Biography

Started as a SWL (Short Wave Listener) around 1964 when a neighbour gave me an old short wave radio. It was a floor model with the green magic eye. Don't remember the make, but it had a wonderful sound. I spent hours tuning the shortwave bands, listening to broadcasts from every part of the world. Later in 1966, as I become more envolved with electronics, built the Heathkit Mohican (my first radio kit) while in high school. Around that time I applied for the now defunct Popular Electronics Short-Wave Monitor ID, VE3PE2HV. (BTW: For no real reason, or perhaps wallpaper, just acquired Pop'Comm Monitoring ID, VEPC3EIB). In 1967, I was introduced to a local Amateur Radio Operator also known as a HAM that made a huge impact on shaping my future. After seeing the radio gear, electronics gadgets and equipment, and listening to the HAM bands, and perhaps wallpaper, I was hooked! Six months later I was licensed as VE3EIB. Over the next few years, it was great fun building and using the Heathkit SB line (301, 401, 200, 600, 610, 620, 630).

My first antennas were a home brew 2 element Spider Quad (2 umbrella cloths dryers and bamboo poles) for the 20, 15 and 10 meter bands, up 60 feet and an Inverted V for the 80 and 40 meter bands. The Spider Quad lasted a couple of years before being damaged in an ice storm, folded like a pretzel. It was replaced with a 2 element Cubex Quad.

A few years later the tower folded over when a guy wire let go in a wind storm, resting gently on the trees in the backyard. The Quad was also damaged, so it was replaced with a home brew 3 element 15 meter beam from salvaged parts. This time, up a more reasonable 40 feet. The beam was eventually replaced with a 3 element Mosley CL-33-M tri-bander.

Sold it all in 1980 (QRT) as life became very busy with family, education and career. View my LinkedIn profile.

Fast forward to 2012...

Recently acquired the Kenwood TS-820S, VFO-820, SP-820, SM-220, AT-200, TV-506 that needed TLC. I've completely refurbished this old classic rig with excellent help from K4EAA and VE3PVS web sites. It was a long and tedious task to do it "right" but it was definitely worth it in the end. The following modifications from AC0C were added: CW Wide/Narrow Switching, Sounds Of Silence, Adding A Bandscope. Also added the modification from KE7OAY web site: Relay Problems and How to Solve. The rig is working extremely well.

[UPDATE Nov/2014] Added a Timewave DSP-59+ to the mix. This has increased the ability to filter out interfering signals in the TS-820S. Audio filtering has its limits but it has made a significant improvement in working crowded CW contests. It's a keeper!

Constructed a Multi-Band Antenna for the 40, 20, and 10 meter bands in a sloping Inverted V configuration using #28 enameled wire to keep it stelthy and please the XYL. It also works well on 15m, my favorite band. To feed the antenna using coax and keep it all balanced, built an "Ugly Balun".

[UPDATE Dec/2015] Replaced the Ugly Balun with a DXEngineering BAL050-H05-A Balun. The difference is amazing. Significant reduction in line noise, much lower SWR (1.1 at resonance) with increased bandwidth. It's a keeper!

Antenna system is working well, no RFI nor TVI with the inline Bencher YA-1 Low Pass Filter.

In September of 2012, using a straight key, made my first contact on CW (my favorite mode) in 32 years. Just like old times. I'm back! yes

After trying various logging programs, I settled on N1MM+ for contests, WinLog32 for general logging. All old log book contacts (starting 1967) have been entered into the electronic log. The log is uploaded to LoTW at the end of the month. If you require a confirming QSL card, send me one and I will reciprocate. No SASE nor IRC required.

Two projects on my list:

Project #1: Build a Soundcard Interface for the Digital modes. Due to be completed by Q1 2013.

[UPDATE Project #1 Feb/2013] Project #1 completed. Decided to apply the KISS principle instead of the Opto Isolators and PTT switching interface. Installed a second sound card into the computer. Connected the sound card Line Out to the TS-820S Phone Patch Input on the rear panel. Similarly, connected the Phone Patch Output to the sound card Line Input. Set the input/output volumes on the sound card. Presto! Working like a champ with the tranceiver VOX. Using MMTTY for RTTY (sound card generated AFSK), WSJT-X with JTAlert for JT65/JT9/FT8/FT4, MMSSTV for SSTV and FlDigi for the rest of the digital modes. Cool! cool

[UPDATE Project # 1 Dec/2014] The KISS principle has been replaced with an AEA PK-232MBX (now owned by Timewave). This enables me to use not only all the digital modes but also FSK RTTY with the TS-820S built in FSK filter. Results in a cleaner RTTY signal, and I don't have to worry about overdriving the audio in AFSK mode.

Project #2: Build an electronic keyer based on the K1EL chip. Projected for Q3 2013 completion, maybe. cheeky

[UPDATE Project # 2 Apr/2014] Project #2 completed. Built the WKUSB-SMT Kit by K1EL. Excellent Keyer, working well with my Vibroplex Brass Racer (No 07641).

[UPDATE Nov/2016] Moved into the Digital world with the acquisition of a FlexRadio FLEX-3000 SDR. Amazing! It's going to take time to get used to not having lots of physical knobs to tweek. This is definitely the way of the future.

It's taken some time to get used to all the options but it's now my prefered rig for contesting and chasing DX and QRP QSOs at 5W. But for regular QSOs I still enjoy using the TS-820S.

[UPDATE Apr/2019] Aquired a Yaesu FT-101ZD that needs some well deserved TLC. Really like these old classics. Another refurbishing project to be completed this year.

Some of my interests include: Amateur Radio, Chess, Computers/Networks, Derivatives Trading, Guitar (Blues, Funk, Jazz), Piano (Blues, Boogie-Woogie, Ragtime), Radio Astronomy, Reading, Robotics, Running, Sailing, Swimming, Yoshinkan Aikido.

Member of: ARRL, RAC, AMSAT, eQSL, SETI League, FH, NAQCC, SKCC, FISTS, Halton Amateur Radio Club, Georgetown Aikido Club.

Junior Achivement volunteer.

See you on the bands.

73,

Nick - VE3EIB

Equipment

Flex-3000
Yaesu FT-101ZD
Kenwood TS-820S
Kenwood SP-820
Kenwood VFO-820
Kenwood AT-200
Kenwood TV-506
Kenwood SM-220
PK-232MBX
K1EL WinKeyer USB
Vibroplex Brass Racer
J38 Straight Key
GAP Challenger DX vertical.