Biography

I retired in 2012. Though I got my amateur radio licence aged 18, there were only few periodes I was on air. All the time I used a home-made equipment for the shortwave bands. This is one of the reasons why I have been qrv rarely and only on few bands.
For a long time of 15 years I was qrt. Then after I retired I had a 1st qso after that long time in January 2013 (on 40 m). Now I have more time for amateur radio and especially for technical experiments.

Equipment

Radio: For SSB short wave operation I use a mostly homebrewed station.

- It consists of a 9 MHz exciter in one small case built up with Plessey ic's of the 1970/80ies (SL 16** serie). The rf clipper circuit (based on SL 1613) is a special feature of my station clipping up to 25 dB if necessary. It might give an effectiveness of 8 - 10 dB.

- In another small case you will find the preselection unit and the mixer to the ham bands (160 m to 10 m, except 30 m and 12 m at the moment).

- As a vfo I use the "FA-IQ-DDS-Generator" from www.box73.de, a kit - no longer available.

- Another (bigger) case includes the 20 W PA in class A operation which has been built up with kits partially. This is the driver PA for the following "real" PA.

- The "real" PA is a BLA-350+ from RM-Italy (Pout = 250-300 W).

- As a replacement I have another "old" homemade power amplifier which works with two 6146 B (Pout = 50-70 Watts).

Antennas:
- I use a modified ZS6BKW antenna for 80 m, 60 m, 40 m, 20 m and 17 m.
- Alternatively I have a vertical with a height of 10 m, combined with 4 elevated radials about 30 cm above ground. "You can climb over it and the cat fits under it." Just now it is an experimental antenna for 80 m, 60 m and 40 m.
- As well I have a rotatable dipol 7.6 m long in a height of 8 m.

Another rig is an FT-8900 for 2 m and 70 cm.