Biography

My first experiences of Amateur Radio started with building a Radio Kit bought for Christmas when I was about 13 years old. The 'ROAMER 7'. A super regenerator receiver which covered Short Wave and Trawler Band. We listened to G3JJM and G3XCI on Trawler Band usually on Sunday afternoons. I became interested in this so called 'Trawler Band' and later found out that this was in fact 'Topband'.

My first QSL card - joined the RSGB as an associate member before becoming licenced.

My QSL card when I first became licenced. Designed by George, G3ZQS.

Licenced since October 1971, started on Topband and 2m using AM with home made transmitter and R109 Receiver, later a Halicrafters SX24 receiver.(Those were the days....2m tuning High to Low and the BEACON on 1.900mhz!!)


1971- My first shack with R109 receiver and home brew Topband Transmitter. If you look carefully in the corner there is also an old WS38 set!	1973 - 2m Transmitter and other bits of early home made equipment!

Later experimented on 7ocm with Amateur Television, licenced as G6AIW/T using a NEV 405 line camera, home made QQVO-320 transmitter and several old 405 line televisions as monitors. Successful Television links across Bolton with G3ZPL (G6AIG/T) were achieved in 1973. (Was this the first ever amateur television link in Bolton?)


1979 - Hallicrafters SX24 Receiver with home built (left) 160m/80m QRP Transceiver with Eddystone 898 Dial, (centre) 2m Transmitter, (top) 70cm Transverter (2x QQV0-320 valves)	The station antenna array - Rotatable 8 ele 2m beam, 18ele 70cm Parabeam, 10 over 10 23m beam. (right) 2 ele beam for 4m and 6m, 70cm 'slim jim'. Birds courtesy of Alfred Hitchcock!

Main station consisted of Yaesu FT101E and home made transverters for 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm. Low power 10 - 25w.

HF Antenna - 60ft Longwire VHF Antennas - 6m & 4m - 2 element beam, 2m - element yagi. UHF Antennas - 70cm - 18 element Parabeam, 23cm 10/10 yagi.


1981 -Yaesu FT 101E and Tranverters, bottom left is my home made G8AMU multimode, all band, VHF/UHF receiver with Eddystone 898 tuning dial.	1983 - My daughter Jacquie showing off the latest home made equipment!

Best DX contact: Worked a station in France during an opening on 23cm using a half made transverter with 30mW rf output!

First went 2m mobile with a Pye Cambridge and a Halo, then the Sommerkamp TS-280FM - a great crystal controlled rig with 50w o/p into a 5/8 whip. Later purchased an Icom IC24E synthesized rig which served well on repeaters and 2m FM operation, 10w into 5/8 whip.

Some great contacts were made mobile on 10m in 1980 using a converted Liner 2 Transceiver, 10w o/p and a CB mobile whip. At this time the sunspot cycle was at it's peak! Contacts with USA and USSR going to work was super! My best contact was with a station on the Panama Canal.

Back on the air again after a long break, now using a Yaesu FT817 all bander with 60ft longwire and MFJ-945e tuner for HF and disconne antenna for VHF / UHF.