Oh, it can easily be mindbogglingly expensive, but it can be done on a (relative) shoestring, too. (Though arguably, to some extent, going cheap just means you

Oh, it can easily be mindbogglingly expensive, but it can be done on a (relative) shoestring, too. (Though arguably, to some extent, going cheap just means you are leeching off someone else, as the guy at the other end will need a bigger everything to make the signal to noise ratio acceptable at both ends.) I've tried it a few times, out of pocket expense was way less than $1k - using software to generate smart modulation schemes like JT65b, you can get performance orders of magnitude better than what a human ear can pick up - leading to orders of magnitude less impressive - cough - stations. Costs were more or less like this: Computer - $0. (Already had one for other purposes) Software - $0. (Gotta love freeware!) Soundcard interface - $30 in parts Transceiver - $250 (Early nineties vintage) 150W solid-state amplifier, 2nd hand - $40, needed fixing. Low-loss feedline - $65, plus a couple of hours in the car to pick it up. Mast - $0 (Repurposed an old flagpole) Antenna - $180 (DIY 2x12 element yagis. Cost of materials) Now, this is a bare-bones setup - more power and more antenna would make life a lot easier. Also, it would be nice to be able to rotate the antennas (Now I just aim for where the moon will rise and wait for it to whizz by) However, it works. After a fashion.