First licensed in 1972 as G8GPR. Obtained full callsign in 1974 whilst at University. Very active 1972 - 1977 from my parents' QTH in North Lancashire on 2m SSB. Then life took over (kids and job) ! Moved to Woking, Surrey; then to Boston, USA. Worked in telecommunications engineeering and regulation. Travelled a great deal; No time for amateur radio. 2004 moved back to UK (Isle of Wight) and the 'bug' bit again, after 30 years ! Home QTHwas poor for VHF, but I am fairly active on 6m (wonderful band, not available when I was active in the 70s) and /P on 2m from some of the high spots on this lovely island. Hoping for a better QTH and antenna system 2009 onwards. I am now a teacher and Head of an ICT Department at one of the Middle Schools on the IOW.

October 2009, moved to new location in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. 135 metres asl with a clear take off across the sea from due East, through South, to due West. Now have12 ele. ZL for 2 metres and 4 ele. for 6m, both about 10 m above ground. Nothing much to compare with at present but initial results sound promising. Hope to work you on 2m or 6m this summer (2010) if tropo and Es are kind to us!

The picture above is looking East towards Sandown Bay from near my new QTH.

If you remember me from the late '70s please email me: richard.crossley1@sky.com

73s de G4CZP

Update: April 2011 - new 9 element Tonna pro. for 2 metres (seems to work better than old 12 ele ZL) and 4 element high gain for 6 metres. Repaired the rotator cable that some little creature had completely chewed through during the winter !

Update: March 2012 - Comet 4 ele. 6 metre yagi didn't withstand the winter - not impressed with it. New 4 ele. LFA from Innovantennas going up on 2nd April. 400 Watts available on 2m and 6m, with 100 Watts on 70cm although the 70cm antenna is not permanently installed on the mast - I put it up on a temporary mast when there is any really good tropo.

The hill behind the house continues upwards for another 100 metres and is car accessible, so I'll try to get out /P a bit this summer - about the only chance I have of working to the North on VHF.

Update 16th July 2012 - new Innovantennas 4 ele for 6 metres has worked very well; excellent match and radiation pattern and low noise level. Several new countries added so far this season, though it seems to be dying out rather quickly. Not much ES on 2 metres (at least not when I have been at home from work). The jet stream is forecast to move north in a week or so, maybe then we will get something resembling summer weather and some high pressure for a bit of 2 metre tropo.