Location: IO71. ITU27. CQ Zone 14. WAB SS59. SKCC 6906. FISTS 14866. RNARS 4905.

I came back to amateur radio in 2010 after going QRT in1963. I am on CW with 100 watts a Kenwood TS820 and an old Marconi 365A key, in the modern shack. Antenna inverted L 13m high, 30m top giving fair results on 160m.

The VINTAGE Shack: T1154 ex RAF 1940s. Home made psu above. RX's: R1155, 1940's. Marconi CR100 ex RN 1944, restored by Chris MW0LUK. Rees Mace 619, ex RN 1953. Murphy 618 40w ex RN transmitter 1950 and home brew psu above. NATO & RAF straight keys. On top shelf RX PSU. Next is Wireless Set 62 & RF25 HF converter soon to be brought into use. ATU is used as T1154 harmonic filter.

GW3OQK was first on air in Manchester in the 60's when I was 16. I took my 1st class ticket and went to sea as a ship's radio officer in 1962. My delight was, and still is, to use the hand key, study the propagation, and work weak and distant stations. After some years at sea I worked for Redifon as a technician on ships. In 1987 I started www.aditel.org.uk my own marine electronics manufacturing company.

My other hobby is Bluegrass Music where I play banjo and guitar,and even sing. My wonderful wife Marie plays the double bass. Its a great life and even better when I can retire!

During winter months about 2100z I have heard echos on 80m due to magnetospheric ducting. (Not round world echo) So I am looking for more of this and correlating with magnetospere data. http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?327571-S9-echos-on-80-metres-probably-via-the-magnetosphere

Best wishes from Andrew

Here's my other hobby, playing the banjo in a Bluegrass Band. This is at the Welsh National Eisteddfod. I'm the only one in uniform.