Please DO NOT confuse this station with VA3IPA. Not related.
Welcome to beautiful Ontario, CANADA
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Licensed since 1963.
Born in Weymouth, Dorset, England in 1946, I first became interested in radio from my father, Arthur, SK, ex G3SUO who was a Royal Navy radio operator in the Second World War.
I became a short wave listener at the age of 9 years (1955) using various commercial radios with short wave. At that time it was mainly AM and CW transmissions from amateurs.
I was first licensed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1963 as VE7BMG; from 1963-1976 as G3SUP (Weymouth, Dorset) and from 1976 to the present as VE3IPA.
My interests are CW/SSB on the HF bands. I enjoy more listening than transmitting and look for that DX station that no one else has heard yet!
I enjoy CW and use a selection of straight vintage keys, the oldest dating from around 1910.
I am located near Hamilton, Ontario and currently use an ICOM 735, a vintage Heathkit HW 104 (1976), R5 vertical and a G5RV, (102 feet). Also dipoles for 10 and 17 metres. I run 100 watts or less.
Other equipment is a vintage Heathkit HW101 (1973) (not currently being used), Kenwood R300 rcvr and Grundig Satellit 800 Millenium rcvr.
Past equipment 1950's/60's included WW2 Canadian 19 set (tank), WW2 Canadian 52 set, DX 40 and Codar AT5 transmitter. I used the Codar in the 60's as a mobile set up with a Mohican receiver. I still have the Codar. It runs 10W on AM or CW, 160/80.
Also available on Echolink. Node 276144.
During the summer months I operate from my cottage on Lake Belwood, near Fergus, Ontario. I use a G5RV as an inverted V at 30 foot centre. I get an excellent take off across the lake looking NE. I only run 100W maximum and occasionally use only 10W. I do not own an amplifier.
I will QSL 100% on e-qsl. Because overseas postage is now nearly $2, I would ask that if you would like a QSL card sent DIRECT to please send $2 U.S. plus a self addressed envelope .My address is correct on QRZ.com. Cards with insufficient funds will be sent via the bureau. The bureau is very slow. Thank you for your understanding.
Please, no IRC's or foreign stamps, they CANNOT be used here.
The view from the shack, looking NE. Lake Belwood.
Summer sunrise, 5.15am
Also enjoy powerboating in my 19 foot GREW, grandchildren on behind!!
The photos below show my home and summer QTH. My cottage is located on Lake Belwood about 1 hour north of home. The lake is about 8 miles long by 1.5 miles wide and about 60 feet deep. The lake is stocked with fish including Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass , Trout and Carp. The lake has about 370 cottages around it, each having their own docking system mostly a marine railway system as the level goes down over the summer period. The lake is actually a reservoir fed by an aquifer with a dam at the other end to control the flow into the Grand River which eventually empties into Lake Erie.
The red bird with the cold feet (hi!) is a Cardinal (male) who comes around a lot with his mate (female-brown colour).
The shipwrecks are from about 1850. They are in Little Tub harbour, Georgian Bay, part of the Great Lakes system. The Great Lakes are littered with shipwrecks.
The rock 'carving' is Flowerpot Island and is formed by the constant motion of wind and water over the years.
The waterfall is Webster's Falls, near Dundas, Ontario, about ten minutes from my home. Not as big as Niagara Falls ( 1 hour away) but a very beautiful spot with a park for picnics. The river above the falls drove a grist mill around 1840.
The bottom photo shows me VE3IPA (left) with my very good friend Richard G3ZGP, doing what we do best, wine and food, hi hi!
A 'Cardinal' with cold feet!!
Our garden at home QTH
Websters Falls, near Hamilton, Ontario
Autumn colours, the Sugar Maple is the first to change
Shipwrecks in Georgian Bay (Fathom Five Marine Park). Clear COLD water.
Little Tub harbour, near Tobermory, Ontario
Below is Flowerpot Island, Georgian Bay
VE3IPA and G3ZGP enjoying the evening 'fare' !! Friends for 40+ years.
