My name is Charles My station 2E1LEC is located in the village of Chickerell near Weymouth In the County of Dorset on the South West Coast of England. I live with my wife Susan who also has a licence M3PSC we have four daughters and 9 grand kids. I've been interested in radio for many years SWL then on to citizen band radio for over 20 years, many friends said go for the amateur radio side of things back in the 80S but I did not until 2001. I had lots to do as I raced pigeons at the time and was secretary of the local club for sometime, And I enjoyed the shortwave and my CB radio as a lot of pigeon fanciers in the area had radios and we used to contact each other, plus I had a fishing boat for some years and used to spend a lot of time fishing and I had CB on board the boat to talk to my old mates and the wife if she was not with me as we enjoyed fishing on board the boat, spent many hours out there relaxing. But health took its toll on me and I had to slow down, the boat had to go as well as the pigeons. So I got a computer connected it to my radio back in the nineties, which is now AOR AR-3000A+ decoding all those strange noises, /FAX / RTTY / PSK31 / SLOW SCAN TV / HELLSCHREIBER / PACKET / MORSE / . Then there was MIR I used to pick up MIR when in range. Of course if I had an Amateur licence at the time I may very well had got back to them. Well now I am having ago for ISS instead, not made it to the commander on board, but I enjoy working packet through the ISS into Europe. Looking forward to hearing you on the bands dont forget enjoy. GOODLUCK

EQUIPMENT BEING USED

I am running a Kenwood TS-570dge with a full size G5rv about 20 feet up east to west dog legged at the west end. Which seems to be running fine, also A 10/15/20 rotatable trapped dipole. VHF/UHF running a Kenwood TM-D700E and a Watson 300 antenna and finding it all works quite well. also 4mtr Philips fm1000 on a home made Jpole, and 2mtr FM/SSB IC290D 11 element beam.

M3'S DON'T DESPARE.....

Before getting to use my 2E1LEC call sign on HF I have had the most brilliant time using my M3LEC for HF, worked 10 states in the USA, 32 IOTAS, VK3MO IN Melbourne, DU1UTD Quezon City Philippines,Brazil,Venezuela, most off Europe, I never always made contact I realized this when somebody said to me one day his radio dose not work as well as mine your getting everybody. I put him right I had to work hard at it, you don't brag about the ones you missed its a case of being the right place right time. Listen to the bands you will get to know when things are right and if theres any life on there and when its likley to come up on the bands. I treat HF as I used to do my fishing many amateurs said the bands dead I would scan up and down and hunt them out, early morning late at night I found many a good contact by doing this, as I was only allowed 10 wtts it was better to go out and search the quieter bands suddenly up would pop a good DX. I supose this came from my SWL days which I still do now, My first contact on HF was into Boston Mass W1ZY I will always remember this as my first HF contact on a Sunday morning at O6.20 55 report made on my second day on HF, on the Saturday not one contact all day I though this is impossible. You must have confidence in your radio and antenna system there was no stopping me after that first contact. I also made daily contacts on 12 mtr with K1ZFE In Boston even went down to 5wtts and still made the trip. Do go on and better yourself and advance your licence and power but remember HI power is not always necessary and it makes for a more satisfying contact. And don't forget we all have to start somwhere don't let other people put you off have ago for it. While writing this page I have just patched a M3 through to ZL using a ICOM 7O3 55 report. time 6.50 in the morning not bad for an M3 so have ago.

GB3SD SOUTH DORSET REPEATER

We have a 70cms repeater GB3SD South Dorset Repeater which works well over South Dorset and beyond when there is a lift on it is situated on the Ridgeway overlooking Weymouth, also on board we have Echolink on most evenings and weekends as it has to be attended operation, node number (112689).

GB3DR SOUTH DORSET REPEATER

We have a 2MTRE repeater GB3DR South Dorset Repeater which works well over South Dorset and beyond when there is a lift on also situated on the Ridgeway over looking Weymouth.

SOUTH DORSET RADIO SOCIETY

South Dorset Radio Society our local radio club has a very strong membership which I am also pleased to be a member and worked on many special event stations. and weekends If your within range do come on in and join the nets. And do visit the SDRS website many interesting topics to read.

ECHO-LINK

We have a link here in Weymouth run by Mark M5MKW 24/7 on 145.337.5
node number 160310

EQSO

We have a link here in Portland run by Phil M0PKB 145.212.25 71.9 TONE 24/7

GB6OD

The South Dorset Radio Society operated from the Nothe Fort in Weymouth. Under the callsign GB6OD here are a few pictures of the event. Many thanks to the Nothe Fort for letting us work from the Fort and through the night on Saturday. Thanks to the members of SDRS who helped with the station and also non members help was very much appreciated.

CLICK FOR

PICTURE GALLERY

PICS FROM WEYMOUTH DDAY PARADE ON THE 19 JUNE 2004....