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In 1971, I decided to give radio another try and took the City and Guilds RAE, I quickly passed the exam and went straight up to the coastal station, Humber Radio and took the GPO morse test (then 10 shillings).
After parting with the £2 licence fee, the G4AXP ticket arrived in the post just a couple of days later.
I was a Top Band fanatic, loved the mobile rallies of the day and had 160m mobile rig (Atlas 180) bolted in my company car.
It was all about AM then but as SSB gradually became popular I purchased a Heathkit HW101 transceiver and later I bought the "creme de la creme" of rigs, the Yaesu FT101E which I still have and use after 40 years.
My work involved mainly overseas travel and by now and I spent time in the USA, obtained a FCC reciprocal ticket and I operated mobile while driving long distances between Stateside customer locations.
Later we moved to Australia and I applied for my VK6MC licence and bought some new gear but by then the interest had waned.
On returning to the UK I reacquainted myself with the hobby and over the past few years have enjoyed the hobby more than ever.
After parting with the £2 licence fee, the G4AXP ticket arrived in the post just a couple of days later.
I was a Top Band fanatic, loved the mobile rallies of the day and had 160m mobile rig (Atlas 180) bolted in my company car.
It was all about AM then but as SSB gradually became popular I purchased a Heathkit HW101 transceiver and later I bought the "creme de la creme" of rigs, the Yaesu FT101E which I still have and use after 40 years.
My work involved mainly overseas travel and by now and I spent time in the USA, obtained a FCC reciprocal ticket and I operated mobile while driving long distances between Stateside customer locations.
Later we moved to Australia and I applied for my VK6MC licence and bought some new gear but by then the interest had waned.
On returning to the UK I reacquainted myself with the hobby and over the past few years have enjoyed the hobby more than ever.
G4AXP - Operating from Nuneaton, Warwickshire UK QRA - IO92GM
Home Made
Magnetic Loop Antenna
80m 60m 40m
Magnetic Loop Antenna
80m 60m 40m
This six foot diameter loop is constructed using one inch diameter Heliax Coax and is capable of handling up to 400 watts of RF power
The tuning is handled by a ITT Jennings Vacuum Variable Capacitor
At full power there is approx. 9.5Kv across the capacitor and 42A circulating current in the loop.
The Hi Q loop is good for 80m 60m 40m and efficiency is about 55% on 40m, that is far greater than the average wire antenna at lower height.
The antenna is directional and offers the benefit of rejecting undesired RF energy on the null of it's sides.
The tuning is handled by a ITT Jennings Vacuum Variable Capacitor
At full power there is approx. 9.5Kv across the capacitor and 42A circulating current in the loop.
The Hi Q loop is good for 80m 60m 40m and efficiency is about 55% on 40m, that is far greater than the average wire antenna at lower height.
The antenna is directional and offers the benefit of rejecting undesired RF energy on the null of it's sides.
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An insight into the world of Small Loop Antennas
It was back in 1958 when I first got the radio bug. My uncle made me a TRF receiver which covered 160 M.
At that time Top Band was full of local AM stations chatting away and I soon picked up the vernacular.
Ham Radio occupied my schoolboy years with ex-wd receivers such as the 1155, BC348, HRO, AR88 and of course, the 19 Set including endless home made valve AM transmitters.
When I left school I quickly realised there was more to life than smelly old wartime radios and solder burns in the bedroom carpet and in 1963 I formed a Rock n Roll group with ex school buddies and we were in constant demand for the next few years. By the late 1960's I was married and had bought our first house.
At that time Top Band was full of local AM stations chatting away and I soon picked up the vernacular.
Ham Radio occupied my schoolboy years with ex-wd receivers such as the 1155, BC348, HRO, AR88 and of course, the 19 Set including endless home made valve AM transmitters.
When I left school I quickly realised there was more to life than smelly old wartime radios and solder burns in the bedroom carpet and in 1963 I formed a Rock n Roll group with ex school buddies and we were in constant demand for the next few years. By the late 1960's I was married and had bought our first house.
Well, here we are then, 51 Years On The Air! - 51 years....... where did the time go?
