Biography

First certificated under old 144Mhz/ HF with CW only system in 1974 at age 14.
Reconverted the Cert to licence ZL1MZR ("The Momzer") in 2024.

My possible EML contact is at engstr@net then "space" dt net dt AU. Obviously no quotes anywhere. If this is forbidden by Qrzcq then I'll remove it. I only want it so can refer to it externally it's cryptic so bots can't exploit it.

I am involved in various small projects including converting a type 401 bought locally as surplus (associated Tcvr had bitten the dust) . Its a very old ICOM 18V PSU so can it be made will work at 15V with and Icom 730 (which meets the Icom specs for power supply V limits ). Current PSU is surplus 12V nom automotive battery . This Conversion is not a trivial task as the currents involved are rather large . THe Icom was bought out of South Oz when I was domiciled in Melbourne, Oztralia but was never activated except some basic testing at the local radio club and Yagi a bit sth of South Caulfield (Highett).

A current interest is a transverter for 40 and 30 mtrs for an Anytone 5555 V3 type rig. I am trying to push the 4stateQrp group in USA to get interested in kitting an existing design, with a few improvements. This could make a four band 10 to 15 W out CW and SSB radio possible at say $200 if you bought the base chassis second hand. This would also work with the Retevis H4 CB / export radio and many other Tcvrs in principle.

I worked in industrial process design and instrumentation engineering in Australia for 30 years also was a licenced industrial radiographer and UT technician for 8 years, both in Auck and Melbourne. I am a dual citizen of these countries.

I have lived and worked in the following countries-
NZ (mainly Auckland and New Plymouth on GTG project).
Melbourne but also in South Oz on the Seagas Pipeline project for 18 months as I and E engineer
Israel, at a small electronics factory at Kbz Yad Mordechai, Hof Ashkelon area.
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En Francais... the French HRO who has been doing a lot of building work in past and documenting it well
is always alive at www.rotilom.com/F6IDT.

So it is Pierre, F6IDT from Midi area of France somewhere.

He has documented a 45 W HF amp he built for SSB based on the HUFF design. It has SWR and Pout implemented too. It uses the Z24 MOsfet from IRF.

There is also a PSU for an AN GRC-9 that takes 13.8V up to 100mA/500 V for that
Rather nice Korean war Green radio. It uses all std components and the TFR/ Trafo is
a 9 0 9 to 230 V run backwards (Toroidal type, easily avail in Europe in the Brit Commonwealth).The GRC-9s are very common in the US but very hard to find in Australia and the B Commonwealth in general.


The GRC-9 in fact date from end of WWII but were not put into production- just prototypes built. The early ones ran on a Dynamotor (AC genny on DC motor drive ) for the HV supply. They were intended to run on a 12 V automotive accumulator. The GRC-9 drove out about 5W AM on 6-7 Mhz area and about 16W out CW. It had both a VFO and some crystal locked channels.
It's a big improvement on the NZ ZC1 and similar WWII radios.

THE LOW DOWN ON SERVICE OF OLDER SERIES OF ICOMS IN NZ BY AGENT RWB COMMUNICATIONS -AUCKLAND. BE PREPARED TO BE LIED TO. ICOM HEAD OFFICE JAPAN IS NOW IN THE RING.
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Breaking news - this is what happens when the local AGENT of a Icom Japan company lies to me. ... This is the read back of the message to ICOM Japan. Update - as of late 7th Nov 24 Icom Melbourne manager is working with me to resolve spare parts issues. Icom no longer offer any support for the IC 730 as an obsolete product.

"
Thank you for your message.
This is an automatic reply to confirm that your message has been
received by Icom Technical Department.
The following is your original message.

[Your Name] . Timothy Fidler

[Your E-Mail Address] . engstr@netspace etc...
[Country Name] . New Zealand

[Model Name] . 730 TCVR
[Serial No.] . NA
[Subject] . Incredibly unsatisfactory dealings with your dealer MR RICHARD BINNs RWS Auckland Nz Breech of contract.
[Message] . Unilateral voiding of contract (verbal) to open Radio TCVR and view with respect to possible repair (It was showing signs that it appeared not to be Tx on SSB but we did not have an inline Power meter to validate that) . It in fact turned out that the equipment was not faulty but it took some time for me and other amateurs to establish that. I called all over Auckland looking for some unofficial service but to no result . I was just about to ship the equipment to him when he rang back and left ON MY ANSWERING MACHINE a withdrawal of the previous option / offer to inspect at NZD 280.

I want an option to buy Service out of ICOM Australia Melbourne in future and also buy ICOM unique spares from them if necessary to self fit (particular the display). I know if I were to ring them they would refer me back to this Fool Binns, unless I have documentation from you , ICOM , JA to treat my case as special as ICOM are the bottom of the PIT in my opinion after that experience. I seek a formal printed letter on letterhead from you on this matter not some crummy email.

TEF
"

Equipment

Icom 730 110 W capable big HF radio 80 thru 10m SSB and CW no factory NBFM module,

Tuner External Type Yaesu Musen FC-700 , Yikes What a mix.
User manual might be here unless there is link-rot
https://www.rigpix.com/icom/ic730.htm

Power supply - automotive battery . PS-401 from Icom (not for this target radio) being rebuilt as a 14 or 15 V x 16A supply for the 730

Fan Dipole resonant V at 7.5 m , being increased to 9.5m H shortly. Tower such as it is made of from high spec 6061 AL scaffold tubing clamped together with Stainless steel jubilee clamps.

Lower power Tcvrs-
SSB and CW.
Xiegu G1M 4 band SSB and CW 7 W PEP (a real performer but no longer made), T tuner made just down road from Apple in Sunnyvale Calif (an ancient 70s small production run thing called SST T2).,

CW
SWL40+ CW hand made 3W out 40mtrs only,
CW
HB-1A 2 band 40/20m commercial Chinese designed/made Tcvr 5W out from CRKits in PRC (Adam Rong). This tcvr also has an excellent SSB Rx function via a variable BW filter. This filter change is pulled in when you select USB or LSB. (this latter Tcvr out on loan)