I was born  in 1941 in Coltano ( Pisa ) near the historical radiotelegraphic station by Guglielmo Marconi  (1910 – 1920).

I’ve been  OM since  1975; DXing is just one of many favorite parts of the hobby and my QRP activity begun in 1977.

Currently my equipment consist of converted CB for QRP and QRPp 10m used in SSB, FM, AM and cross mode (AM – SSB) in severity QRP and QRPp  power;  this choice covers the most part of my activity. 

From 2004 I was present in some of big international phone contest in 10m QRP and  QRPp.

In the 2009 and 2010 during ARRL-DX Contest was possible my parteciapation with my little transverter on  20, 40 and 80m band in QRPp 500mW,  thanks to the patience of my corresponding stations was possible have QSO of  incredible  importance.

Without these extraordinary stations and without available operators my QRP and QRPp activity  would not have luck.

Here my Toys:

Walkie takie, Eaglet (click here to see): 360mW AM mode Converted CB for QRPp 10m, provided a BFO, exit  for external  antenna and input for external VFO.  From 1977 to 1984 I worked 52 countries, the first 33 were worked with quartz controlled frequency, the rest via VFO. Thanks to VFO stability were possible many QSO in “Cross-Mode” (AM - SSB).

Ranger 2950 (click here to see): all mode 10m  transceiver  modified on the output power, so now  the range is 60mW to 10W  in AM, FM and  CW and  3,5W to 15W  in  SSB; actually with QRP power  5W  I worked 250 countres. 

Transverter  LB 3: all  mode for 20, 40, 80m, range  out  60mW  to 15W,  normanlly  I use 500mW out in some contes and  are surprising this results also a this  frequency. 

Now  the  my  favorite, the Lunchbox made Heathkit, CB-1 and HW19 (click here to see): homemade changed the anodic voltage for 500mW out 10m in AM,  used with external very stable VFO, so was possible have QSO in "Cross-Mode" (AM – SSB). That Toy permitted to me to reach 130 Countries.

Actually I use HW19 between 28400 and 28500 Mhz for Cross-Mode QSO and the CB-1 between 29000  and 29100 Mhz for 2 x AM mode: they are absolutely fantastic and lots of QSOs with North  American  stations  and some  VK and ZL via Lon Path are in log.

My antennas 10m: 4 el. Yagi, 20m high (click here to see); 3 el. Yagi, 10m high; Ground Plane 1/4 wave, 20m high 

My antennas 20/40/80m: Dipoles 1/2 wave, 20m high.        

73 de I5KAP, Franco.