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Radio amateur activities Hamshacks of dream In the next series of pictures I have tried to display some of the most complete hamshacks starring the most nice of them from a pure aesthetic point of view. Most of these amateurs work on HF bands but some of them have extended their activities to the higher frequencies up to few dozen of GHz for the EME activity.
On this page I have not displayed pictures of the biggest installations like those introduced above, used by contests teams or DX-peditions working with the most expensive equipements, sponsored by manufacturers, and emitting with big guns farms placed 30 m high. These installations are most than probably not of your concern as they require a budget that exceeds by far the one accessible to most of us and that can reach... one million dollars ! I have prefered to show you to what could look like your hamshack with time, some money, a few place left and good taste... Of course all this is subjective, depending on your passion for ham radio, the time available and many other factors. When we speak with hams about their hobby, we are all curious to know what is their working environment and interested in visiting their hamshack. For the novice or the casual amateur (including both SWL and ham) it can be hard to imagine how big can be a hamshack after a few years of practice. Not all hamshacks evolve to a complex installation looking to a high-tech laboratory or conversely looking like to a lumber room, but with years most hamshacks tend to accumulate accessories and new rigs.
In the early times the ham buys a transceiver, a desktop or portable model that (s)he places on the first table left, in the living room, in a corner of the attic or in the cellar. Others restrict their hamshack to their push-pull (car). When the ham has the privilege to work at home and is authorized to erect an antenna then comes the Vertical, the dipole or theYagi. Then comes the SWR-meter, probably an antenna tuner, and optionally a Morse-key. Depending his or her interest for this activity (s)he will soon complete this light installation with a computer, a linear amplifier, interfaces more complete or more powerful to work on new bands or in specific modes like PSK31 (RTTY), SSTV or by satellite to name a few. With time, his or her family or professional situation will change or his or her current working room will be sacrified for other needs, it will appear to be too small or will have to be shared with the other members of the family. At that moment the ham will appreciate to work in a dedicated room, fully reserved to the practice of his or her hobby. This room and all its equipment, sometimes located in the cellar or in the attic, constitutes the hamshack. Of course a hamshack can be reduced to a simple desk on which is placed a portable transceiver or even to a simple shelf placed in the living room on which is "displayed" the latest high-end transceiver like others collect paintings. But such minimalistic installations are probably not numerous. Most of the time, if the amateur is regularly active on bands, the hamshack will tend to look like to a real technical and high-tech place where you can hear the background noise of QSO at any time of the day and sometimes at night. Once you have known this experience and work on the air some years, that you are SWL or licensed, you can really become addict to this activity. The fact to hear these QSO on bands melted to the noise of the ionopshere can provide you a feeling of pleasure, relaxing. But practiced hours long, the hand at the mic or to the key, you could be as tired as doing another intellectual activity. As any hobby, ham radio is funny when practiced with moderation. In this context, a pleasant and convenient hamshack can contribute to relaxing conditions of work.
With years some hams will transform their shack in a true electronic laboratory placing in all place left external filters and DSP, measurements and controls systems, computers, displays, magazines and binders full of documentation. Others are interested in collectibles and will gather vintage radios, peripherals and place on the wall their most beautiful QSL, awards and cups. Time running other amateurs will transform their shack is a tidy space where it is pleasant to work, installing their rigs on racks made of precious wood. But we have immediately to specify that the nicest hamshack will never make an excellent ham operator and vice-versa. Like in all activities, skill and know-how of the ham acquire only with time, the field experience, reading and contacts with other amateurs. And don't forget either that before your big transceiver or your powerful linear amplifier, a shack is first of all driven by a good antenna system. At last, be an amateur radio means also progress, patience, modesty and friendship in the respect of the ham spirit. I dedicates this page to all hams pride of their shack.
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