A Question for the group

[KG0MN]

We all are very aware of the high price of new ham gear with some of it reaching prices in the $15,000.00 price range with the average quality unit running say $1600.00. Do you think that the price of radios is hurting the growth of the hobby when it comes to the younger generation.

Before anyone suggests that there is a great deal of older gear than can be purchased at a reasonable price, remember that most of the younger hams have no experience with tube radios and would not have the foggiest idea of how to load and tune them.

I was amazed the other day when I was a Drake TR4 sell on Ebay for $650.00. Or do you think we are distended to see a group of hams that are happy with 2 meters and that is as far as they will ever go in the hobby.

Just want to see what other think.

 

[hookedon6]

is price of radios hurting the growth of the hobby when it comes to the younger generation? not at all.

i do think, in the long term, that many CB'ers spend WAAAAAAy more than most amateurs.

 

[KG0MN]

I don't know if I agree with CBer's spending more money than hams. Take myself for example, I am not rich by a long ways but I am frugal and save my money so I can pay for whatever it is I want without putting it on a credit card. I just ordered a new Kenwood TS-2000 and have just recently picked up a Henry amplifier which was pretty expensive. But say I picked up a Heathkit SB-200 for about 4 hundred dollars and then 1300.00 for the radio so that is 1700.00 to get started. I don't know many CBers that spend that for radio and Amps.

 

[GLR]

It's a hobby, hobbies can be expensive. By comparison to say flying airplanes, it's not so bad.

 

[pro151]

I don't know if I agree with CBer's spending more money than hams. Take myself for example, I am not rich by a long ways but I am frugal and save my money so I can pay for whatever it is I want without putting it on a credit card. I just ordered a new Kenwood TS-2000 and have just recently picked up a Henry amplifier which was pretty expensive. But say I picked up a Heathkit SB-200 for about 4 hundred dollars and then 1300.00 for the radio so that is 1700.00 to get started. I don't know many CBers that spend that for radio and Amps.

Uhhhh..................does the grand total for all CB Radios and Amps count towards your total?

 

[W5LZ]

Of course cost is one of the things that will affect hams, but, there's a lot of used stuff around that is solid state, and not that difficult to operate. I don't think that the cost is as large a factor as you might think though. I also don't think that it will 'limit' anyone to VHF/UHF. If someone is 'limited' it's probably for lack of incentive in up grading from the Technician license. How would most of them even know what they are missing? CB is NOT a good example of HF possibilities, it's too limited by propagation (especially now). I can say that out of all of the active club members locally, I know of one who is really familiar with the HF bands, and even he isn't exactly real active on them (guess who). I know of one other ham locally that even 'dabbles' in HF, and only the higher HF bands because he hasn't an antenna for the lower ones.
Oh well.
So of course price will keep some from doing HF, but not as many as you might think.
- 'Doc

 

[Peddler]

I have 2 10 meter exports, 2 power supplies, and an TS500v on base and a Grant w/ a Galaxy 350 on mobil a 4 element beam and a GP on a tower and I don't have near $1700 invested... so I'd say no to the fact that CBers spend more tham Hams.

Amatuer Radio has gotten out of bounds for especially me... no more investing.

 

[n8fgb]

A new ham can buy an entry level HF rig for 500 bucks and up.The IC718 was just recently offered for 500. The FT450 new for around 6-700. I have seen CB'ers pay 400 -700 for thier 10 meter cb's, and did not get near what is in an IC718. HF transceivers are getting to be a better buy every day. You get more for less money.15 years ago I bought a TS50s for 600 bucks, 2 years ago I bought my FT450 for 650.
Rich

 

[doctor]

hobby

It is a hobby, what you invest in is what you get..some hobbies are more expensive than others. It depends on what one wants and what he/she wants to spend.

I myself could not afford the high end radios, but they make them because there is a market for it or they would not make them.

DOCTOR/795

Oh by the way nothing against technician class licenses, but I bet 70 percent use 2 meter fm and have never tried 2 meter ssb or sstv on the lower end.

 

[KG0MN]

I guess what I was getting at is whether or not with the price of everything going through the roof, radios included are we running the chance of hampering the next generation of hams by making it a very expensive hobby.


I have known for years that the winner in all the major contests on ham radio are going to be the people with the deepest pockets books. I even told this to the winner of the QRP section of a recent contest and he proceeded to tell me how he had won it using a two hundred dollar radio, but neglected to mention the Multi-Towers he was using which include a 2 element rotatable 80 meter beam and Stacked 4 over 4 over 4 Stepp IRs on 20 meters with the tower at 170 feet. Makes my 35' roof top mounted 4' tower look pretty dang small in comparison.

 

[kd-5-bgt]

I will admit that some of the HF radios are pretty expencive without a doubt,but as said above,there are some that are fairly affordable new.It all depends on what bells and whistles you want to add to your radio.The $600 radios will talk just as well as the $6000 radios in most cases

Then there is the used market,there are really nice used rigs out there that can be bought for $300 to $500 depending on what you are looking for in a radio...tube driven/solid state..12 volt/plug into wall....

Most hams are not rolling in money and they are always looking for a deal..Most hams that I personally know have spent years building and saving up to the radios that they are running...get an antenna one year,save a bit more and grab up an amp,then a nice radio,...and before to long they have one of those stations that takes up an entire wall and would make anyone drool

I bought me a really nice HF/6 meter rig used for $600 and I am very happy with it.The radio has all the features that I need to have a good solid working station.I will admit that I would like to have an amp of some kind,but that will come in time,I am in no hurry.The antenna is a OCF 80 to 6 meter windom ..I have no trouble making contacts....Just what I was looking for...and it is a nice starter rig for anyone to get into HF

I could have spent what I have in my station on a high end CB and I would not have been near as happy as I am with what I now have sitting on my desk

 

[bamacj]

I think the money has an effect but is not the main hold back for new operators. 2 meters is cheep and easy, can be done in an apartment or just mobile. Some are happy to just do that and some will branch out into hf.

The biggest thing I see keeping the new folk away is how they are treated by some of the older hams. Since the dropping of the code its gotten worse. Any new ham on hf is automatically no code cb trash, and if you let out a 10-4 on a repeater or hf net get your flame proof underware on. The newer crowd has a different lingo/slang for things and the old timers cant stand it.

One night on the 75 we had a new operator check into the state net, he handled his self very well but you could tell he was new and a little mic shy. The control op complemented him on his new upgrade and welcomed him to the net. Well he let a 10-4 slip out and one of the older guy's on the net proceeded to chew him out for using "cb" lingo on 75. He hasnt been back on the net since. I felt really bad for the guy and should have said something but I didnt. It doesnt bother me a bit if you want to use 10 codes q codes or whatever, just enjoy the hobby.

Rant over.:tongue:

 

[kd-5-bgt]

bamacj that is so true,I have seen many people shun the newer no code generals and better classes ...alot of the old school operators simply dont want anything to do with the newer hams that are up and coming,and like you said,heaven forbid if you slip up with something you say,they will not let you live it down and close the door in your face.

There is a group that I listen to on 75 that are very tight knit,getting them to open up to a new general class is tough,it is all I can do to get a reply out of them during their nets,and I used to live in the state where most of them are located... I am sad to say that happens alot all over HF,there are a few good groups out there,and those guys are what makes it worth it for me...and not to mention I do chace the DX alot to

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I don't think money is the problem. Technology and time management are. People are busier today than they ever were and have less free time. the I-phone is all most people need or want in order to keep in touch with people any time any where and by voice or text. Most people I talk to about ham radio ask me "who do you talk to and why would you want to talk to someone you don't even know?"

As for newcomers using CB lingo on the ham bands all I have to say is when in Rome, do as the Romans do. CB lingo has it's place on CB. When in your house do you not expect people to abide by your rules? Well when in my house, (the ham bands) please abide by my rules (use proper and established operating procedures). After all, YOU wanted to join so please come prepared. I'm not talking about the little oopps that occure but rather about the constant use especially on the repeaters. 10-4 and 10-20 etc have no place there IMO.

 

[packrat]

If you really compare the cost of a radio, any radio,( cb or ham), now, to the price of a radio in say, 1955, (and figure in inflation and features), equipment has never been cheaper.