Biography

Hi we have moved from ZL to VK6 land. We left ZL1ARV in August 2013 and finally got established in Geraldton Western Australia shortly after. Our QTH is only 2 meters ABSL which is different to ZL were we were 20 odd mtrs ABSL. I obtained a used Hills TV tower which will extend to 20 mtrs. This was finally erected in June 2014 in our back garden and now supports a MFJ Cob Web and a 20m dipole antenna. There is also a 40m trap dipole. So as of June 2014 I am active again mainly on CW. Looking forward to having many contacts in the future. I use a Yaesu FT897D, Icom IC-RT500 tuner and an Icom IC-2KL linear. There is also an Icom IC-730 and a Ten Tec Tuner. I go mobile in our Fiat Viva Sun Liner using the FT-897D, Ten Tec tuner and my ATAS 120 aerial, or a long wire up a tree!

I have always been interested in radio and, as I wanted to see the world, after leaving school I went to South Shields Marine and Technical College, in the UK, and trained as a Marine Radio Officer. After qualifying in 1951 I was employed by Marconi and served on various merchant vessels, thereby getting my wish of seeing quite a bit of the world. After going ashore and working in the radio and tv servicing field I ended up as a civilian radio tech in the New Zealand Navy. From there I still had the need to be back at sea and returned to being a R/O at sea once more. Another change came in the early '80's when I obtained a radio operators position on a semi submersible oil rig and this started a long period of employment on various types of vessels in this industry until retirement in 2006.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Yaesu FT897D, ICOMM IC-730, ICOM IC-RT500. Icom IC-2KL linear, Ten Tec Tuner, ATAS 120 mobile ant., MFJ Cob web ant., a 20 m dipole and 40m trap ant.