MW7GAB

Hi, I’m Helen.

If you have arrived here as a result of having a QSO with me, thank you for the contact. If not, I look forward to a future QSO with you.

I obtained my foundation licence in March 2020 just before the Covid-19 lockdown. Unfortunately, I did not get my station setup before lockdown, so did not get the chance to get any QSOs. Over the Christmas 2021 holiday period I had an opportunity to try mobile operation on 15m and really enjoyed myself. In the warmer weather I will do this again.

In February 2022 I got my first experience of operating FT8 mode and was amazed at just how far I could communicate with less than 10W. I am not sure what path I would like to follow in amateur radio, but at this moment I am thoroughly enjoying FT8. I will in the near future try different digital modes, more interactive, then perhaps have a go at SSTV.

I don’t know how successful VHF/UHF would be as my QTH is almost at sea level and there are hills practically in every useful direction, but who knows, maybe I will give it a try later. There are so many different things to do in amateur radio and only a limited amount of time. For the time being I will concentrate on the HF bands.

I first tried an end fed wire antenna, but did not get much success with it, so as an experiment, I tried an inverted V fan dipole with elements for 80m and 40m which I also use on 15m. I need to do an adjustment as the resonant frequency is a bit high and I am operating on the FT8 end of the bands. I will probably cut the 40m element for 20m and put a new 40m wire up. I would also like to add more bands but haven’t figured out how to support them yet.

I also made an ugly balun using a soft drinks plastic bottle as a former, which seems to work, but also amuses passers by!!!

Who says this hobby is expensive! It cost me 99 pence and I also got some refreshing drinks out of the bargain!!! Because I did not have a suitable support for the centre, I once again had to improvise. I have a trailerable sailboat kept at the side of the house through the winter months, so I used the mast from this as the support for the centre of the antenna. (I will have to change this to something a bit more permanent before the summer sailing season begins). Perhaps I will have another try with end fed wires.

I have got a constant battle with QRM at the QTH with noise levels on 80m sometimes above S9+20. I am slowly finding interference sources and exhausting my supply of ferrite chokes and replacing noisy wall warts and LED bulbs etc. Unfortunately some sources are external and beyond my control. A part of the real world you do not appreciate until you become interested in radio.

I am currently working towards my intermediate licence with the help of members of Llanelli Amateur Radio Society.

My other hobbies and interests are sailing, kayaking, cycling and shopping whether on foot or online (Shame there are no amateur radio shops locally)!

Thanks for looking at my page. I wish you good dx and enjoyment out of whatever you do in this great hobby of ours.

73 and 88

from Helen