The photo below shows my Amateur Radio Station in the summer of 2008.  Just as with most other hobbies, it takes several thousands of dollars to set up a complete radio station and a powerful QUAD 4 computer using two monitors and a good video card.  Nowadays computers are necessary to run the various radio equipment since special filtering and precise control is necessary.  The monitor on the left, displays satellites orbiting around the world which can be worked through since they act as a repeater.  The best satellites to date have been the Russian and Japanese birds since the USA  cannot construct a workable satellite for Amateurs yet.  Also there are radio amateurs onboard the International Space Station who can easily be worked, both by voice and by special slow scan video, in fact, Recently I made contact with Susan Helms onboard the station and in 1991, contact was made with Sergio onboard the Russian Mir space station.  For more information, see my satellite page.  The same computer remotely turns antennas for azimuth and elevation while the satellite makes an overhead pass usually lasting 10 to 15 minutes.  The monitor on the right  shows a SDR (Software Defined Radio) being used to hear and talk to very weak signals from around the world.  Morse code is used most of the time using a custom made sending key made in Italy by Begali, speeds up to 45 words per minute is easily accomplished with this morse code key.  The main antenna is a commercial vertical 43 feet tall which does wonders compared to a huge beam antenna that requires a tower.  Antennas for working through satellites are mounted on the shed roof with it's elevation and azimuth rotors.  Take a look at the many other pages (Home Page) concerning amateur radio on this site.