The cost of the Hobby

[WA7KKP]

Okay, so you see someone with megabucks invested in the latest whizzbang box from yaesu/kenwood/icom/alinco, with a tower and beam in the back yard. Then they might use it once a week for an hour or two.

Ham radio can be cheap, if you know what you're looking for, and willing to FIX something that doesn't work. Everyone wants that box to work 100%, because they couldn't fix it if they tried.

At an auction years ago, the auctioneer commented on how CHEAP the ham gear went for . . . he thought it was an expensive hobby, until the tightwads showed up. In the process, I bought a Johnson Desk Kilowatt, with the desk, for $400. Took four people to lift it . . . Other items went for $5 or less.

Some hams are 'too good' for ham radio, and sit around and tell you you need the latest toy and spend a fortune to have it. Ain't necessarily so. I've had a ball over the years, picking up good deals when and where I see them. I've never spent over $500 for a radio, and the best ones I've had were for far less. Okay they don't have japanese part numbers, but who cares?

I"m having fun . . . are you??

Gary WA7KKP

[AI4EP]

the cost is mere pennies ( or less ) compared to the FUN that we have .

simple and to the point

[KB1KIX]

I may have money invested in radio toys.... but when you compare it to the hours of use, I'm down to less than a dime an hour.

Cheaper than the cost of cable TV I say....

And I have 2 relatively inexpensive HF rigs (Icom 706MKIIG and Kenwood TS-570S). Less than $2,000. between them.

But, taking radio out with me camping..... priceless!

Jonathan

[KL7AJ]

kl7aj

Thanks for that thoughtfully written and enjoyable essay.
It was very informative.

Thanks....actually it's a chapter from my Opus of Amateur Radio Knowledge and Lore. There's a possibliity this book will be published by the W7YI group...but don't tell anyone yet!

eric

[KC0OFZ]

Update:
My radio room is back. The wife is happy with her results and I have my shack back again. As for the following comment
Sharing is good, however, I think that you guys need to communicate better. Being a ham, I am surprised that your situation has devolved into this "mess."
Who says we have a communication problem? She tolerates my hobbies and lets me be on the radio for quite a few hours at times. If all it costs is to be displaced from time to time while she goes all out with her hobbies so be it. She gives and so do I. The whole point of the post was to have a little fun. I noticed most had some creative responses and took it for the fun intended. Part of the "communication" you brag about is letting each other do their "own" hobbies from time to time. Why would I try to make an enemy out of a wife that is got her ticket, likes radios, logs for me when I operate mobile, and will even go with me to buy my toys? Losing the shack for a day every now and then is a cheap price for what I have.
Arend

[K5SYN]

Buy a bigger home with one more extra room than you have now.

Problem solved, I will send you an invoice, 30 days net.

The George Carlin fix. Works for me!

[WA3VJB]

Radio Hobbyist adds Great Style to Residential Abode

If you really want to make an investment in domestic harmony, you've got to consider how to enhance the style of your home's interior decoration.



Here, the otherwise bland treatments in the house will soon be dramatically improved by the wall covering being brought in, as shown.

The fact it provides a delightful home entertainment center for social events is an added bonus that will undoubtedly cover the rest of the distance with your spouse.

How do I find such a nice home embellishment:

See:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOfAGCq0SY0

[WA6MHZ]

Every CENT I have made that doesn't go to House, car and other neccessities goes right into Radios. OH, beer too, but thats a temporary investment. A whole radio station can be acquired for under $100, and frequently for FREE when you meet the right Elmer. To just get on the air, stringing up some kind of wire or dipole will work. Or, if you are incredibly wealthy, you can go to HRO and say "I want one of those, and this one and this too, plus, a couple of these and a whole bunch of THAT!" You can call SPEEDY"s Antenna Service, and they will come out and plant a nice 200ft tower in your yard and deck it with a Steppir Monstir. plus a VHF/UHF array to Die for! OH, might as well throw in a 75 meter beam too. Maybe a couple more towers with lots of slopers and even a Rhombic or 2 if you want to go out aways on your 5000 acres of land. That night, you and the impoverished Ham will be working the Pileup. DADDY RICH will obviously get through first, getting a "You are pinning the needle here!!!" from the DX station. Then a few hours later, the very impoverished Ham will get through too. He will get a "THREE BY THREE but I got your call right and you are IN THE LOG!!!:"
A few weeks later, both Hams will get the QSL card at the same time.

[WA6MHZ]

Okay, so you see someone with megabucks invested in the latest whizzbang box from yaesu/kenwood/icom/alinco, with a tower and beam in the back yard. Then they might use it once a week for an hour or two.

Ham radio can be cheap, if you know what you're looking for, and willing to FIX something that doesn't work. Everyone wants that box to work 100%, because they couldn't fix it if they tried.

At an auction years ago, the auctioneer commented on how CHEAP the ham gear went for . . . he thought it was an expensive hobby, until the tightwads showed up. In the process, I bought a Johnson Desk Kilowatt, with the desk, for $400. Took four people to lift it . . . Other items went for $5 or less.

Some hams are 'too good' for ham radio, and sit around and tell you you need the latest toy and spend a fortune to have it. Ain't necessarily so. I've had a ball over the years, picking up good deals when and where I see them. I've never spent over $500 for a radio, and the best ones I've had were for far less. Okay they don't have japanese part numbers, but who cares?

I"m having fun . . . are you??

Gary WA7KKP

A Johnson Desk for $400??? DAMN!!! I want to come to your next Auction!!!
I did get a Heathkit HW-32A for $5 at an auction in Orange county.

[N3OCQ]

Hmmph. When discussing options for my soon-to-be-built shack (just getting into HF, all previous hamming has been VHF+ mobile), I was presented with the following option: the guest room closet.

Yes, I get a 5 foot by 2 foot closet for my ham activities, and the closet door has to close when we have company.

I'm thinking a 5x2 board secured to the studs... just swallow up the closet with an op table. When I'm on the air, I'll open the door and put my chair at the doorway.

This sucks.