Other calls held: DA1ET, V31KH, VP8BFM, ZB2HE, ZC4TB.

Hello everyone, been "into" radio since 1961, suppose earlier if you take into account dismantling the family valved wireless to see how it worked, didn't understand then why they were called a "wireless" with so many wires inside !!!, also learned an important lesson very early on that some domestic receivers had "live, 240v AC" chassis, boy did it make me jump and I reckon that was the deciding point in my life, been involved with Electrickery ever since.

Starting off as was the norm in those days as an SWL using a home brew (H/B) Crystal Set with cardboard toilet roll insert as the coil former HI, then onto 1 valve TRF then a 4 valve H/B superhet then progressing? onto the inevitable ex WD WWII surplus equipment. ie, 19 set, 38 set, HRO, AR88D etc.

Above is my first "Shack" as an SWL with my then pride and joy, an HRO MX with the 19 set as standby, that was circa 1963.

Some few years later after an immense amount of time listening and reading, realised that I perhaps knew enough to join in on the bands, morse test taken and ticket gained, together with the "RAE" (Radio Amateurs Examination, set by the City & Guilds of London Institute), obtained my full licence in Oct 69.

Been mainly interested in home brewing, (not the drink, but I must admit real ale is very tempting now and again, see CAMRA www.camra.org.uk) was totally home brewed transmit and receive at one time in the 70's with 50w QSK on the HF bands.

Main operating mode is CW on the LF/HF bands with the odd excursion into contest work with mediocre success, a First in the ARRL 160m CW Contest, also placed a joint third, third three times and a second in the RSGB 1.8 CW tests (maybe next time?).

Presently have a 50m Inv L antenna with 17m vertical section for LF/HF tuned with SGC230 Auto ATU at the base and a 4 ele yagi for 4m and 6m (the yagi is only erected in summer months), but I also have 2m and 70cms on when in the shack or out mobile. Look forward to bumping into you on the air one day.

Tower with dual band yagi and inverted L attached, with the small 2m/70cm collinear on top.

To digress slightly from my main and oldest hobby of amateur radio, other interests include, digital photography and also enjoy a bit of travelling, have visited the following countries:-

Ascension, Austria, Australia, Belize, Belgium, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Falkland Isles, Finland, France, Germany, Gibralter, Guernsey, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland inc Northern Ireland, Israel, Italy and Sardinia, Isle of Man, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta and Gozo, Minorca, Morocco, Nepal, Portugal, Scotland inc Orkneys, Shetland and Outer Hebrides, Senegal, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Wales, Yugoslavia and I am sure there are some that are not coming to mind so will add when/if I can remember HI.

The list can go on but I must mention my long suffering stalwart xyl Chris (bless) who puts up with me and all of the above.

73, de Terry.

PS, The photo at the top is now the "New Shack" as of 18th June 09 (looking rather clinical and it will not be like that for long HI) but still some work in progress. Some of the notable equipment at my disposal, IC-756 ProIII, TS-830s, Collins KWM2A, IC-910HX and for portable/mobile a FT897D or IC-7000.