1988
As with many Radio Amateur's, my interest in radio and electronics started at an early age, where I was fascinated with radio and built my own Crystal Set, although in 1990 it was a Germanium point contact diode. The OA91, if I remember correctly. This was built from a set of instructions in a science book, "Science Fun" published by Usborne which I recently found again after over 20 years. My pencil written notes a reminder of when this journey started !
Usborne Science Fun - Pub. 1988 - ISBN : 978-0746003619
1990 - 1994
This led into Citizen's Band Radio and introduction to mobile and portable operations with a group of radio enthusiasts. CB is given a lot of bad press by the Radio Amateur community, most of which is unfounded. I learnt the basics of configuring a station, antenna theory, SWR and power measurements, interference tracing and mic craft. I built a static mobile helical wound antenna and also met some good friends through the CB network, some of which have subsequently also become full licence holders. Not all CB operators have a 400w Zetagi "burner" or an SSB set, unfortunately in some Radio Amateur's minds, they all do. I did have some FM DX with confirmed QSO's with Pudsey in the UK, France, Russia and Germany with 4w FM.
In the unregulated CB world, my self/club-appointed callsign of 26-SW-02, as seen on the QSL card was used with DX contacts, as part of the South West Radio Group.
South West Radio Group QSL Card - 1994
I had a number of radio's, starting with a Jesan KT2002 (awful squelch), then a Maxcom 4E, and latterly a Ham International Multimode II (ooh, naughty), which although was an Mid/High AM/FM/SSB set, I only used on 4w FM but did listen into SSB with interest. (I had the option of a Stalker 9 too, but the faux wood panelling wasn't really me) The antenna started as a Thunderpole, but was replaced with a Silver Rod, which increased the distance to be able to take part in some of the local nets and quizzes. CB was quite popular still into the 1990's, being in a rural area before the internet and mobile phones.
The local shop for everything CB, was Ron's Shop in Lower Bore Street, Bodmin. A hardware store not unlike Arkwrights in Open all Hours, but also with CB radios, antennas and everything you needed and you could get your radio fixed by a Rig Doctor too. Latterly, a CB shop opened in Exeter Services around 2003 but shortly closed but not before getting a Solarcon A99 for the first Amateur station.
Ron's Shop, Bodmin, Cornwall
Other collected equipment included the Sirio Space Shuttle Antenna, a Desk Microphone and a Zetagi Pre-Amp.
A small band of local operators used to congregate on a hill on Bodmin Moor, called Case Hill which had a very good take off and achieved some DX and a chance for a social event out on the Moor. A few of that same group decided we might go and take the RAE at an evening class.
My first QSL Card on UK FM CB - Leeds to N. Cornwall
1995
I started my journey to Amateur Radio in 1995 when I passed my RAE with the help of an evening class at Wadebridge College in North Cornwall, run by Jeff Sharples. ( I didn't keep a record of his callsign, but think it was G0NIT) The RAE at that time consisted of two papers, multiple choice but using a pencil to fill in the boxes ! I duly passed and got a couple of C&G certificates.
1995 to 2000, Plymouth University, Electronic and Communication Engineering degree, new hobbies and my partner meant little time for radio activities, and thus apart from attending the University Radio Club that didn't actually transmit once in the 3 years I was there, I didn't do much with the RAE Exam Pass.
2003
I did not licence as M1VPN until August 2003 when I had finished University and was living somewhere I could have a good antenna. My main transmission mode was phone (voice) to start with, although I attempted to learn Morse with G3AQM (SK). In 2003, the sunspot cycle was in full swing and had some good QSO's whilst only running a Solarcon A-99 vertical for 10-20m using the FC-20 Tuner on the Yaesu FT-847. I bought my first setup from Nevada in Portsmouth, a 30A PSU and the FT-847/FC-20.
At this point, I was a Class B operator, so no HF for me until the morse requirement was dropped and therefore I could then get on the HF Bands. (I did start learning and booked the morse exam but didn't get to take it.
In the pursuit of more bands, a Hustler 6BTV vertical was purchased due to the small back garden in Ottery St Mary. With little space to add radials, this did well in the corner of the garden and provided some lower band QSO's, along with the Triband 2, 70 and 6m V2000 antenna. Reported to the Town Council for running a Taxi business by the next door neighbour because of the antennas was a different complaint than TVI I suppose. It was an interesting talk with the Mayor, who was more interested in my Weather Station ! That neighbour today would loose his mind seeing the antenna set-up I now have here !
Ottery St Mary Antennas - L to R, Antron 99, V2000 above, 23cm Severnside ATV Yagi, on rotator, and Hustler 6BTV.
I also took part in SOTA in the early days, activating a number of local SOTA summits, including Dunkery Beacon which I activated many times over the years. I also covered some of the Lake District when on holiday, and Staffordshire too. Mostly 2m contacts, but latterly my 20m Inv V SOTA dipole was used, the same antenna being used on my IOTA activation of Lundy in 2004 and Isle of Wight in 2017.
M1VPN/P at G/SC005 Selworthy Beacon SOTA Summit (2004)
(Yaesu FT-857/SOTA beam)
2012
A change of QTH in 2012 would result in a better and permanent location for additional antennas, the Hustler 6-BTV continued to be used for Digital modes (mostly PSK31 and 63) with additional parts added from DX-Engineering, the 80m Coil and a 1:1 Choke Balun.
Also in 2012, I purchased a Signalink-USB soundcard interface and Data modes then dominated. First PSK31 and RTTY and then onto JT65 and FT8. I continued to be on-air via data modes from 2012, being on-air when I could as I was working across Europe at the that time, mostly at weekends.
2018
My life changed in 2018, becoming a widower and thus only parent to our daughter, and Amateur Radio became an escape from reality that I needed, being able to operate from home in the evenings when sat in the unfamiliar surroundings of being alone in our house. Many of my other hobbies continue to be un-accessible being a lone parent, but Radio has always been and continues to be there for me.
2020
In 2020, partly because of having time at home due to lockdown for Covid-19, saw an increase in activity on the bands and the time to do some major projects. This meant that the long awaited OCFD was finally installed, my 2,6,70 Tri-bander put up and some other projects put the station back on the air, both for data and voice. I hope to be able to continue to be back on the air now, as the improved antenna has ignited my radio passion once again and chasing those DX stations and even the odd contest.
Putting some wire in the air
2023
In 2023, I decided to finally learn Morse Code properly and signed up to the CW Ops accelerated 8 week course. This was a revelation and whilst really hard work, had me on the air making CW QSO's by week 4. After many false starts with CD's and MP3 files for self study, I needed a classroom environment to finally get it. Our instructor, M0WDD was an excellent teacher and mentor, being my first QSO on CW, closely followed by S57FF, Joze.
I continue to enjoy radio as a technical hobby, building equipment and experimenting with antennas, propagation studies and gaining new DXCC countries and Locator Squares. I've collected awards and taken part in a lot of contests too, both SSB and Digital.
2023 also saw the start of QO-100 operations, and a re-organisation of the shack to prepare the FT-847 for what it was originally designed for, Satellite operations. The FT-2000 is now the main HF radio, for all modes.
20 years later from licencing, 33 years after discovering radio communications and I'm still on the air. The world and my life is a very different place than 1990, some things good, others bad, but I hope to continue on the air for another 30 !
Latest information about my Amateur Radio station is via QRZ.com
Updated : 15th September 2023