I've just been reminded of one reason I originally got out of the radio hobby, now that I'm back in.

[Omega-TI]

I recently purchased an RTL-SDR radio dongle. Yeah, it was inexpensive... but now I've already spent over that initial purchase amount on F to SMA adapters, gender changers and a secondary antenna hookup cable. Now in next round looks to be an LNA and a DC block. I've fallen down the rabbit hole again. This time around I'm going to show a little bit more restraint...

 

[trentbob]

That's why I don't own a boat anymore. The word boat stands for... Bust out another thousand LOL.

 

[SteveSimpkin]

That's why I don't own a boat anymore. The word boat stands for... Bust out another thousand LOL.

When I was growing up my Dad had a small boat that we used for water skiing. I remember every single time we took it, something broke. It was often the throttle controls but sometimes something else. Every Single Time LOL

 

[Omega-TI]

A wise man once said, "A boat is a hole in the water in which one throws money."

 

[PDXh0b0]

fix a relatives boat & trailer, dream of the fish to be caught, relatives sell the boat & trailer

 

[xg100p]

if it has the word 'Hobby" attached to it , its gonna be expensive.

 

[trentbob]

Well getting back to scanning LOL it is the same concept as a boat, radio hobby has always been like that. So many toys but it's
accessories that really get you. Not enough money left at the end of the month, or is it too much month left at the end of the money? oh, you get the point.

 

[trap5858]

the problem with radios is the same as with computers- you research the hell out of what you want and you finally buy it only to find out the newest and latest and greatest has just been released!

 

[eaf1956]

the problem with radios is the same as with computers- you research the hell out of what you want and you finally buy it only to find out the newest and latest and greatest has just been released!

Yes, But don't buy it till they gets the bugs fixed.

 

[Omega-TI]

Yes, But don't buy it till they gets the bugs fixed.

Windows 10?

 

[bob550]

I recently purchased an RTL-SDR radio dongle. Yeah, it was inexpensive... but now I've already spent over that initial purchase amount on F to SMA adapters, gender changers and a secondary antenna hookup cable. Now in next round looks to be an LNA and a DC block. I've fallen down the rabbit hole again. This time around I'm going to show a little bit more restraint...

You'd have to accessorize the hell out of your SDR to get even half way to the cost of an SDS200. But yes, the radio hobby can be a deep financial pit. For some on this forum, that pit is a whole lot deeper than for others. But that doesn't mean you can't have as much enjoyment as they do.

 

[xg100p]

the question is , What do you plan on doing with it? I have several sticks and monitor with just them no other accessories. Are you just scanning or monitoring HF bands and such?

 

[jaspence]

Many things have become hobbies that were necessary skills (sewing, wood working) decades ago.

 

[iMONITOR]

 

[Omega-TI]

the question is , What do you plan on doing with it? I have several sticks and monitor with just them no other accessories. Are you just scanning or monitoring HF bands and such?

Several sticks? Can you hook them up to visually cover a wider swath of the spectrum?

 

[eaf1956]

Windows 10?

No, He was talking about the latest and greatest coming out right as he decided to purchase something he had been researching.

 

[xg100p]

Several sticks? Can you hook them up to visually cover a wider swath of the spectrum?

I have 4 sticks - I use 2 each to monitor 2 systems. really nothing special other than DSD+ not monitoring HF at the moment

 

[bearcatrp]

Like anything else, you want to upgrade. Thing radios are expensive, get into guns and reloading. I do both and always upgrading something. Never enough money for the hobbies.

 

[jaspence]

Add computers, cameras, and RC planes/drones to bearcatrp's list of other expensive hobbies.

 

[TomLine]

I've tried everything in the book except for satellites with my RTL-SDR. The software I use the most is SDR# (sdrsharp) and SDR-TRUNK.

Still can't find the transmit button in SDR#...