VALVES...You know, big
glowing glass bottles, were the order of the day, transistors were just coming into use.
TRANSISTORS... I built
crystal sets and single transistor regenerative receivers, as
transistors became available... Some projects were not very
successful and pocket money wasted in microseconds as very
delicate point contact transistors died... By 1961 the
transistor had improved and I built a Superhet portable from
a manufacturers surplus kit. This I converted to Top Band (160
meters band) and I used it push bike mobile. WOW!...
Transistor transmitters were a rarity at this time as they
didn't have either the fT (frequency capability) or power
rating. Then I saw the specification sheet for the AF118. It
was rather expensive but I wanted one. Seeing my enthusiasm
my then employer, Henry Rapkin of the local component shop
phoned Mullard (he sometimes supplied official Government
orders). Mullard flew in a sample to the local airport at
Sywel next day, FREE of charge, nice for a 16 year old lad.
The Top Band transmitter I built worked a treat. I was not licensed to transmit so it either was loaded into a 50 ohm
resistor or I would connect across 2 different earth stakes.
In this mode, to test I went off on my push bike with my
portable and the signal soon disappeared, only to leap up
again at every metal lamp post in the south of Northampton.
DIGITAL... What can I say ?...
in these days of microprocessor controlled transceivers, I
have built colour TV transmitters the size of one of the
valves in my first radio.... What Next ?
Click on the Pic. to
enlarge
The Radio
Room (shack) Today
LICENSED... Originally as G8CQT
I built my first transmitter and receiver for 2 meters (all
valve) using a 6146 valve in the PA (power amplifier) and E88CC
triodes on a brass chassis in the receive converter (144 MHz
to 28 MHz).
Click on the Pic. to enlarge
The Shack c.1969
OPERATION... I like to operate
on as many bands as possible- they all have their own feel
and fascination ...1.8 MHz to 1300 MHz... and as many modes
as possible, CW (morse code), Phone (voice), SSTV (slow scan
television), FSTV (fast scan television, RTTY, PSK31, (radio teleprinter), Hellschriber, Via Satelites, Repeater stations or Via the
Moon, time is the limiting factor.
OOPS !... An internationally
valid callsign consists of a prefix (1or 2 letters/figures),
an identifier figure (1or 2 digits), and a suffix (1to3
letters) hence... 9H1M is a valid callsign ...JY1 is not..........
On the 24th July 1970 at 16:11 GMT a new boy put out a call
on 14.315 MHz , I asked him for the rest of his callsign, he
repeated JY1, JY1 calling. I informed him that as he did not
have a valid callsign and operation from JY (Jordan) was
suspended due to the Arab Israeli War, I would assume he was
a pirate (illegal operator) and not authorised to communicate
with me, goodbye!.........How was I to know this was King
Hussein of Jordan........From then on newspapers and
television carried reports of the Radio Ham King and the
whole world scrambled to talk to him.
Click on the Pic. to enlarge
The Station
Log of 24.07.70. one minute 16.11 to 16.12 GMT. " Sorry
Sir, I thought you were a pirate"
Any comments
on this site please email me
Further information The
Radio Society of Great Britain
Click on the Pic. to enlarge
VHF/UHF
Aerials at G3ZJO
Tributes :-
Henry Rapkin.----- Ex
employer, Northampton's Mr. Radio, Always helpful
Stan Haddon.----- Work
colleague & lifelong friend, avid experimenter and
constructor callsign G3OQJ
John Goode.------ Ex
Employer, Always encouraged my home construction
All these fine gentlemen
are now deceased