Ham radio
I have been a licensed amateur radio (ham) operator since 1970.
Radio hams can communicate worldwide using the short-wave spectrum with very little power (100 watts, about the same as an average lightbulb, will do quite nicely when signal propagation conditions are reasonable).
My main interests are radio telegraphy (Morse code) and single sideband (voice) using vintage equipment on the short-wave bands.
Current equipment
Collins station
- Collins KWM-2 CW/SSB transceiver
- Collins 516F-2 power supply
- Collins 30L-1 kilowatt amplifier
- Johnson Viking Match Box antenna coupler
- Heathkit HM-2140 SWR/Watt meter
- Shure 444D and Astatic D104 microphones
Yaesu station
- Yaesu FT-101Â CW/SSB transceiver
- Yaesu FT-101E CW/SSB transceiver
- Yaesu SP-101PB speaker/phonepatch
- Yaesu FRG-7 general coverage receiver
- Emtron EAT-300A antenna coupler, SWR/Watt meter, balun
- MFJ-484 Grandmaster memory keyer
- JPS ANC-4 active noise canceller
- Shure 444 microphone
- Main telegraph key: Bencher ST-1 paddle
Other gear
- Racal RA-17 C3 general coverage receiver
- Hallicrafters SC-40B general coverage receiver
- Sony ICF 2010 portable general coverage receiver
- Johnson Viking Adventurer CW transmitter
- More telegraph keys
Antennas
- 80m inverted vee, 11m high
- 40m dipole, 5m high
- 20m inverted vee, 11m high
Previous stations
1983 (Vancouver)
- Drake TR4 CW/SSB transceiver
- 3-element 20m yagi antenna
1981 (maritime mobile)
- 2x Yaesu FT-101ZD MkII CW/SSB transceivers
- Dentron MLA-2500B 1 kilowatt amplifier
- Collins R-390A general coverage receiver
- Dipole and inverted vee antennas
1977 (Winnipeg)
- Heathkit HX-20 SSB transmitter
- Heathkit HR-20 receiver
- Dipole antennas
1970 (Toronto)
- Johnson Viking II CW/AMÂ transmitter with Model 122 VFO
- National NC-2-40D general coverage receiver (PTT and QSK with the Viking II)
- Dipole, folded dipole and inverted vee antennas
Member:
In appreciation:
Many newcomers to ham radio are assisted into the hobby by experienced operators referred to as “Elmers”. My Elmer was Nels Gradeen, VE3GKL, (deceased) who generously gave me his time, advice and encouragement more than 40 years ago.