Disturbing Ham Radio Trend

[ka4koe]

Note the new avatar profile photo. This photo was taken in 1977 when I was 14. I am standing next to a 6" F/10 reflector (A. Jaeger's objective), with a stovepipe tube. I am still interested in astronomy. Why is it that many hams are also amateur astronomers?

I keep running into folks (not literally, of course) who play with telescopes, etc.

Curious minds want to know.

The photo is my Vixen R200SS from the other expensive hobby I enjoy.

PHILIP

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Maybe there is a desire to be a Space Cadet; amateur radio and/or telescopes get them close. Have you ever walked the Dayton flea market; great representation there.    

[K7EDL]

Both hobbies are technical based and attract the same types of people. With the cost of phone minutes, internet etc if all we wanted to do was talk to someone the phone and computer offer easier simpler cheaper ways of doing it.  Its the challenge that keeps us going.

73

Eric

[WB2EMS]

I've found that most of the hobbies that take some technical skill and understanding to do seem to be over-represented in the ham community.

I run into photographers who had their own darkrooms before digital made them obsolete, lots of aviators, precision shooters and reloaders, motorcyclists, scuba divers and amateur astronomers. All semi-geek hobbies.

I remember having a multi-continent, qso with 4 hams on AO13 once where we talked motorcycles, scuba, shooting and photography for hours as we discovered each others shared interests.

Makes you feel almost normal to hang out with such folks. 

[KF1Z]

Because both hobbies involve buying expensive toys.  

And in both you can build your own.
And still get very good results.

This was my first attempt at a 8"/f6 a few years ago.
Then upgraded the mount, and took pictures like the one beside it.

Now, more of an appliance operator, with fairly expensive mounts, scopes
and cameras. ( well, expensive for me.... certainly didn't spend Yaesu FTDX9000D kind of money )
Can sit inside the house and remote control the scope and camera.  talk about lazy.  

[ka4koe]

NICE!