Biography

Hello,
My name is Michel Rakhorst, born and living in the Netherlands. I have years of experience listening to the airband radio and also run an ADS-B receiver network.

Years ago I started listening on the HF band with an RTL-SDR, but nothing beats having real knobs. So in 2022 I bought the Yaesu FRG-7700 to get started with it. This receiver is still in my collection but was replaced in 2025 by an FT-710, which is more sensitive in receiving and lighter in weight.

The weight and size are important because I work from my car and not in a shack at home. Due to limitations, I cannot install an HF antenna where I live, and there is also a lot of QRM. So I mainly park my car just outside Teuge Airfield (ICAO: EHTE), where I have a great view and a clean signal.

Equipment

Radio:
Yaesu FT-710
Yaesu FRG-7700

Antennas:
Komunica HF Explorer 3
HyEndFed 20M
G5RV

Accessories:
10 metre aluminium pole + under-car wheel stand
10 metre Spiderbeam fibreglass pole

Power:
12V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery
200 Watt mobile solar panels