M0COJ Derek Clenshaw . Saffron Walden . Essex . CB11 4BE . England . JO 02 DA Last updated on
Our 144MHz single-band Moonraker 7/8-wave vertical aerial	I originally got interested in amateur radio during my schooldays in about 1967 (about when the G3X.. callsigns were being issued) by listening to local nets on 160m using a modified broadcast receiver. I then discovered that my school had an amateur radio club which I joined and spent many lunchtimes listening on an ex-WD R109 valve receiver that the club had on permanent loan (we had to pass a written exam before we could use it!). I eventually acquired an old R1155 receiver which I was very proud to own. However schoolwork eventually demanded that I do homework instead of shortwave listening and, in practical terms only, my activity ceased....until 1998!	me without my glasses!
	In 1998 my eldest son, Robert, got interested in amateur radio through talking (via the internet) to a distant cousin who uses packet radio. I thought that, if he was going to go on a course, then I'll do it too! We couldn't find a novice course locally and eventually decided to "go the whole hog" when an RAE course was advertised at a local college in the town of Sawston, Cambridgeshire. And so in May 1999 we both passed the RAE (Radio Amateurs Examination) and I gained the callsign M1EEH (Robert is M1EEI). After that I practised morse on my PC every night using "Morse Cat" and successfully took a 12wpm "morse test on demand" at the Colchester Rally in July 1999.
This is our shack so far (a little basic at the moment!). On the left is our Icom 271-E 2m all-mode transceiver which has a maximum power of 25W. On top of it is a Watson SWR/Power meter. On the right is our Yaesu FRG-8800 HF receiver with the VHF option fitted. I hope to build some QRP rigs to work on 40m and maybe 80m. DSB is a mode I'd like to try using homebrew double-balanced mixers. Hopefully our shack will "mature" over the forthcoming months!
	LINKS! If you like Jazz then please visit the Anglia Trombone Company website Visit Robert's Formula 1 website at www.clenshaw.zetnet.co.uk/robert Visit Robert's amateur radio website at QSL.NET Find out more about Saffron Walden at the Saffron Walden website	The QTH! Click on the thumbnail for a larger picture

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