Ham Radio – a hobby enjoyed by many and endured by most of their neighbours… If you’ve landed here then it’s probably because we’ve just had a QSO or perhaps you’ve typed some words into your favourite search engine and found this site.
Activity-wise, I’m a CW/Digimode operator at home, and CW+SSB when portable. As the Shack doubles as the office, I find it more productive to have a few short (read: efficient) QSOs rather than spend ages yakking about the weather on a voice mode.
In the Shack, there’s a Kenwood TS-590SG and an Icom IC-7300 with an 80m Doublet. On 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 on the roof. In the car is an Icom IC-2730 50w dual-bander with this hands-free microphone.
When operating CW, I’ll usually call at 16-18wpm, which is my comfort-zone for a QSO but am happy to QRS if asked.
QSLs : My hobby is radio, not postcards – and, 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 uploaded regularly.
When the weather is good, the safe confines of the Shack are left as I venture outdoors to operate portable with an Icom IC-7300. I typically use a 10m fishing-pole to support a Linked Dipole in an Inverted-V configuration. When /P, it’s a mixture of CW+SSB and the occasional datamode if I happen to have the laptop with me.
For many Hams, operating outdoors is the best way to enjoy the hobby: A bit of space to put up an aerial, noise-free away from electrical QRM, or perhaps just a high take-off for some VHF operating. It also allows for a great deal of experimentation – not to mention attracting interest from curious members of the public.
These days, logging is not a requirement of the licence, but us Hams like to keep lists, make pretty charts and tick things off and that include me: Logging solutions are home-brew: PZTLog for desktop logging and tabLog for /P. PZTLog gives me a QSO logger, DXCC stats, DX Cluster, PSK/RTTY datamodes plus a contesting interface that handles exchanges/macros. Both are FREE and available for you to download and use.
I’ve also dabbled with some Arduino projects including a simple beacon, repeater controller and KISS TNC.
About Me
My interest in amateur radio started back in 1992 with lots of listening to HF+VHF along with learning CW. Originally intending to take the RAE in 1994, it wasn’t until I turned 20 that I got my “ticket” after passing what was then known as the City & Guilds RAE and the 12wpm Morse test to get the old “Class A” licence. I’m not a member of any “traditional” club – after 2 attempts at being part of my local one, 10 years apart and including a stint at the sharp end on the committee – I decided that I was better-off enjoying the hobby by myself.
I no longer publish my e-mail address – this website is for reference only