2021 Amateur Radio Goals

I am late putting my Amateur Radio goals list together. I only completed 2 out of my 4 goals for 2020 (complete FEMA & ARRL EC-001 courses and become an ARRL VE) but here are my new goals:

1. Learn CW (10 wpm minimum)

This item is going on year 3 or 4 without any progress. I’m sure I’ll be able to make some progress on it this year.

2. Create an Amateur Radio exam practice mobile app

Last year, I designed a mobile app for reviewing and practicing the questions on all 3 US Amateur Radio exams. This year, I’m going to build it as a cross-platform (Android/iOS) using Google Flutter. My target completion date is by December 2021*.

*This is a 100% arbitrary date because I have a lot of irons in the fire right now.

3. Revisit electronic circuit design and build a Raspberry Pi expansion board

One of my side projects this year is to design and build a Raspberry Pi expansion board that combines a DS3231 real-time clock, a MTK3339 GPS module, and a 12V to 5V buck converter. This allows me to power the RPi from the same 12V battery used by the radio, allows the RPi to control the radio via USB, and would allow me to use timing sensitive digital modes like FT8 and JS8CALL when operating in off-grid.

4. Learn a little more about VHF/UHF repeaters

I use them but it would be nice to be able to assist the local club with maintaining them.

Here’s to 2021… hopefully it’ll be less like 2020.