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Early Days
1984. G4NVH (seated on the right) with members of the Sidmouth
Amateur Radio Society. After a stuttering start at the local community college, SARS relocated its meeting venue to the
Sir Norman Lockyer Observatory, 600ft above the cliffs on the south coast.
The club is shown operating from
the McLean dome which at the time housed a dual tube 12" and 10" refracting telescope. As a youngster
I spent many freezing nights observing the heavens with this telescope. I also spent many summers with other members
of the local Astronomical Society renovating the telescopes and domes at the observatory. It was, and still is, a wonderful
location for anyone interested in either of the hobbies.
Here are the original club members again with the
McLean dome in the background. I think moustaches were in vogue then! Yours truly is the one wearing the white jumper in the
centre of the picture.
This is the Observatory today. Unfortunately, living in Stafford
I don't get to use this wonderful site anymore but I do think back with fond memories. For further details of this fascinating
piece of history see the links below.
Norman Lockyer Observatory
Norman Lockyer Observatory Radio Group
Feb 2003. Main rigs: Kenwood TS830S & TS930S. Both excellent
transceivers. I have had seven TS930S rigs over the years and still rate it as an excellent rig. If I didn't
have the TS950SDX, I would still be using one. The components on the bench were the beginnings of an HF Linear using
a pair of 4CX250Bs. Unfortunately never completed.
May 2004. Main Rigs: Yaesu FT1000MP, Kenwood TS930S,
FT857 & FL2100 Amplifier The FT1000MP is another very good rig and was the first new HF set that I bought. The aluminium
box on the desk with lots of knobs on top, is a homebrew 8 band equaliser and noise gate similar to the W2IHY unit.
Nov 04. Main Rigs: Kenwood TS870S, TS930S, Yaesu FT857 &
FL2100 Amplifier. The 870 is another good rig with excellent audio both on Tx & Rx. Its only down side is that the receiver
Dynamic Range performance wasn't great, although I must admit it never caused me a problem.
This is my shack in October 2009. It is divided into two areas, an Operating section
on the right and a Construction section to the left.
Main Station Equipment:
- Picastar HF Transceiver
(Main HF Rig)
- Kenwood TS950 SDX
- Kenwood TS2000 (for VHF & UHF)
- Tokyo HL-1K Linear Amplifier
The small grey box with the cream front panel mounted underneath the far right hand side of the bench is the controller
for the Picatune Remote Auto ATU which is located in a shed at the far end of the rear garden.
Main Test Equipment:
- Marconi 400MHz Spectrum Analyser + Tracking Generator
- Digital and Analogue Scopes
- Audio and RF Signal
Generators
- Frequency Counter
- Plus a whole host of other 'necessary' bits & pieces!
On
the construction bench is the beginnings of a 4m Transverter of my own design.
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