Home Location : IO93PR.
Base Station Rigs : Elecraft K3. TenTec Argonaut 535. Yaesu 290 mk2.
QRP Working : Elecraft K3 or TenTec Argonaut 535. Max power used: 2 watts output.
Base station antennas : Inverted V Doublet at 11 mtrs, ladder feeder. 2 mtr / 70 cms Collinear at 12 mtrs.
ATU : LDG AT-200 Pro Autotuner & Homebrewed Z Match. Homebrewed electronic keyer.
Mobile working : Yaesu FT-8900, Magmount Collinear.
Portable working : Icom 706 mk 2G. Portable Inverted V Doublet, ladder feeder
or an Outbacker Outreach antenna.

A potted history of you know who......

Whilst serving in the RAF during the 1960's as a Special Operator Telegraphist, stationed at RAF Butzweilerhof near Cologne, at RAF Gatow Berlin and at two stations in England; I had the pleasure of being introduced to Amateur Radio by Colin Tomas (G3PSM) who is now heavily involved with the RSGB. A couple of years later in early 1974, I decided to expand and continue my interest in radio by taking the City & Guilds and after receiving a pass, took the morse test at the Liverpool Merchant Marine Radio Training Centre and passed; thankfully due I am sure to RAF operations and experience. Thereafter I applied for an amateur licence and was allocated the call sign of G4DQP.

For many years I only worked QRP CW with a nominal 2 watts output. Various antennas were tried in the early days with the conclusion that under normal conditions the best 'multi band' antenna was the Doublet fed with open wire feeders via an atu. Yes there were and are better single band antennas with more gain, but as an 'all rounder', the Doublet as an inverted V always came out tops so far as I was concerned. A vertical tri bander was used for a couple of years which was better for DX over the 3,000 mile skip distance, but of recent times I have always gone back to the old favourite of the inverted V Doublet. Of more recent times I have started to peep into the 20th centuary by trying out the likes of PSK and APRS via a laptop; very different from the mandatory 2 watts cw that I concider to be my 'proper' every day radio mode.

I decided to go back to my roots so to speak, by rejoining and getting involved again with the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society, originally being a member in the late 1970's; and after rejoining became a member of the RAFARS Field Day Team as well as the organiser for the RAFARS 'Airfields On The Air' (AOTA) event. I decided that I may have something to offer others and became a civilian instructor for the ATC with 1324 Sqn for Radio (what else is there!). Recent years have also seen me being very active with the East Yorkshire RAYNET Group, going out with the group on mainly horse riding and walking events over 9 months of each year; and also being the group's secretary from February 2006 until October 2009 and from August 2010 becoming one of the deputy controllers.
On looking back at my radio life, I think it is such a shame that I do not have the 150 foot high, tuned Rombics to play with now, as I had in my service days!!!...such a shame....if only.