Biography

I retired in 2012. Though I got my amateur radio licence aged 18, there were only few periodes I was on air. All the time I used a home-made equipment for the shortwave bands. This is one of the reasons why I have been qrv rarely and only on few bands.
For a long time of 15 years I was qrt. Then after I retired I had a 1st qso after that long time in January 2013 (on 40 m). Now I have more time for amateur radio and especially for technical experiments.

Equipment

Radio: For SSB short wave operation I use a mostly homebrewed station.

- It consists of a 9 MHz exciter in one small case built up with Plessey ic's of the 1970/80ies (SL 16** serie). The rf clipper circuit (based on SL 1613) is a special feature of my station clipping up to 25 dB if necessary. It might give an effectiveness of 8 - 10 dB.

- In another small case you will find the preselection unit and the mixer to the ham bands (160 m to 10 m, except 30 m and 12 m at the moment).

- As a vfo I use the "FA-IQ-DDS-Generator" from www.box73.de, a kit - no longer available.

- Another (bigger) case includes the 20 W PA in class A operation which has been built up with kits partially. This is the driver PA for the following "real" PA.

- The "real" PA is a BLA-350+ from RM-Italy (Pout = 250-300 W).

- As a replacement I have another "old" homemade power amplifier which works with two 6146 B (Pout = 50-70 Watts).

Antennas:
- I use a modified ZS6BKW antenna for 80 m, 60 m, 40 m and 17 m.
- Alternatively I have a vertical with a height of 10 m, combined with 4 (or 5 in winter time) elevated radials about 30 cm above ground. "You can climb over it and the cat fits under it." Just now it is an experimental antenna for 80 m, 60 m and 40 m.
- As well I have a rotatable dipol 7.6 m long in a height of 8 m.

Another rig is an FT-8900 for 2 m and 70 cm.