AMATEUR RADIO STATION VE3PP
In 1992 I took
the Basic Amateur Radio Operating Test and passed. I had become a licensed
Amateur Radio Operator and choose the call sign VE3FMC. I decide to get that call
as I worked for Ford Motor Company and thought it would be an easy call to
remember and others would remember it too.
I now hold the call sign VE3PP, which
I use for all of my operating. My original call sign VE3FMC, I still hold that
call. I also hold my late father's call sign of VE3LDB.
After
operating on the VHF 2 Meter Band for a couple of years, I passed my first
Morse Code endorsement of 5 Words Per Minute. This allowed me to operate on the
HF or High Frequency Bands. I was granted operating privileges on 80 and 160
meters. Due to the length of antenna required to operate on 160 Meters I was
not able to use that band. However I had room for an antenna for 80 Meters and
soon I was on the air talking all over the United States and Canada. The best
time to use 80 Meters is at night, so I spent many a late night in my Radio
Room, or Ham Shack as it is called.
By December of 1995 I had
upgraded my code requirements to 12 WPM. I was then granted full operating
privileges on all the HF Bands. Now I could easily work stations in Europe,
Asia and all over the world. Simple wire antennas will allow contacts worldwide
if conditions are right. Next step was taking the Advanced License test. After
passing that I was allowed to run more power.
My current station consists of
a Yaesu FTDX-10 with a Heil GM-5 mic,
Palstar LA-1K 160-6 Meter solid state amplifier, paired up with a
Palstar HF-AUTO antenna tuner and a Autek WM1 SWR/Power meter.
Below are some photos of my radio
equipment.
Yaesu
FTDX-10 160-6 Meter HF Radio with Heil GM-5 Boom Mic
Yaesu FTdx-1200 160-6 Meter HF Radio with a Heil
GM-5 mic.
Yaesu FT-710 with Yaesu M-70 desk mic.
Yaesu SP-2000
speaker
Palstar HF Auto Antenna Tuner
Alinco DM-330MV Switching
Power Supply, Astron SS-30M Power Supply
YASEU FTDX-10
WITH EXTERNAL MONITOR
HAM RADIO DELUXE RIG CONTROL
YAESU FTDX-1200
YAESU FT-710
PALSTAR LA-1K 160-6 Meter Amplifier and Palstar
HF-AUTO Antenna tuner.
ANTENNAS
HY-GAIN TH2-MK3 10-20 Meter Yagi
160 Meter Dipole,80/40 Meter Fan Dipole mounted below the yagi.
30 Meter Dipole
12 Meter Delta Loop
CUSHCRAFT 3 ELEMENT 6 METER YAGI
I have a 30 Meter Dipole mounted off this
tower.