different and it became a slogan proudly displayed.



Lucy M6ECG




The slogan was created by Lucy M6ECG who was once very active doing RaDAR Challenges. The RaDAR idea spread reasonably quickly to other parts of the world especially to the USA and the UK including other countries in Europe.




As RaDAR grew increasingly unique like having to move and redeploy, which
in essence is what RaDAR is, participation in these activities were left to
a select few. The use of Military terms like ops and special forces of ham radio seemed to distract many hams. RaDAR is seen as special as more is required of the radio amateur to participate. The knowledge of Morse code
is high on the list, a certain level of fitness and preparedness is also welcomed. Communication accuracy of information is also considered to be
very important.




Only just recently, RaDAR Sport was introduced which is a two hour long
sprint but has not yet attracted the attention of the vast majority of
outdoor hams. The four hour challenge still appears to be more popular with
an odd few opting for a twenty four hour challenge. So the willingness of
radio amateurs prepared to make physical activity much part of ham radio is still there.




The future of RaDAR, like many other ham radio activities, lies in the participation of not only the activators but the chasers as well. It has
been widely publicised that RaDAR operators doing challenges need the
support of chasers (Ordinary hams working from home or anywhere else) who
look out for them but this has seldom been forthcoming support provided
again only by a select few..




An online community log, a unique idea within ham radio circles, was
created to promote accurate logging and evaluation of the accuracy of logs. Again only a select few support this. It has been proved to be a reliable system and open for all to see. It was created initially to support the
RaDAR Sport initiative but can be used for any ham radio activity.



Online community logbook




The system is very user friendly with lots of facilities to make logging a pleasure for all. Yet many hams shy away from it? It can be seen as a QSL system where each logger acknowledges his QSO with the other station, information accuracy is confirmed and everyone is happy. Ideal for simple contest logging and evaluations too.




RaDAR was designed so that any ham can take part from anywhere using any equipment at any power level. Why then is it not that popular compared to activities like SOTA, POTA, HOTA, BOTA, IOTA or any other similar activity?




I often look at the very popular activity known as SOTA, or summits on the
air. The only times I ever activated a summit or two cost me a pretty penny
in transport, accommodation and entrance fees. RaDAR has no cost other than
if a ham would like to operate RaDAR from some exotic location.




SOTA requires that activators and chasers log their contacts on a central database, RaDAR has the online community logbook. SOTA has awards, RaDAR
has no particular award and maybe that is what hams are after? Recognition
for their efforts. RaDAR operators are quite satisfied in knowing he / she
was able to set up and communicate with others under strenuous conditions.
It can be fun too.




Here in South Africa we have two very active SOTA activators namely Sid
ZS5AYC and Adele ZS5APT. They travel all over the country, arranging access
to summits wherever they go. They are not young hams but very active for
their age. They need to physically access the summits on foot and set up communications from the summits. Much like RaDAR? Many hams follow their activities on a regular basis, the chasers and obviously logging the
contacts on the SOTA database.




Why does RaDAR not get that kind of support? It takes effort to create something, to nurture it for years and when it matures it should be able to continue on its own. The time for nurturing RaDAR is coming to an end. It
may see its demise or it may grow. My hope is that it continues to grow.
The online community log is at its centre. Without the support of chasers
like those that support SOTA the chances of it dying is a shocking reality.




The RaDAR online community log can be accessed here http://www.radarops.co.za/zsportal/




The SOTA database can be accessed here https://www.sota.org.uk/

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