|
Born in Canada and having lived
in South Africa and Scotland for most of my life I am now
settled back in Canada.
My
Hobby
My Interest in amateur radio
began at the age of 12. I was introduced into the hobby
by Iain McHardy GM3JFG. Iain has since become a Silent
Key.
I was a SWL with the RSGB
issued designation A8476 between 1973 and 1978.
I was first licensed in 1978 as
GM4GUQ.
At that time I lived on the
Black Isle in the North of Scotland. Later moving to
Inverness.
While GM4GUQ I was mainly
interested in V/UHF operation. I also did a great deal of
mobile operation.
Another part of the hobby I
really enjoyed was Fast Scan TV. There were a number of us
equipped with 23cms FM equipment. We used to go to RAYNET
exercises and use the mode to send pictures back to the
control of what ever event we were covering.
I was a member of the Inverness
Amateur Radio Club. I heard recently that the club folded,
due to lack of membership. In the 80's, however the IARC was
quite active, and
we put a station on during most field days and VHF/UHF
contests.
I was also involved in the
local repeater group. I was the Technical Manager for the
GB3BI repeater. BI was put on the air in 1985, and at a
height of 1000 ft/asl, the repeater had quite a coverage in
the North of Scotland.
Station Equipment
My very first contact was made
with GM3JFG on a Green and Douglas AM transmitter, with a
G2DAF receiver and a Microwave Modules 2 meter receive
converter.
After that, at various times, I
had the following radio's.
FT200 (HF SSB/CW)
FT101ZD (HF All Mode)
FT77 (HF All Mode)
NEC P2200E (2m FM Xtal - and a piece of junk)
IC202 (2m SSB VXO)
FT290R (2m All Mode)
TR2200 (2m FM Xtal)
FT411 (2m Handheld)
I also had an assortment of
Microwave Modules Linears and Transverters.
Location
When we moved to Canada in 1990
I sold everything.
In 1990 my XYL and I decided to
move to Ontario. I was not active in the early 90's due to
the pressures of work and the young family. It was after only
moving to Saint John,
New Brunswick in 1995 that I had the time to resume the hobby,
and got back on the air as VE9ECC. I was quite active
on the HF bands, as there was very little VHF activity in the
Maritimes.
We moved back to Ontario in
1999 at which time I took the Call VA3ECC.
Interests
Primary interests in the hobby
are VHF/UHF SSB operation. I was really excited about the
possibility of working AO-40, but its post launch problems
have made that difficult.
In the 80's I was quite active
on 23cms Fast Scan TV, and will get back into that mode at
some point in the future.
I also enjoy participating in
the local ARES group. (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) as I
was in the similar RAYNET group in Scotland.
|
