Ham Radio – a hobby that is enjoyed by many…and endured by their neighbours…
Activity-wise, I favour CW/Digimodes from home, and CW+SSB when out portable. The Shack doubles as my office so I find it easy to have a few digimode QSOs in-between tasks. Boat-anchors include: Kenwood TS-590SG, an Icom IC-7300 along with an 80m Doublet and a 20m loop.
For 6m, there’s a 3ele LFA yagi for seasonal Sporadic’E and for QSOs with the local riff-raff on 2m/70cm, I have a V-2000 colinear. In the car is an Icom IC-2730 50w dual-bander with this hands-free microphone.
Fun Stuff : Listen to the Best (and worst!) of the 2014 Ham Forecast
QSLs : Sorry, but I don’t paper QSL. Although some can be pretty, storing them isn’t practical so please don’t waste your time sending them. I am not an RSGB/Bureau member, so cards sent “via the buro” will never reach me. eQSL/LoTW are far more efficient (not-to-mention planet-friendly) methods of confirmation.
Useful pages : Coax Power Ratings … IC-7300 Notes … HF Linked Dipole … European Locator Map
Handy Online SDR Links : These are great ways to check your signal, 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)