A Question for the group

[KingCobra_CDX882]

A Good question..

CB can be costly depending on the radio(s) used..
Then the adding of a good amp..
Then a good antenna set up ( be it base or mobile )
and suddenly it turns into a rather costly set up (even for CB )

However..

I think ham radio typically is more expensive..
Depending what you are doing..can be way more expensive.

At least though(despite some of the extremely expensive HF radios)
one can indeed gets lots of bang out of their ham gear..
Getting basically several radios in a single radio
( like 706 MKIIG or IC 7000 )

If one wants to push to the extreme end of CB or HAM radio..
Then Obviously Ham radio will be far more expensive..
( i am well into 10's of thousands and do not as yet have a antenna set up i like/want )

 

[Hutch]

Kids pay $150 + for running shoes, $80 for video games, have all the latest gadgets, so I doubt price is what's keeping youth out. It's more likely those all ready on the bands that keep them out.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Kids pay $150 + for running shoes, $80 for video games, have all the latest gadgets, so I doubt price is what's keeping youth out. It's more likely those all ready on the bands that keep them out.

There is your real answer highlited above. People nowadays are of the NOW generation and want instant gratification. When kids spend 20 hours a day in front of a video screen of some sort be it an X-box, Play station, or Smart Phone, when or even WHY would they want to turn to such antiquated and unreliable technology (over the long haul) as radio? My kids grew up with me as a ham operator. Big deal. They would much rather log into a social network site with all their friends or text via their phones than attempt to talk through the noise and static crashes to someone they do not even know. Price has nothing to do with things and those who say it does are using it as an excuse. Advantages in communications technology is the reason people are not turning to radio like they used too. People do not sit in front of a radio or TV like they used to for the news and weather either because it is always available to them on their phones or PC's. My kids smart phones have the WX displayed all the time of the screen as well as all kinds of links and apps that allow them to find out what they want in a flash. Young people today are becoming more and more isolated and are only concerned with them selves and their close circle of friends and have no interest in talking to strangers in some third world country on the far side of the planet. On the other hand I would take great delight in contacting some one in Mongolia or Bhutan some time even if the QRM was bad.

 

[scout943]

Really is a stupid shame ain't it, can't wait to see what happens when all this make believe crap disappears :headbang:headbang:headbang:headbang

 

[towerdog]

You can get on the air, even on HF for cheaper than $650 if you can be resourceful and have a fair knowledge of electronics and aint afraid of a soldering iron.
Used too you could build a CW transmitter for next to nothing. Obviously voice mode cost alot more. I saw an old kenwood with analog dials on craigslist the other day for $100, supposedly it worked before it went in storage. You can also get a 10 meter monoband for around $100, especially the HTX-100, there are also a few CB/exports out there for a little bit more that are worthy of 10 meter ssb operation.

I had a kenwood someone gave me, front liquid plasma display was busted, replacement was $50. The circuit board it soldered too was also cracked, so soldered about a dozen jumpers across it, fixed several cold solder joints on a board I dont even know or care what is, and I was on the air with full all mode HF capabilities. Few like this radio, its old and known to have all sorts of issues, all of them correctable of course, seen TS-440 go for around $300 on ebay. A good radio to learn with.

To be poor and be a ham, you buy used junk, you learn to fix things, modify things, make do and horse trade. It is not necessarily expensive.

 

[wavrider]

The hobby can be as inexpensive as you want it to be or as expensive.

Depends on what you want to accomplish and what modes you want to operate.

Friend of mine uses moxons, inside his QTH (antenna restricted) on the upper bands and makes all kind of contacts on voice.

Uses a fan dipole and works PSK with low wattage and makes contacts all over the world.

On the flip side I use a Mosley PROTH67B antenna for HF, a TA-33 tribander, verticals, and wires.

VHF is Yagi's and verticals. Got some money tied up in the antenna farm and will not even discuss the transceivers.

With all that said my multi band dipole is what I usually use with a 100 watts.
Yagi's are nice but they are expensive and require towers and rotors.

Wires are cheap, easy to build, parts available at your local home supply store.

They work, not as well as a yagi but can still usually make the contact.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

You can get on the air, even on HF for cheaper than $650 if you can be resourceful and have a fair knowledge of electronics and aint afraid of a soldering iron.
Used too you could build a CW transmitter for next to nothing. Obviously voice mode cost alot more. I saw an old kenwood with analog dials on craigslist the other day for $100, supposedly it worked before it went in storage. You can also get a 10 meter monoband for around $100, especially the HTX-100, there are also a few CB/exports out there for a little bit more that are worthy of 10 meter ssb operation.

I had a kenwood someone gave me, front liquid plasma display was busted, replacement was $50. The circuit board it soldered too was also cracked, so soldered about a dozen jumpers across it, fixed several cold solder joints on a board I dont even know or care what is, and I was on the air with full all mode HF capabilities. Few like this radio, its old and known to have all sorts of issues, all of them correctable of course, seen TS-440 go for around $300 on ebay. A good radio to learn with.

To be poor and be a ham, you buy used junk, you learn to fix things, modify things, make do and horse trade. It is not necessarily expensive.

I bought my first ham gear before I was licensed. I was at a ham yard sale and picked up a Heath DX-60b transmitter, HR-10 receiver, HG-10 VFO , coaxial antenna change-over relay and a Nye Viking hand key all for $125It was a complete working station albeit only AM and CW modes.I spent a few dollars more for 100 feet of 450 ohm ladderline and some wire and put up an 80m doublet. A few more dollars and I had a manual antenna tuner with built-in balun. I spent less than $250 and had a ball for a couple years. I would zero beat an SSB station and call him using AM. I got so good at zero beating 99% of the time he had no idea I was on AM.As my bank balance slowly grew so did my station.

 

[Mudfoot]

I wish more people would learn how to properly zero beat a station.

 

[C2]

Kids pay $150 + for running shoes, $80 for video games, have all the latest gadgets, so I doubt price is what's keeping youth out. It's more likely those all ready on the bands that keep them out.

There is your real answer highlited above.

Could be, but ya gotta ask, what's in it for them?

It's more likely those all ready on the bands that keep them out.

I think there needs to be more in ham radio than progressing technology - perhaps some progressive attitude?

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.

Indeed!

 

[eagle1911]

To be poor and be a ham, you buy used junk, you learn to fix things, modify things, make do and horse trade. It is not necessarily expensive.

Ain't that the truth.. I'm living that dream right now. I'm not necessarily poor, but my hobby budget is.

And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way at this point. I feel like I'm gaining an understanding of radio that a person who goes out and buys all ready-made commercial gear doesn't have.