Biography

I am an ex-RAF pilot, active between 1992 to 1998, primarily flying the VC10. During my service, and for a short period afterwards, I obtained my glider pilot licence, qualified as a gliding instructor and volunteered at the local RAF Volunteer Gliding School as a Cat C gliding instructor. I left the RAF full time in 1998 (medical reasons) to switch to a career in IT. Specialising in server and IT management, I left the industry in 2020 due to disability and now semi-retired as unable to work.

I'm originally from Newport in South Wales (UK) but currently live in Bridgend in South Wales (UK), also known as 'Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr' in the local Welsh language. The photo below shows Newcastle Castle overlooking the town of Bridgend, one of three castles built in the 11th and 12th centuries forming a quadrilateral defence of the town with Ewenny Priory, also built in the 12th century. Bridgend is a small market town steeped in history and is a popular destination for tourists with several seaside holiday parks located in the seaside communities of Porthcawl and Ogmore-by Sea, both located with Bridgend County Borough.

I'm currently trying out new hobbies, including amateur radio. I studied for and passed my UK Foundation amateur radio exam in July 2024 but have been listening in to local repeaters on the 2M band for several months using a variety of handheld radios - I purchased several different radios after reading and watching some reviews.

As somebody who's out of work due to disability, I'm trying to get on the air as cheaply as possible. I cannot afford high end radios and antennas so I'm trying to make the best out of what can be cheaply purchased from China.

My primary radio in the house is a Hiroyasu IC-980 Pro hooked up to a SignalPlus 5/8 wave antenna and is temporarily hoised around 8 metres high in the garden using an old fishing pole. Temporary mounting of antenna is necessary as we are planning to move house within 4-5 months. Whilst mobile, I use the Baofeng UV-5RH Pro Max, which I use in the car with a Diamond SG-M507 antenna on a magmount and a wired handheld speaker / mic. I also use a Quansheng UV-5R Plus out and about and a Baofeng DR-1801 or DM-1701 DMR handheld radio in the house, connecting to BrandMeister and TGIF using a Raspberry Pi based MMDVM duplex hotspot - I usually monitor TG 91 and 2350 on BrandMeister and 2350 and 23510 on TGIF.

I've also recently ordered a Chinese clone uSDR QRP to get me on the air on HF bands. This will be attached to a home made inverted vee antenna which I'm currently constructing using a reel of speaker wire and 1:1 balun. This will be temporarily attached either to the side or the back of the house until we move.

Look forward to speaking with you!

Equipment

Hiroyasu IC-980 Pro
SignalPlus 5/8 Wave VHF/UHF Antenna
Chinese Close uSDR QRP HF Transceiver
Homebrew Inverted Vee Antenna
Baofeng UV-5RH Pro Max
Quansheng UV-5R Plus
Baofeng DR-1801
Baofeng DM-1701