Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to look me up.

I first became interested in radio communication through CB in the early 80's. Not knowing much about the technical side my learning was all through reading. However I met a "G8" who could answer my many questions, this proved useful and as I could sort out his VAT we married some years later. How's that for a marriage of convenience!.

As a company secretary the RAE at that time was not for me, as building equipment did not hold any interest. However with the changes in the licence I took advantage and passed the Foundation Course in the summer of 2007.

My main station is a Yaesu FT897 with a MD100 mic, the auto ATU, or to give its correct name auto Matcher is great, no fiddling!!. Aerials,Hy-gain four element beam for 20-15-10 on a 30ft mast, trapped dipoles for 160-80-40, half-wave dipole for 17, usually verticals on 144/70 but with the option of beams on one of those rotator things.

In addition I have two portables for 144/70, this means that during the day in the office I can listen to our two local repeaters simultaneously whilst working. Us girls can multitask you know.

Data Modes are fantastic, low power great distances, just right for us M3/M6's, as is Echo-Link, the world on 10watts or less. Such is progress, bin off the 807's.

The Hubby, Robert, now M0JRB, has a linear!. This I find useful in those 20mtr pile ups,  under strict supervision of course and the M0 callsign. You see marriage does have its advantages.

I have recently built a MKARS 80mtr SSB transceiver, and it works !  Now I know what you are thinking, my other half must have been a help, true, he loaned me a soldering iron.

My previous call was M3XMW, but I never liked the X, it was frequently mistaken for an E when using the phonetic X-ray.

Thats me in the photo with the ever versatile FT897 working portable, or is it mobile?. Personally I think its neither. Leave that for you chaps to discuss .

International Short Wave League Membership No G-21198.

Enjoy the hobby.

73-Good DX,

Mary.