My wife finally thought something about ham radio was "cool"...

[Moleculo]

Last week I downloaded and installed Satscape to track the satellites and International Space Station inan effort to learn something and see if I could work them with my HT. This is a very cool, free piece of software btw, that can be downloaded at Satscape - Free satellite tracking program for Windows, Mac and Linux.

I showed my wife the real time tracking of the Echo (AO-51) bird and also the ISS on the 3D map and explained how amateur ops can talk to both the ISS Ops and use Echo and other satellites to talk to other amateur ops. I also showed her some weather satellites, DirectTV, etc.

While she was looking at the 3D map of Satscape and started to comprehend what I was telling her, she actually said, "That's pretty cool!"

That is the first time ever that my wife has thought that anything about radio was cool...she understands radio and appreciates the service I give via MARS...but she doesn't think it's "cool". I then told her how I could use my HT to talk to the ISS or the satellites and she proceeded to tell me that I "should do that".

So I ordered one of the Arrow handheld 2m/440 yagis before she changed her mind. I was almost going to homebrew one this weekend, but I really like the way the Arrow antennas break down to become portable.

This is a first!!! My wife thinks something you can do in ham radio is cool and told me I *should* buy something. Now if I can just figure out the magic formula to be able to repeat this over and over and over....

 

[Wire Weasel]

Congratulations Big M

That would only work with my wife if I showed her that AND the disk drive started spitting out $100 bills at her

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Cool beans Mole. Satscape is a great freeware program. I have been using it mess around with for at least 4-5 years now. Speaking of that I should check the build number of my install. I am sure Scott has upgraded it by now.

 

[W5LZ]

Mole',
Remain calm! She will revert to normal shortly. This sort of abnormal behavior is more common than you might think. It is typically a result of a chocolate over-dose. Such over-doses are not dangerously unhealthy, but are addictive! You might pay more attention to her to ward off further occurrences. I have never seen a wife die from this type of behavior. I have seen a husband severely injured because of it. Take care!
- 'Doc

 

[WX2MIG]

The only time I get a possative reaction out of my wife concerning anything I'm into.....(radio, surfing, guns...etc...etc....)......is when she wants to bring yet another cat home from the local shelter, or buy another new piece of camera gear....
There's always a catch, approach with caution Mole, I speak from many years experience on this......

Either way, thanks for that link, I'll load it up on my home computer as soon as I get off duty this morning.....

 

[Quiksilver]

My wife thinks the "OFF" button is cool.... :tongue:

 

[SR385]

My wife actually got her ticket out of curiosity for it all. She's an inactive tech, but she still thinks it's pretty interesting. Just not something she wants to do much of herself....which actually works out well ;-). Competition for air time would be no fun.

 

[Chop]

My wife thinks the "OFF" button is cool.... :tongue:

yup, mine too. she thinks cb's and HAM should have faded along with bellbottoms.:headbang

 

[WR0220]

As far as the spouse goes relating to the radio (or any) hobby mine must be one of the exceptions to the rule - mine encourages me to persue my interests.

Very cool program, Mole - thanks for the link!

 

[Sonwatcher]

My wife has her Tech license. We use the 2m when I know I'm working in an area that I have no cell. Works out really well. She also demonstrated the use of the 2m with the Scouts as I sat at home and spoke with the kids over the radio.