On June 19th 1967 I received my C-License (144 MHz-up) in The Netherlands and the call sign PAoCOC at the age of 19. At the start I used to work the VHF 2-meter band quite intensively using AM and a home brew crystal controlled transmitter. After my graduation as a BSc Electrical Engineer I focused on my career and consequently the hobby suffered. I obtained however a A-class full license: "12 wpm morse code" and started operating vintage equipment e.g. Collins, Drake and military stock surplus. This gives me great joy and satisfaction. By the end of the seventies I lived and worked in the UK. The UK Home Office granted me the call sign G5MHS in those days. In July 2003 I immigrated to South Africa. I live on a 120 acres "hobby farm" on the east bank of the Klip River 30 miles south of Johannesburg.

cuagn dr OM 73

"Soar on the Wings of Friendship"

 

A BIG FIRE ON THE FARM AND A STORM DESTROYED MOST OF MY ANTENNAS RECENTLY.

ONLY A OCF-DIPOLE FOR HF AND A V2000 FOR VHF/UHF ARE AVAILABLE FOR NOW

 

STATIONS AVAILABLE

80-40 METER STATON

TS-520; TL922; SHURE 444; Straight Key; Extended Double Zepp

30-10 METER STATION

FT-902DM; FV-901DM; YO-901; FC-901; FL 2100B; SHURE 444; Straight Key; Extended Double Zepp

6 METER STATION

FT-726R; Henry 2006A; (Mirage A-1015G as a spare); 3-Element Vårgårda Yagi

2 METER STATION

TS-180S; SSB Electronics LT2S; Dressler D200S (D200C and Mirage B-1016G as spares); Cushcraft 17b2 17-Element Yagi

70 CM STATION

FT-726R; Mirage D-3010N; Tonna F9FT 19-Element Yagi

6-2-70 Chat

FT-726R and TR-9130; Diamond V2000

 

VINTAGE EQUIPMENT CURRENTLY OPERATIONAL

COLLINS: KWM-1; KWM-2; KWM-2a; 312B-5; 75A-3; 75S-3; 75S-3B; 32S-3; 312B-4; 312B-3; 516F-2; PM-2; 30L-1; MM-1; SM-1; 180S-1; 62S-1

DRAKE: 1-A; TR-3; TR-4; TR-4C; TR-4CW; RV-4; MN-4; MN-2000; R4-B; T-4XB; R4-C; T-4XC; AC-4; RCS-4; W-4;

HALLICRAFTERS: SX-25; SX-28; PM-23; HT-37; SX-100; SR-150; PS-150-120; HA-1; S-38; S-40;

HAMMARLUND: HQ-129-X;

HOME BREW: 1967 my first ham station: X-tal 8.00-8.11; QQV03-12 2-meter AM transmitter; 6CW4 Nuvistor converter; BC-348-Q Receiver;

RACAL: RA17L; RA63B; RA98;

NATIONAL: HRO Senior 1939; R-106 MK II (HRO 5T); HRO 50;

E. F. JOHNSON: Viking Valiant; Viking Ranger;

EDDYSTONE: S.504

GELOSO: G222-TR;

GERMAN HAM NOSTALGIA: SEMCOPORT 1973; SEMCO SSB 1974; SEMCO PORTABLE 1967; SEMCOSET MODULES; MINIX MTR-25; VARIOUS NOGOTON MODULES 1965

HEATHKIT: DX-60; HW-100; HW-12; HP-23;

KW: Viceroy;

YEASU: FTdx401; Full FT 101E Line; FRG 7;

MILITARY: COLLINS R-388/URR; COLLINS ART-13; COLLINS TCS-12; BC-348-R; Torn Eb 1940; Torn Eb 1944; EW.b; Ukw.E.e; RCA AR88D; R206 MK I; WS-22 MK I/I; Fuchs B25 (TRC-300); R 1155; BC-794-B; BC-1066-B; BC 221; VARIOUS COMMAND SETS;

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SWOP OR BUY/SELL? I AM LOOKING FOR GERMAN WW II RADIO'S
PLEASE CONTACT ME!!

 

Our "Hobby Farm" is called "TERRA NOVA ESTATE" Please enter the front gate.

You are most welcome!!

View of the drive way to the Main Gate

 

Welcome to my "Workshop"!

 

The Main Shack (after the fire)

 

Digging sleeves for the radials of a quarter wave vertical for 40 meters close to the main shack. This one as well as a full size 4-square for 80 meters erected a bit later was destroyed in a huge "veld" fire. With it went 6 beverages the longest to be 320 meters. All of these are not re-erected as yet.

"Veld" (field) fires are quite common in winter. The above picture shows the view to the east. As one can see the terrain is completely open. With the wind blowing at force one has no chance if the fire breaks let you down. We tried to extinguish with the fire fighting equipment on our 1-ton SUV, but all to be in vain. We could however save the out-buildings and the main shack. 90% of these fires are the result of arson. Every winter (dry season) these fires take lives and inflict huge damage to livestock, farms and property.

The picture below is a "controlled field fire" lit by us to make the pastures ready in spring. My boerboel bitch "Sully"is watching my proceedings. These controlled fires still need a lot of manpower and equipment (not pictured). Everything is bone dry after the winter.

 

Our house

 

My wife Marianne acting as a midwife. She just delivered a beautiful calf being a Brahman x Charolais cross. Brahman cows are very good mothers viciously defending the calf during lactation.The birth of a Brahman x Brahman calf usually gives no problem at all. With this cross however the calf is quite big and labour and birth have to be monitored closely.

 

 

This is also South Africa "a third world country wrapped in first world paper". Squatters 2 miles east of the farm

 

It is now late May and autumn has arrived om the farm

 

18 December 2010 The Klip River is +6.40 meter above nomal winter level!! The river nornally is about 20 meter wide. Now 300 meter!!! My son Alex and our neighbor Johan discuss what to do next?? Nothing!! Let it happen!!

My son Alex and Johan

 

Some of our cattle waiting to get loaded to go on auction that day

 

Alex and I preparing a small pig we slaughtered two weeks earlier for the "braai" on New Years Eve

 

Sometimes we have to commission projects in remote areas. In case we lease a plane for that purpose. Marianne is inspecting ZS-LNG, a Cessna 402S, just before take-off from Vereeniging airport 15 miles south of the farm and bound for De Aar in the Northern Cape. A Cessna 402S is a very economical plane and a fine work horse. It takes pilot, co-pilot and up to 6 passengers with their luggage and it is very low on fuel. With the twin-engines squezed to save (more) fuel it still easily does 200 mph in a light tail wind.

 

Are you the first officer Paul? No, just acting like that. See you later on one of the ham bands

 

Visitors since March 14th 2011

View over the Klip valley from the main shack. The river flows down below between the willow trees. The farm has got 762 m of riverfront.

 

Thanks for visiting our farm!! But you have to return! There is much going on here.