Biography

Hi there. If you are reading this then it is quite likely that we have just worked each other or are working right now.

ABOUT ME

My name is Peter. I was born in 1956 in West London and spent all my working life at London Heathrow Airport. I took early retirement a few years ago and in 2001 I moved out of the London area to a small town called Market Harborough in Leicestershire. From as far back as I can remember I have always had an interest in radio; and after a long spell as a SWL I finally took the class "B" radio exam in 1983 and was issued with the call G6UMJ. A year later in 1984 I took the Morse code test and was issued a class "A" license and given the call sign G4XEX.

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I have put several Special Event Stations on air and run the station GB0BON for the Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society every June from Ruperts' View just outside the village of Naseby. This is site where the decisive battle of the English Civil War was fought in c1645. For a number of years I was also one of the volunteer operators of GB3RS at the RSGB National Radio Centre in Bletchley Park, and also the QSL manager for GB3RS. GB3RS is a purpose built, state of the art amateur radio station.

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I am active on all bands from 80m to 10m HF and 144-145/430-440 MHz. My favorite modes are SSB, BPSK31 and RTTY. I try to get on air at least once or twice a week and try to fire my rig up whenever there is a HF contest, so you may well find me on the HF bands then. After a 30 year break I am also trying to get back into CW. It is taking me a while to get my receive up to speed and my sending needs a lot of improvement, I am also trying to get to grips with a bug key for the first time, so if you work me on CW please be patient.

.I am occasionally asked how to put the "CQ" and the "73"on the waterfall when using PSK or RTTY. The program I use is HRD and Digimaster 780; it is quite simple to do. Use the Tag < ident : CQ > for the CQ and < ident :73 > for the 73. A word of warning though, the < ident :> Tag does not work very well if you use more than two letters.

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STATION DETAILS



For HF voice I use a Yaesu FTDX 3000 + Ameritron AL-811H Amp (400w) + Palstar AT1KM ATU.

For HF DATA I use the Yaesu FTDX 3000's built in sound card + Acer laptop + HRD Digimaster

For mobile HF I use a Yaesu FT 857

For 5 MHz HF I use a Yaesu FT-70GH through a FC-70M ATU + 9:1 unun into an end fed wire.

For VHF/UHF I use a Trio TS-780 through a MML144/100s and a WELZ SP-350SWR/PWR meter.

For portable/Digital I use an Icom IC-92D.

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ANTENNAS

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A Full size G5RV running NE-SW. (80m, and 40m)

Separate half wave wire dipoles for 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 20m and 30m bands

A TB1 Triband (20m)

A random long wire antenna end fed through a 9:1 unun running N-S. (5 MHz and 427 KHz)

I am also experimenting with a Cobweb on a 10m tower for (10 - 12 - 15 - 17 - 20)

VHF/UHFVertical.
I have collected QSL cards since my SWL days and still do. I QSL 100% to all QSL and SWL cards sent to me through the bureau. I have recently started to upload my log to Clublog and use the OQRS system for both BUREAU and DIRECT QSL request. I prefer to use the BUREAU and send my return cards out every three months. (MARCH -JUNE -SEPTEMBER -DECEMBER). My CLUBLOG logbook is updated every week. I also send out e'QSLs for all contacts made. I have also started using LoTW to confirm contacts. My old logs have been uploaded to LoTW and will be uploading future contacts on a weekly basis. If you want to QSL direct please use OQRS or send a self-addressed envelope and 2US $, postage from the UK has gone up in price quite a lot. Direct QSL's with no US$ or with IRC's will be returned via the bureau. I am also QSL manager for several special calls and regrettably can no longer afford to cover the postage of direct QSL's myself. UK stations please send a SSAE. If you are a short wave listener and hear me I would appreciate a SWL card, I like to know where my signals are ending up!

Please note I am no longer QSL manager for GB3RS. Do not send any GB3RS QSL cards to me via the Bureau or direct.

OTHER CALLS

G6UMJ . .21-02-1983 to 05-04-1984

GU4XEX . .20-05-1984 to 01-06-1984

EA8/G4XEX . .23-05-2010 to 03-06-2010 / 11-05-2013 to 26-05-2013

GR4XEX . .29-04-2011 to 09-05-2011

GQ4XEX . .05-05-2012 to 10-06-2012

GO4XEX . .21-07-2012 to 09-09-2012

GV4XEX . .05-07-2013 to 30-07-2013

GW4XEX . .12-07-2014 to 19-07-2014

F/G4XEX . .23-05-2015 to 27-05-2015

CLUBS

I am a member of several clubs.

The RSGB http://www.rsgb.org/

RADIO AMATEUR OLD TIMERS' ASSOCIATION# 2401, http://www.raota.org/

THE 30 METER DIGITAL GROUP # 2259 http://www.30meterdigital.org/

THE EUROPEAN PSK CLUB# 5312 http://eu.srars.org/

THE DIGITAL MODES CLUB # 2259, http://www.digital-modes-club.org/

BARTG # 8732 http://www.bartg.org.uk/

I am also the secretary of the WELLAND VALLEY ARS here in Market Harborough. http://www.wvars.com/.



FUTURE PLANS

I like to holiday in both Europe and America, and as of this year I will be taking my Icom IC-92DVHF/UHF with me to take advantage of the CEPT T/R 61-01 agreement. I will have some cards printed up after I return so I may even work you from your own country!



Best wishes and good DX to you all.

73's

Worked DXCCs: