Welcome to my page!

If you're reading this, then there's a good chance we are either having, or have had, a QSO. In that case, many thanks for the contact, and I look forward to catching up with you again, a little bit further down the log!

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My interest in ham radio started from an early age. I became an active SWL in my teens, and built up a collection of QSL cards from around the world, and that whetted my appetite to become a ham. I became licenced in 1977, with the call-sign VK3ZIK, and was active on 2m FM, particularly enjoying VHF contests.

I qualified as an Electronics Engineer, and joined Australia's telecommunications company. I worked as a field operations engineer, followed by stints as an operations engineer in the National Head Office, before moving into senior management ranks. I was involved in the selection and introduction of Australia's first public automatic mobile telephone system in the early 1980's, and then the introduction of centralised Network Traffic Management in the mid 1980's. During the 1990's, I was involved in the total digitisation of the Australian telephone network. After a number of senior management appointments, I left the telco in 2000, and took up a position as a Project Director with a multinational telco supplier, where my project team delivered 19 turnkey 2.5Gb/s Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) transmission systems across the length and breadth of Australia.

I retired from the workforce in 2004 and recently renewed my ham licence with the new vanity callsign. Looking forward to working as much DX as possible, and I'm also looking forward to participating in as many HF contests as I can. You can find me most days on the extremely friendly and well-run ANZA DX Net on 14.183 at 0515Z.

Of late, I have been spending a lot of time using digital modes, recently focussing on the new FT8 mode. If you think we have had a digital contact, but I indicate that you are not in my log, it is most likely that we did not have a full QSO. A full QSO to me means swapping locators, signal reports, report acknowledgement ("R"), and a 73. If I don't receive all of these, I do not log the QSO.

Radio activity however, is tempered somewhat by my love of the game of golf, which occupies a couple of days each week!

Following a "tree change", my QTH since 2011 has been Romsey, where as an owner/builder, my wife and I (with the help of a few contractors) built our new home. We are now on an acre of land where there is plenty of room for an eventual antenna farm. Romsey is a rural town, covering an area of about 7.5 square kilometres, and is located sixty-five kilometres north of Melbourne, (the capital city of Victoria). Romsey has a population of approx. 4,500.

73's and best DX

John

The Equipment in the shack is as follows:

HF Transceivers:-    Yaesu FTDX3000

                                 Yaesu FT-450D

Desk Mike is a        MD-100

Headphones are      Heil Pro-Set 3

Tuner is a                LDG Z100 Plus.

VHF Transceivers:- Yaesu FT-2900R

                                 Yaesu FT-270R

The Equipment outside of the shack is as follows:

HF Antennas are 6 band Hexbeam, and a G5RV, located on top of a 7.5metre mast. G5RV basically runs east-west.

VHF Antenna is an AR-2 Ringo for 2metres, and the Hexbeam for 6metres

 

I'm in the process of wallpapering the new shack, and here is a small collection of cards from the Oceania and African regions. (More areas will follow)

 

QSL either via the VK inwards Bureau, or Direct, or LoTW, or via eQSL, or ClubLog. (If you QSL direct, I will respond in the same manner. If you are prepared to post a QSL card to me at your expense, then the least I can do is reply with one at my expense - no SASE, IRC, green, black, blue or any other colour stamps are necessary!!!).

I upload LoTW and eQSL daily, and send all Bureau cards at the start of each Month. Direct Cards are replied to within 2 days.

For SWL's sending cards direct, as international postage from Australia costs 2.75AUD, please send USD2 for a paper QSL. Note you will need to provide the callsign of the station I was working with your report.

 

Completion of the tower and Hexbeam (27th October, 2014):-

All fabrication completed, Brake Winch mounted, and mast lowered for first time.

 

Installing the hexbeam onto the mast pipe.

Winding the mast and beam into their final upright position.

Renovating the shack (Oct/Nov 2016) from a cramped corner of the shed, to something much more comfortable, secure and desirable!!

         

   

 

 

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