In 1992 I took the Basic Amateur Radio Operating Test and passed. I had become a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and choose the call sign VE3FMC. I choice that call as I worked for Ford Motor Company and thought it would be an easy call to remember and others would remember it too.

 

          After operating on the VHF 2 Meter Band for a couple of years I passed my first Morse Code endorsement of 5 Words Per Minute. This allowed me to operate on the HF or High Frequency Bands. I was granted operating privileges on 80 and 160 meters. Due to the length of antenna required to operate on 160 Meters I was not able to use that band. However I had room for an antenna for 80 Meters and soon I was on the air talking all over the United States and Canada. The best time to use 80 Meters is at night, so I spent many a late night in my Radio Room, or Ham Shack as it is called.

 

          I came across a Worked All States Net called the Geratol Net on 3.768 Mhz and soon I was trying to contact other hams in every state of the United States. Hawaii and Alaska were the hardest states for me to be able to talk to. I finally managed to work Hawaii and that contact gave me all 50 states worked. I received my QSL cards, which confirmed that I talked to those operators in those states and I was awarded the WAS 75 Meters Extra Class Award on August 29, 1995 by the American Radio Relay League. My award number is 1918, and that became my Geratol Number. Once I had that everyone on the net wanted to work for me my number as they collect those numbers for future awards. Lots of fun and that net still operates, now on 3.668 Mhz. Check out the Geratol Net on the web.

 

          By December of 1995 I had upgraded my code requirements to 12 WPM and I was then granted full operating privileges on all the HF Bands. Now I could easily work stations in Europe, Asia and all over the world. Simple wire antennas will allow contacts worldwide if conditions are right. Next step was taking the Advanced License test. After passing that I was allowed to run more power.

 

          My current station consists of a new Icom 7000 HF/VHF All Mode  Radio with a Heil Icm Desk Mic. I have a rebuilt Heathkit SB-200 HF amp in line with the Icom 7000. When running the amp I have 650 watts of power output.

         

          I use my Icom 718 for digital modes. It is connected to a computer by a SignaLink USB interface. Software is Ham radio Deluxe and Digital Master 780. The digital mode Olivia is one of my favourite modes to operate.

 

My late Father was also an Amateur who held the callsign VE3LDB since 1978. He passed away on November 24. 2009. I now hold his call sign and inherited his Amateur equipment. He owned an Icom 735 HF rig, a Drake TR4C with MS4 speaker & power supply. His first radio was a Yaesu FT101-E which still works just fine. All of those radios are hooked up and operated at any time I feel like doing so.

 

I now that the Drake TR-4C setup with a Drake RV-4 external VFO. In the same cabinet as the VFO is the speaker and power supply for the TR-4C. I recently converted all the light bulbs in the TR-4C and RV over to blue led bulbs.

 

A Dentron MT-2000A antenna tuner handles the antennas, and a Yaesu YS60 wattmeter lets me check the power output of the radios and the amp and also the SWR on the antennas.

 

I control the Icom 7000 with my computer using Ham Radio Deluxe software and an interface made by G4ZLP.

 

          My antennas consist of an 80/40 meter home made trap dipole. A single element trap dipole for 10-20 meters which I can rotate. I also have a 17 meter delta loop.

 

          For 2 meter SSB I have an 11 element Cushcraft beam. For FM there is a Jetstream Dual Band Vertical. I also have a home made 3 element 6 meter beam to put up. For a little extra power on 2 meter SSB I have a Daiwa 150 watt amplifier inline.

 

          I am now operating with some of the digital modes, PSK31, RTTY and SSTV or Slow Scan TV. My interface for those modes is a Signalink USB. DM780 software covers most digital modes. I enjoy PSK & Olivia digital modes and spend most of my operating time with those modes.

WIRES & CABLES EVERYWHERE!

 

In this photo from left to right, top to bottom

Heathkit SB-200 Amplifier, RF Concepts 2 Meter 160 watt amplifier

The antenna switch box, below that is the Drake RV-4, TR-4C, Radio Shack HRX 212 2 meter radio.

 

In the photo below

The computer monitor with HRD running, controlling the Icom 7000. A VHF Power meter is under

The right edge of the monitor. A Yaesu YS-60 HF wattmeter is sitting on top of a

LDG DTS-4 Electronic antenna switch which I use to switch from one radio to another.

Under the 2 meter radio is a Drake MN-4 antenna tuner. Next is the Icom 7000

Which is sitting on an LDG AT-200PRO autotuner.

 

 

In the photo below

A close up of the Icom 7000. 160-10 meters, plus 6 meters, 2 meters and 440 Mhz.

All mode, all bands.

 

 

 

The Dentron MT-2000A 2 kilowatt antenna tuner.

Below the tuner is an Astron 35 amp power supply.

The Heil  ICM desk mic is in front.

 

 

The Icom 735 HF radio

 

Another Drake TR-4 with MS-4 Speaker Power supply

 

My digital station, an Icom 718, beside that is another Drake MN-4 antenna tuner

A Daiwa wattmeter sits on top the tuner.

Beside that is an old Hammarlund HQ-170A HF receiver.

I can switch between the 4 different radios with the switch on the wall behind

The lamp.

Missing from the photos is the Yaesu FT-101E. It is out being aligned by

Bill VE3NH. Bill is a miracle man when it comes to old tube rigs.