My Amateur Radio Site

Gosh - two entries in two months! - I must be off work sick again.

Quite true actually, and I truly find these "bloggers" who manage to update daily inspirational.  Sure, I've got a lot to say (always have done) but I doubt it will be of interest to many.  Perhaps I might add another page to the site showcasing my other hobbies as I tend to drift from one to another.

My latest hobby, well not really a hobby, but more of a lifestyle change is walki...

How do people manage to keep blogs up to date? - I never seem to have the time.  I think, as I have mentioned before I have too many hobbies, and too little time.  On the plus side I am now only 19 years from retirement! - actually that is not a plus at at all - it means I am getting old!

So the latest plan is to streamline the shack inb a bid to have a one with gear that actually gets used, rather than a pretty showcase for black boxes with bright lights.  I ...

Finished up with a homebase radio while the whole plan for this month was to add a portable antenna for 6m use circumstances meant that never happened!  I also enquired about a few other bits and pieces but never got a reply from my favourite emporium (W&S) in fairness, they were at Friedrichshafen last weekend.  I'm still looking for a drive-on mast and probably 20ft of pole and I think that will complete the portable kit for now.  It also means my poor old FT857 will see ...

Finally got out portable properly for the first time in forever.  Drove into the County Durham hills towards a usual haunt and en-route discovered another one!  Not as far to travel and just as remote.  Of course with HF the surroundings hills are not such a problem.  VHF might need a bit more care though.

I was trying out my new I-Pro portable 3m vertical dipole (see my review on latest links) but what struck me was how peaceful and qite it was up there ...

This month's Radcom duly (July edition) arrived and on P70 was a fantastic review for a new(ish) portable antenna - a centre-fed vertical dipole standing at 3m (10ft) tall.  Moreover, the antenna requires no radial or earthing system, so was immediately earmarked for portable duties.

Further inspection reveals it uses capacitive loading and minimum inductance to keep losses low.  A capacitive hat tunes the antenna simply and without fuss.  No ATU needed at all...

Spent most of yesterday trying to avoid being blown off a hill! Although pretty to look at, and a very sunny day, at around 1700ft those North Pennine hills are extremely windy! - The reason for the trip was to try out a 9ft whip antenna.  At times its appearance resmbled a loop such was the ferocity of the wind and the flexibilty of the top section!  Paradoxically (is that a word?) once inside the vehicle, the wind was gone and the sun warmed the car.  Such is the joys of hill...

Have recently begun and overhaul of the shack.  Even having a full room is just too little space!  I have already started spreading into other rooms, so now, and inventory check is required! - it may even result in some of the gear being boxed and put into storage as quite simply there is insufficient time and space for everything.

This way I get to rotate radios.  Meaning one is put away to make way for another - means I can continue my policy of collectiong ...

I have never tried this band - I have only briefly listened on 4m with a scanner listening to a local talking to another local - dunno why they used 4m when both 2 & 70cm are dead in this location.

Ayway, an old radio friend has invited me to accompany him at the end of March to the 70Mzh UKAC contest.  As it is only a short drive away to a local hill, seems like a good way to spend an evening.  If nothing else, I can keep the log!  I may even purchase a 4...

A year since my last update - shameful - too much time on the internet.  Too many hobbies...... I added two more to them in the past year - Fly Fishing, but I'm no JR Hartley - problem with this is I am not a lover of trout or salmon to eat, and the terrain where it takes place is more suited to birding or birdwatching.  Probably my greatest passion!

Radio has taken a back seat - I listen more than anything these days, as posted elsewhere, I have added a digital in...

Well over the weekend I was in the vicinity (purchasing a new laptop for stepdaughter as it goes) of Argos.  Not the first choice as a radio store but it was very much a spur of the moment purchase and I got me an internet radio - now have many thousands of radio stations at my fingertips - great fun for about �70 - A Bush 2015WIFI.  Yes I know they are available free of charge online, but this is wireless - connects to existing wifi and much more convenient.

Also arriv...

Just noticed - nothing added for a while.  Nothing happened same old same old.  I half-heartedly went looking to replace my little Micra - I neither want or need a big car.  I looked at a Citroen C1 - I loved the idea of �35 tax and well over 60mpg if driven sensibly.  Sadly, said Citroen even at the bargain price of �5995 was just too small.  Never even had central locking, let alone remote central locking.  Made the Micra look like a stretch Limo!

Not r...

Being off work for 5 weeks now - and probably at least another 4 weeks to go (at least!) might sound like fun, but boredom and a constant round of hospital, dietician, diabetic nurse etc. as well as daily visits to the treatment room, home visits etc.  It's not as I'd hoped.

Fortunately I have full pay - meaning I have more to spend on toys & gadgets.  Have purchased 3 radios in the last few weeks and now looking for a multi-band...

It's no fun having a shack full of radios, and plenty left over to use mobile and/or portable.  Sure. it is fun collecting them (until the credit card bill arrives - ouch!) but ultimately I will need to find an antenna which covers plenty of the bands and is a good compromise between performance and keeping neighbours happy - as well as the local planners. 

I'm torn between 3 antennas at present.

The CobbWebb manufactured commercially by G3TPW covering 10/12/15/17&a...