Is it worth it to become an amateur radio operator?

[jmp883]

I will echo what everyone else has posted. Only you can decide if this is the hobby for you. Within the hobby of amateur radio there are so many things to explore. I enjoy 2m/70cm repeater operation, HF voice, and packet radio. I have been a net control operator for an ARRL message net and also got involved with Skywarn, both as a weather spotter/reporter and as an alternate net control. I've been idle for the past couple of years due to personal and property reasons but I have just recently purchased a new 2m/70cm handheld with the intent to get back on the air, at least on the local level. I still have my HF gear but I'm not sure I'll get that up and running any time soon.

Explore, dive in, and enjoy!

 

[MUTNAV]

wife,radio in same sentence ? RUN FOREST. for our health. i know what you mean too. got many radios in a storage room in the house. but she has 3 huge plastic storage boxes full of cd and vcr tapes she never looks at.
by the way found how to add new radio now n then un noticed ,i switch a radio every month telling its like gettin a new radio. then i get another n it slides in un noticed.
we share same woes.

Isn't that how Lucy in "I Love Lucy" got new dresses? Get one,, put it in the closet for a few months, pull it out, and when asked about it she could say "Oh, I've had this for months."

Thanks
Joel

 

[a727469]

Is it worth it? Maybe. There are some wonderful ideas, comments and suggestions above. I became a ham for some of the reasons stated so as others have said, it is a very personal thing as to reasons.
If you do the thorough investigating suggested, you will decide.

However, based upon just your initial question, I think you would need more than just communicating with your son(I assume he does not have a license). Both of you would have to be motivated enough to spend the many hours studying for a general class license. If he has a license, that could be a motivating factor for you but probably should not be the only reason.

Maybe I missed something but all these posts including mine mention the benefits etc of ham radio, but the OP has still not told us about whether his son has a license or if he is referring to HF, simplex or repeater usage. As also mentioned, gmrs or even cb might be a better option. One must always go back to what is the real motivation or usage of a ham license.

 

[vagrant]

Would love to see your shack!

Some operators have four shacks to handle all that gear and they can operate remotely from some of those shacks.

The safest route is to only get your Technician license. Once you get your General, you are on the brink of falling down the money pit of joy. I’m a frugal ham, so around $20k 10 years in. I’m praying I don’t buy another dwelling as I will surely build a system there as well.

What I enjoy is the experimenting, in particular the antenna. The radio is as good or bad as the operator using it. The antenna is the fun part. Most often the antenna is compromised and looking for efficiency is the challenge. Using a 5 watt radio and making a phone contact thousands of miles away using a compromised loop antenna is joy. On another occasion using the same 5 watt radio, but with a three element yagi and other operators not believing you’re just using 5W makes me smile.

There are many aspects to this hobby. One can surely find some pleasure with it.

 

[AK9R]

OP hasn't been back for a week. Thread locked.