History :-

My name is Rod, and have been a licensed Amateur since August 1979. Prior to this, I attended The Marconi School of Wireless and did various courses which include Radio and Electronics repair, B/W and Colour TV Servicing and The Broadcast Officers Certificate of Proficiency.

After becoming an Amateur, I was mainly interested in the digital modes using either AMTOR, RTTY or Packet (V1, V2 and finally AX25) since the early 1980's, all with Home Brew equipment.

Was President of A.N.A.R.T.S. for a while and their editor of AREWISE during the 1980's and early 1990's as well as 20M RTTY BCAST relay. Created the Multimode RTTY repeater and associated software for A.N.A.R.T.S.

Original designer of internal AMTOR interface for Telereader CWR-685E using the Peter Martinez G3PLX board.

Did satellite work back in the 1980's until the elevation rotator eventually broke, and then used the 2M/70cm antenna array (4 x 8 ele on 2M, and 4 x 18 ele on 70cm) for SSB DX etc. and then added an HF beam (20M, 17M, 15M, 12M and 10M) for HF DX, mainly for AMTOR usage, etc. See picture.

Due to my wife Therese, passing away (1952-1994), who had the callsigns of VK2MUM and VK2GTV, I was away from Amateur Radio for about 10 years while bringing up 3 teenagers. During this time, I remarried again in 1996 to Sue, who later became an amateur with the callsign of VK2FDAY in 2006. At the same time, my daughter, also became an Amateur.

I am currently active on :- 23cm - Collinear (commercial) and 1 x 13 ele Beam (Home Brew). 70cm - Collinear (commercial) and 1 x 18 ele Beam (redesigned). 2M - Collinear (commercial) and 1 x 8 ele Beam (redesign). 10M - 1/4 wave Vertical (modified from 27MHz). 20M - Dipole (Home Brew). 40M - 40M Loop (Home Brew) and also using the 80M Loop. 80M - 80M Loop (Home Brew) and 80M Dipole (Home Brew)

Voice Modes used :- SSB (HF, 2M and 70cm). FM (mainly 2M and above)

Digital modes used (but not limited to) :- PSK31 WSJT RTTY AMTOR etc.

Active member of The Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club Inc. (HADARC) since 2004. Field Day Coordinator 2007-2010. Vice President 2009-2011.

As a member of HADARC, I have been involved with establishing and running of the weekly "Morning tea with HADARC Net" on 7.104MHz+/- each Friday morning at 9am local. I have also organised and been involved with HADARC's participation in various field day contests, which include the VK/ZL 80M and 160M contests, The Spring and Summer VHF/UHF Contests, and the John Moyle Field Day Contest in March each year.

As an accredited Assessor for the W.I.A., I conduct exams for those either just entering the hobby of Amateur Radio or those upgrading there qualifications through HADARC.

Other interests, involve Home Brewing and building anything from Antennas, Baluns (4:1 and 1:1, air core and ferrite types), a small portable Antenna Tuner, a Spectrum Analyser using an old Wx satellite receiver all for under $100, a 0-80MHz DDS unit, various PIC Controllers, a 70W 23cm Linear and Rx pre-amp and any number of other items; to modifying equipment to improve performance and usability; such as making dual tracking VFO's in my old FT1000D, for Diversity reception (Horz/Vert)etc. Repair of older valve radios/Boat Anchors and other equipment etc.

My latest (main) projects involve building an antenna controller and the use of using a Vector Network Analyser (VNA) to improve antenna efficiency and performance.

I am currently running 2 x SDR-IQ (HF) receivers which are available for remote access through the internet. (See SDR-Radio.com for software). Also, having a play with the FunCube Dongle, which is another SDR for VHF/UHF for Satelite and other interesting/novel uses.

Thanks for reading and cheers for now - Rod, Vk2Day