Wow its been a year between posts!

Time flies !!

I cant believe its been a year since I last posted on here. So much has happened in the past 12 months. I lost my father in law and in the inheritance he suggested I got some more radio gear , so I did !

The shack now comprises the following.

Icom iC 7700, iC 910H, FTdx9000D, iC 970H, Expert 1k-FA Amp, microKeyer 2R+, LP100A, Yaesu 1000DXC rotator,.

The antenna is still the Force 12 C4S , but is soon to be replaced with a SteppIR DB18.

The workshop has an iC 781 and an iC 208 with a soon to be installed BigIR vertical.

I'm trying to set myself up for that magic day when I can retire and play radio whenever it suits me!

This was brought home to me this past weekend when we, as a club lost our patron, Neil VK6NE. He passed away last Tuesday and the funeral was Saturday morning. It was an honour to write and read the Eulogy for Neil, and to see a guard of honour of club members in club shirts, flank the coffin at the funeral was a sight I will never forget.

We truly lost one of Australia's gentlemen that day.

We left the funeral to take part in the Oceania Dx Contest from our field day site at Muresk Agricultural College about 120 kms east of Perth and spent 24 hrs trying to win it for Neil!

We may have just done it as well.

Thats it, up to date and I promise I'll be more diligent in future with my updates.

73 de Keith

New HF antenna

Well I've finally erected the new antenna, hardly new since it's been sitting in a box for over 12 months in my shed!
Its a Force 12 C4S, six element beam with a linear loaded element for 40 mtrs, all on a 12 ft boom.
The basic antenna tunes up well but the 40 mtr element needs further tuning, just as soon as the weather permits.
I've also added a new rotator, a Yaesu DXC 1000, purchased at an excellent price from our local Yaesu agent, City Online/ Hamshack, Thanks Geoff and Kylea.
I've mounted the Brainer GST-3 2 & 70 vertical above it , improving my vhf / uhf fm signal appreciably as its now an extra 5 mtr higher.
I now need to spend some time tidying up the coax runs and maybe refitting the guys, though I dont really need them..
After that I will concentrate on making the rest of the 2 mtr beams for the club beacon project and getting that up and running.
One day I'll start on the 23 cms EME project, but I think that may end up being after Xmas as work and the rest of the projects are taking up all of my time.
At least the good lady is happy now as the tower was stopping her from planting 48 rose bushes! The first time in my 27 years licenced when the wife has actively encouraged me to put up more antennas !
I bought an FT 60R handheld today to use on our Tasmanian Holiday in January, it will prob end up in a drawer when we get back but it will be useful for the holiday.
The icom IC-Q7r is just a bit too under powered to be useful on the trip and the 5 watts from the Yaesu will make life a bit easier.
I'm looking forward to our club trip to Muresk in 2 weeks time, a decent bit of contesting and good fun too.
73
Keith

The NCRG Crew at Ham Heaven

Today at the club

Today shaped up very well!
I arrived at the club ( www.ncrg.org.au ) to find John VK6JX had dug the hole for our beacon antenna project and promptly handed over the filling of said hole with concrete to me!
I got stuck into it and after about 8-9 barrow loads I was greatful to receive the assistance of VK6NU & VK6HRC !
So the foundations are in, next weekend the tower will be installed and a few weeks later the antennas for our project will be in place.
The project is the attempt to get a signal across the Indian Ocean to ZS or Reunion Isl on 2 mtrs.
Its never been done as far as we can confirm so lets do it !!
Watch this space for further developments.

The actual station equipment.

I've had many many radios over the past 27 years and really never settled on a preferred brand, until recently that is.
I bought an Elecraft K2 and was amazed at the difference over the Yaesu FT 920 that I had at the time. I got the Elecraft bug!
I now own two K2's, one fully loaded and one a 10 watt version built by the original owner to drive transverters, the reason I bought it.
I put my order in for a K3 the day after it was announced and received mine 8 months and 22 days after placing the order, a 9 month gestation period for my new baby!
The K3 is an amazing radio, and getting better all the time. I also own an Elecraft KX 1 which I've not played with much as yet. The K3 also has an LP Pan fitted which is something I'm still trying to get to grips with, work in progress!
I also own another of Larry's products an LP100 A power meter and a US Navigator sound card interface.
The other radios in my shack are as follows.
An Icom 781, the former flagship HF radio, mine has a few issues which the previous owner didn't make me aware of when he traded with me. However I'm getting there. There will shortly be available a replacement power supply which is the root of all the problems I believe.
An Icom 275H for 2mtrs , an amazing radio, one of the best ever on VHF with an Icom 475H to keep it company.
An Icom 910H with 23 cms fitted, my satellite radio, 72 countries on AO40 in 16 months, what a buzz. Its a pity there ins't a HEO up there, cos until there is I wont be back on the birds.
LEO's leave me cold.
I also have TenTec 526 which is a 6mtr and 2 mtr radio. and a TenTec Omni IV which is on permanent loan at the radio club for those who prefer something without all the bells and whistles.
In my workshop I have the 2nd K2 and a Yaesu FT 8900, and in the car I have a TS50 and an Icom 208 for vhf, uhf and UHF cb for work.
The antennas have been many and varied over the years, quads, monobanders etc but will be a Force 12 C4S for HF in the next few weeks as the new tower is installed, the Butternut HF9V will be sold and an 80 mtr sky warmer will be installed as well, just for local stuff.
In the car I have a Terlin Outbacker, but a special one which includes RFDS and Radphone frequencies.
So thats the actual station here at VK6RK

My Amateur radio history

I've been a licenced Amateur since April 1982, having passed the exams in November 1981 and having to wait nearly 6 months for the actual licence to arrive from the Post and telecoms. The longest 6 months of my life !
The callsign issued was G6HHV and I was on the air thanks to my Elmer Alan G8WQE.
The bug bit hard and I had limited money and space for antennas so I reckoned microwaves were the way to go.
I became active on 70 cms, 23 cms and 10 ghz WBFM.
I helped organise the Mersey microwave group and obtained the club call G1GHZ which we used on 10 ghz for quite a while.
The members at that time included G3UFO, G8CVF,G6IHD, G6MEN, G3WIC and others.
G6MEN became better known as RF Byrne in Radcoms cartoons.
Once I decided to emigrate I realised I would need a full call to keep in touch with friends " back home" so I knuckled down and learned my morse. I took the exam and came away with G0HEI
When I emigrated to Western Australia in September 1987 Phil G6MEN took over the G1GHZ callsign which I believe he still holds now that he lives in Scotland.
On arriving in Perth I was issued the callsign VK6BRK, my initials, sort of!
What a pig of a call on cw.
At that time most contacts were back to friends ( G3UFO & G3WIC) in the UK on CW. Having a call that ended in "K" was not a good thing.
After about a year I asked for a 2 letter call and was told if I took the first one the computer spat out it would be OK, so I did and VK6XH then spent the next 21 years on the air.
Recently unused 2 letter vanity calls became available in Australia and I noticed VK6RK was free. As VK6KB isn't available I thought I'd take my first 2 initials and revert back ( almost) to my original call.
So now I'm VK6RK.
VK6XH is still my call and will be for at least the next 4 years till it requires renewing and then I will decide if I want it anymore.
I spent three years as a WIA Divisional Councillor representing VK6 before the WIA became a national body, something I quite enjoyed.
Starting a new business meant I had less time to devote to the hobby and I resigned.
I became the WIA VK6 Advisory committee chairman a couple of years ago to try and promote the hobby but it wasn't to be and I resigned a couple of months ago. Things just were not going fast enough for me.
I started writing the VK6 Notes for the national magazine about 15 months ago and I really enjoy the monthly challenge of getting local clubs to provide the input, its bloody hard work sometimes!!!
When I first arrived in Australia I joined the Hills Group in Kalamunda but after about 4 meetings I realised the age group was about 35 years older than me and it wasn't what I was looking for.
John, then VK6HQ, suggested I join a relatively new group in Perth called the Northern Corridor Radio Group.
Well this was it, talk about like minded souls
You will not meet a more dedicated bunch of irreverent reprobates anywhere else in the world !
I fitted in and felt at home straight away and have done so ever since.
I suggest you have a look the club website to see what we have achieved ( www.ncrg.org.au )
So if you like to enjoy your radio, have few ?? beers, take part in contests and generally have a good time come and join us when you are in Perth. Visiting amateurs are always welcome and we are happy for you to use the club station.
That's it , you are up to date with me and my hobby.
As we say in amateur radio vy 73
Keith