Ham Radio – a hobby that is enjoyed by many – and endured by their family, friends and neighbours.

Activity-wise, I tend to use CW+Digimodes from home, and CW+SSB when out portable.  The Shack doubles as an office/workshop so I find it easy to have a few digimode QSOs in-between tasks.  Radios include: Kenwood TS-590SG, an Icom IC-7300, Yaesu FT-857D feeding into an 80m Doublet, a 20m loop and a V-2000 collinear.  In the car, I use an Icom IC-2730 dual-bander.

I particularly enjoy operating “portable” during the warmer months but have been known to brave the elements in the winter.   On HF, I will most likely be using the IC-7300 and a 40m Doublet.  For VHF, I typically use a home-made Slim-Jim on 2m FM, a 5ele yagi for SSB, plus a simple dipole for 4m+6m – all at around 20-25ft subject to wind.  Logging is done via my own TabLog app.

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Handy Online SDR Links : These are great ways to check your signal, monitor propagation as well as listen to activity on the new geostationary satellite Oscar 100 : Hack Green HF … Hack Green VHF … Twente (Dutch) HF … BATC Oscar 100 (Es’Hail2) @ Goonhilly … VHF @ Goonhilly