Biography

Licensed 1967, a lifetime in telecommunications. Started at Marconi HF point-to-point transmitter station Ongar, Essex. Super time at Baldock receiver station, listened to the world and was long range HF maritime telephone operator. Wow - superham - 8 rhombic antennas on my local Rx with 8 more on my 30kW Tx 50 miles away at Rugby Radio.

Telstar was the birth of satellite communications and death of HF radio. I followed the trend to what was to become the worlds biggest satellite earth station, Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall UK.

In the late 70s I homebrewed my own 2m SSB transceiver and with a 17e Tonna @15m had a lot of fun on tropo. The antenna was thrashed to death by 100mph winds within 2 years. I learned if I put an antenna up, I better use it a lot before it was destroyed! Business and family took my time, I was inactive for many years.

In late 80s I built and managed the Inmarsat mobile satellite station at Goonhilly serving Atlantic Ocean East and West satellites with Inmarsat A, B, C, mini-M and Aero systems.

Early retired in 1994, I built Connectica, my own Inmarsat training company. I also did a stint as technical director for GTS Poland in wonderful Warsaw.

In between I raised a family that has spread across the world. Now fully retired, I play ham radio again.

In 2016 bought an IC-821 and put up an experimental homebrew 2m PVC yagi. REALLY shocked how 2m activity has declined in 20 years. Also experimented with HF antennas, wanted something for HF and to join BTI Net on 80m. Tried vertical and delta loop but rubbish. Stunned by Moxon on 17m, brilliant. Stations inaudible on vertical now S9. Best effort horizontal fan dipole works well on 80 and 40 gives dx around Atlantic in right condx.

November 2018 to February 2019 I operated VK2/G3NJV QG61 at daughters house near Byron Bay, NSW. 80m to 6m with Icom 706, AH-4 and wire antennas held up by trees. Frustrated at time but back home I realise how successful these antennas were, VK to anywhere is a long way! I worked W europe on 80m, Japan on 10m and New Zealand on 6m. All USA on 17m. Almost no Africa, Canada or South America. Easy to my antipode, EA8 Canary Islands, 12,400 miles. Any signal I sent in any direction converged right there - cool!

Back home I looked with new eyes on the four pine trees in my garden and threw a wire right across them all. I don't know how long it will last in the wind but at 75m long it makes a full wave loop on 80m with the Icom AT-130 tuning it on all an easily work Australia and New Zealand on 80m and a summer contact on 160m to the Falklands was surprising. It is a real Dx antenna.

best wishes and good dx my friends.

Equipment

Active on The Lizard since 1983 and had a lot of fun but the wild weather here destroys antennas!
On 17m I have a 2e homebrew Moxon. My 80/40/20/17m fan dipole is down after the winter. I have been experimenting with OCF antennas in Australia, using linear loading to get better multi-band resonance. My latest experiment is 75m of wire thrown across all my trees with ends together to make a loop. SUPER antenna.

VHF
My current 2m and 70cm station is an IC-821 (40W) with a homebrew 6e PVC yagi @10m. Comparing with local station G7RAU, I am ~2db down on MS signals (6e vs 10e) but very very bad on tropo. I conclude my antenna is not high enough. I have two big new yagis for 2m and 70cm, stored for 20 years in the loft. Also a 15m tower to erect. I have transistors and PSU for a QRO linear. Watch this space.....