Stephen & Gill Nicholls
EYKE, WOODBRIDGE, SUFFOLK
Amateur Radio
Really bored already? Click HERE to take you back to the previous [Our Hobbies] page …. OR you can go to the next page, which is still about Amateur Radio …. by clicking on "Mobile Radio" .
2018
This is my final shack set-up. Components? Just the radio! A Yaesu FT-dx-3000. Perhaps I should say "final" or "maybe final" .... but at my age anything could well be final. We shall see! I've already added an MFJ Versatuner II to help load up the new vertical on all bands.
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...and my favourite memory of operating in Spain [above]. A model of Peniscola castle [above] presented to me after I helped with a "Moors & Christians" special event station in 2006.
2011 - back in the UK!
We moved back to the UK from Spain, and all my wonderful aerials have been exchanged for a vertical [see left] Hustler 6-BTV. Quite a monster, but, being located between our bungalow and the neighbours, isn't too obvious.
I've also got a rather a weird wire dipole in an odd configuration - to add when my son-in-law has time to help. Maybe soon!
We love our bungalow in Eyke - an ideal location, 400 yards from the grandchildren, 300 yards from the church, and 200 yards from the village shop - some might say an ideal location! And the views from the lounge, across the fields and across the valley of the river Deben are wonderful .... [see photo right].
The World Association of Christian Radio Amateurs & Listeners WACRAL
A lot of time is spent with other Christian radio amateurs. I’m a life member of WACRAL, and often join their nets. This logo takes you to the WACRAL web-site.
Every other year WACRAL has a "Fellowship Weekend" or Conference: [above left] this was the 2012, 2013 and 2016 venue - the Elim College set in the Malvern Hills.
2004 - 2011 ....
It seems like another life time now - those eight years in Spain from 2004 to 2011 - when we had over 4 acres of land, no neighbours, and 1 Kw output capability!
Happy days on the radio ... and yet .... now we're back in the UK at least I can understand what everyone's saying when I go to Radio Club meetings!!
[Above] My 'shack in 2004!'