Biography

Hi, I'm Ray. I was first licenced in the 1960s with the call, G8CUH. It wasn't many years before I took the morse exam at North Foreland (GNF). That was a happy day!

My main HF radio is an Icom IC-7300. I've kept both my Kenwood TS-570D transceivers as they are great standby radios, and also useful for monitoring various frequencies.

My HF antenna is a 100 foot doublet up at 30 feet fed with 300 ohm balanced line. This is used with my SEM Transmatch. Contrary to popular belief, if you use the transmatch properly, it doesn't melt when handling 100 Watts. I also have an end fed wire 100 feet long and 15 feet high. It's extremely good for 60 metres NVIS. I use a 5/8 vertical CB aerial for 10 metres so I’m hoping for an opening soon.

I'm active on the 5Mc/s frequencies... Oops, showing my age! I meant, 5MHz. I think 5MHz is my favourite as it's not overcrowded and propagation can be interesting. I monitor 5398.5kHz which used to be known as Fox Echo, the calling frequency. The Hack Green webSDR is useful for checking propagation and checking my own signals. I was first active on 5MHz back in 2002 when an NOV was required. In fact, going back a few decades, I was first active on 5330kHz (delta oscar) using a 19 set back in the CCF days, but that wasn't legal!

I'm active with digi modes on various bands, particularly the 5MHz frequencies. RTTY and PSK31 are my favourite modes. But I do use others such as Olivier. The program I use is fldigi.

JS8Call kayboard to keyboard chats:

17/7/25: I'm loving JS8Call, it's really interesting. I'm on 40m with JS8 and 15m. I'm also on 160m but my antenna is poor and the noise is horrendous.

WSPR weak signal propagation reporter:

I'm also on WSPR using the WSJT-X program. It's fascinating to see just how far away my weak signal can he heard.
You can see my setup in the photo below. I'm now mobile on 10 metres with WSPR using a Zach Tek 200mW transmitter and the results are amazing! Brazil, West Coast USA, Moscow, Los Angeles, Malta... All this on 200mW mobile! Unbelievable!

I monitor monitor our local 2 metre repeater, GB3RW, using a Tait radio and my home-brew flowerpot antenna in the attic. I also monitor GB3BR in Brighton and GB3RL in Rustington. We also have a 10 metre repeater here in Worthing, GB3CQ, which can be very interesting during the summer months when the band opens up.

I use a Watson W50 2 metres - 70cms aerial. The base of the aerial is 40 feet above the ground, up on the chimney. I’ve just purchased an AnyTone AT-778VU 2/70 dual band transceiver. For the price, it’s a great little radio.
I'm active on 4 metres, monitoring the FM calling channel 70.450mHz when I can. I'm using an Anytone AT588 radio with a Sirio CX 4-68 aerial. The band is becoming quite busy here in West Sussex. There's usually someone listening on the calling channel and we have a net on 70.400kHz on Friday evenings at 7pm. I also monitor the 6 metre FM calling channel, 51.51mHz using an old Alinco DX70 radio and a tri-band aerial (6m 2m and 70cms) on a 20 ft pole down the garden.

I have a MiniWhip active antenna on a 25 ft fibreglass fishing pole which I use with several receivers... A Lowe HF150, a Marconi CR100, a Yaesu FRG-7, a Kenwood TS-570D, an RCA AR88n a Sailor R105, an HRO receiver, a Reception Set R209 and a Tecsun S-2000. I also have a SDRuno receiver used with the MiniWhip and my main PC.

As I hadn’t had a CW contact for around 35 years, I decided to brush up on my Morse Code. I’ve started bashing the key on the HF bands, mainly on 80 metres and QRS at the moment. I haven't owned one of these since I was in my teens, so I'm having fun with it. I’m also a member of FISTS CW Club.

You can check out my web site here...

http://www.g4nsj.co.uk