Biography

Licensed since 1978, recently changed my callsign from VK4FNA to VK4UA (2010) but have been VR2HA ( Hong Kong, 2 years), VK2NEP (first call aged 14). Haven't been very active in recent times, mainly 144 MHz mobile but will soon be active from Killarney on weak signal VHF/UHF and low band 160-40 metres SSB. Current project is designing a small 144 MHz fm transceiver for my weather APRS, restoring an old FT200 transceiver and many older radios like the Swan240, command receivers, Heathkit etc. Enjoy also working CW but haven't been on for a while so a little rusty. Member of the boarder ranges amateur radio club (BARC). My professional life involves RF engineering, microprocessor design, Time of Flight radar, ADS-B. I also fly as a private pilot, actively into gliding as well and founded companies such as Microair Avionics, RF Developments and recently Blue Electronics (mining and Rail electronics) as well as my R&D company Andrews Electronic Design which has autonomous vehicle technology as well as precision GPS.

I have also dabbled in 10Ghz stuff having built a beacon many years ago which still needs to be located and various transverter conversions which have never been tested so hope to get into this again some day. A 23cm beacon on 1296.463Mhz on top of my aircraft hangar at Warwick running now (2020) with 1 watt EIRP.

VK4UA was previously held by Bill who is now an SK.

Latest: Finished building my house high on a hill overlooking Killarney (2014) and have a full wave 180 Metre delta loop hanging some 40 ft above the ground with a homemade 4:1 balun.

Equipment

Yaesu FTDX101MP,Kenwood TM-D710A APRS, Icom IC-7000,Numerous Eddystone receivers,restored BC348Q, Old transceivers Yaesu FT-101B,Yaesu FT-200, Swan 240, various homebrew stuff like a 40 metre AM transmitter (runs with the 348Q).
144 Mhz antenna - 18 element ( x pole 9V x 9H ) for SSB and FM
23cm - 42 element Loop Yagi
144mhz/433mhz vertical
7 element 50 mhz yagi
160 full wave delta loop

Latest addition homebrew 500 watt LDMOS fet (2 x MRF300) with homebrew combiner, HP 50 volt power supply.