Full disclosure: ham radio isn’t for everyone, and there are many different facets to it. What appeals to one person might bore another to death. One area of ham radio that has changed a lot …
That’s pretty cool! Reminds me in some ways of usenet and how people extended what it was able to do. Now I gotta go ask my uncle, who just sold his setup and shack, what he did with it (he’s getting older, and it’s not as easy to get out there anymore). I always thought he was just tinkering with electronics and chatting with other hobbyists, but sounds like he was potentially doing lots of other things besides.
I wonder if he knows about these online options. Might be able to keep his hobby going in a lesser capacity.
I upgraded my license when my grandfather had to move in with my parents so I coul help him setup a smaller shack and assist in operating the radio with him. He deeply appreciated the family time, and I’m sure your Uncle wouldn’t mind spending time with you too.
For whatever it’s worth, these web interfaces are great at listening and cost nothing. Ask him to help you operate (finding signals and how to listen to them) using a KiwiSDR online. If you find out he’s also having fun, then perhaps look into remote radio station equipment. There’s a wide selection of transmitting capable SDRs, like FlexRadio, and DIY solutions (e.g. https://www.remotetx.net/). You can even rent remote operation time with incredibly nice hardware in amazing locations (e.g. https://www.remotehamradio.com/). Perhaps he’ll be come interested in another side of ham radio that he hasn’t done before either, like working satellite passes. That doesn’t take more than one nice, or two very cheap, handheld radios and a small handheld yagi.
That’s pretty cool! Reminds me in some ways of usenet and how people extended what it was able to do. Now I gotta go ask my uncle, who just sold his setup and shack, what he did with it (he’s getting older, and it’s not as easy to get out there anymore). I always thought he was just tinkering with electronics and chatting with other hobbyists, but sounds like he was potentially doing lots of other things besides.
I wonder if he knows about these online options. Might be able to keep his hobby going in a lesser capacity.
I upgraded my license when my grandfather had to move in with my parents so I coul help him setup a smaller shack and assist in operating the radio with him. He deeply appreciated the family time, and I’m sure your Uncle wouldn’t mind spending time with you too.
For whatever it’s worth, these web interfaces are great at listening and cost nothing. Ask him to help you operate (finding signals and how to listen to them) using a KiwiSDR online. If you find out he’s also having fun, then perhaps look into remote radio station equipment. There’s a wide selection of transmitting capable SDRs, like FlexRadio, and DIY solutions (e.g. https://www.remotetx.net/). You can even rent remote operation time with incredibly nice hardware in amazing locations (e.g. https://www.remotehamradio.com/). Perhaps he’ll be come interested in another side of ham radio that he hasn’t done before either, like working satellite passes. That doesn’t take more than one nice, or two very cheap, handheld radios and a small handheld yagi.