Intro
I was licensed in September 1984 and began operating from Solihull on 2m FM & SSB. Over the years I moved on to 70cm and then when Class B operators were allowed access to the 6M band I started on there on both FM and SSB. I then bought an Icom IC-706 MK-II in 2003 when the morse requirement was dropped from the license. There was plenty of space for antennas, G5RV for HF, 3 element beam for 6m, 9 element for 2m and 19 element for 70cm. A tri-band vertical was used for 6, 2 and 70.
Moving house to Kenilworth in 2008 brought big changes to radio operating now having a very small garden. I have the Comet CX-725 for 6m, 2m & 70cm outside at 8m so it is just above the apex of the roof and a 20m EFHW at 6m. I have a Sharman X50 for 2m and 70cm, a home made magnetic loop antenna for 30m to 10m and a 1/4 wave ground plane for 4m in the roof space. There are quite a few different radios in the shack, not all used.
I have past experience running Echolink gateways on 6m, 2m and 70cm. I currently run an attended DV gateway on 431.08750 MHz for D-Star and DMR (cc5) licenced as MB6KW giving coverage of Kenilworth and the surrounding area. Following the UK licence changes in February 2024 my personal gateway on 2m is now available to all amateurs as G1KEA C. Follow the D-Star and DMR link above for more info.
Operation from home can be varied from just monitoring or working local simplex channels and repeaters, DStar reflectors to some HF. When on HF I use an Icom IC-7100 mainly on data modes (EPC# 25599, DMC# 08535) and occasionally run WSPR. Now we will be coming out of the sunspot low I really must use voice more.
The majority of my operating is when commuting to and from work. In the car I have an Icom IC-5100E installed and you can you can track me on APRS. I can usually be found on GB3MW or D-Star REF001C, REF030C, REF079D or XLX678B, CCS7 ID 2352467. There are a good number of analogue repeaters I can access such as GB3MW, WK, CV, EM, XX, EH, WL and BM.
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When out and about I can be found on simplex or local repeaters using my Icom ID-51 Plus, ID-52E, Yaesu VX-7R or TYT MD-UV380.
I am a member of the Voluntary Register of Clinical Technologists (V.R.C.T.). My professional career began in 1988 with GEC Telecommunications as a Development Engineer with digital exchanges (SystemX). Following a number of company mergers (Plessey & Siemens) I decided to leave the telecoms industry and moved into healthcare in 1991. I still work in the National Health Service for the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust as a Senior Medical Engineer. I am qualified to work in all departments of the hospital commissioning, maintaining and repairing medical devices. My main areas of interest are Accident & Emergency, Cardiology and Intensive Therapy.
I have quite a few other hobbies including walking / rambling, cycling, general fitness training, bouldering, climbing and motorcycling (currently own a 2013 Triumph Tiger 800). I practiced Tae Kwon Do for about 15 years (2nd Dan, member of the TAGB), but wear and tear on the body stopped regular training and competitions.
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Kenilworth stands as a small market town,near historic Warwick, in the green heart of the Midlands easily accessible from anywhere in the world via Birmingham International Airport. The town has a population of approximately 24,000 (est. 2006). It is situated 6 miles (10km) south of Coventry, 6 miles (10km) north of Warwick and 90 miles (140km) northwest of London. It is well known for it's castle that dates from the 1120's, more information can be found here.
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