My name is 'Philip', I live in Penrith on the edge of the 'Lake District National Park', in NW England, from where the majority of my amateur radio operation takes place.

Having retired from the MoD in 2011, and now working on a part-time casual basis as an 'adviser' based from home, I'm able to spend much more time on Amateur Radio.

Most days I can be found operating/monitoring the UK 5MHz band, primarily using data modes, on the following frequencies:

5.368 MHz - Olivia 16/500

5.363 MHz - PSK31

In the Summer months I can also be found chasing VHF DX via Sporadic E on the 50 MHz band.

Living in a Conservation area in Penrith since 2009 has meant no visible external radio aerials, so I use either a British Army tactical dipole @ only 2m AGL, a discrete small Sandpiper MV6+3 HF Vertical or a Wellbrook 1530+ Active Loop Antenna for reception. All my antennas have had to adopt the 'stealth' approach and are camouflaged to blend in with the garden.

I also operate QRP HF/50MHz from home, mobile, portable or abroad using an Elecraft KX-3.

I still operate quite often on VHF when mobile (G0ISW/M) using a Yaesu FT-857D and ATAS 120-A aerial, sometimes HF too, from my own vehicle. I also plan to operate /P on 5 MHz when parked stationary as mobile operation is not permitted under the terms of my NoV.

I also use 145 MHz VHF FM from home with AX-25 packet satellites or the International space Station (ISS)

I continue to maintain an extensive website dedicated to HF/VHF DX with hundreds of useful links at http://www.qsl.net/g0isw/

I will send/receive QSL cards via the RSGB bureau anduse electronic QSL confirmation via eQSL.cc

I was first licenced as a Radio Amateur in 1985 callsign G1MOG and after passing the 12 wpm morse code test in 1987 I chose the callsign G0ISW.

I spent my first 20 years chasing VHF/UHF long distance DX and have been mentioned many times in both RadCom & Practical Wireless magazines for my VHF/UHF achievements.

From 1987-2008 I chased DX on 50/144/432 MHz and particularly enjoyed Meteor Scatter or Sporadic-E. My best DX on 144MHz was to North Africa, Estonia & Iceland.

A house move in 2009 with external antenna restrictions has meant that serious VHF/UHF DX SSB operation is now not possible.