My name is Mike. I have been licensed as a General Class Amateur Radio Operator since 1998. My current HF station as of September,2009, is yet another "green radio". The station consists of a ITT Mackay MSR 8000D HF transceiver. In addition power is provided via a Glenayre GL-2825 power supply (28 volt, 25 continuous amps). The current antenna in use is a Hustler 5BTV vertical antenna, ground mounted about 130 feet from the shack with forty, twentyfive foot radials for 10 through 80 meters as well as a host of other specialized wire, aluminum and military antenna systems. I refurbished and slightly customized (improved) a Drake MN 2700 Matching Network to provide a bit more low SWR bandwith when needed for the antenna selected.

HF QRP radios in use are a modified Ten-Tec model 1340 40 meter QRP CW transceiver, and a NJQRP Club PSK-80 Warbler 80 meter psk-31 rig.

I also enjoy SIGINT style signal monitoring, voice, cw and digital. I've found that the software suite of signal decoders offered by SkySweep Technologies in Finland is among the most powerful I've ever used as a hobbiest or professionally. If you choose this suite be prepared to study and learn... you will really enjoy the results. I have a fully software defined WinRadio WR-G313i professional HF receiver. This new entry into the high end receiver field is simply amazing. Nearly the most sensitive receiver I've owned and with too many bells and whistles to list. Tops among it's features are a Spectrum Analyzer... both band scope sweeping type and a 20 kHz real time scope.

My sentimental favorite receiver is a venerable R-390A (Motorola 1956) - amazing ! Here is a view of the inside from the top and the bottom as well... so clean it's better then new ! You could eat off the chassis ! The radio is in an original brand new CY-979 R-390A cabinet with shock mounts that was manufactured for use in Desert Storm in 1991. R-390A's were re-activated for duty in the Gulf.... the blowing sand and associated static caused problems with many solid state receivers... so the R-390A's were called back into service and performed wonderfully. The R-390A's -147 dB noise floor makes it the most sensitive receiver I own. As an example of the pinacle of receiver performance this radio's general sensitivity is .3 microvolts or better on most all bands in AM using a 4 KC filter. I owe the level of it's current condition and performance to Rick Mish, owner of Miltronix in Toledo,OH. In late September 2002 I sent it to Rick and had the radio completely gone over, refurbished, front pannel repainted and screened and expertly aligned. It has great audio and is the one radio with it's associated accessories I'll never part with. I also have one of Rick's wonderful LS-206 A/U speakers for the R-390A. I received my TMC CV-591A SSB Adaptor back from Miltronix in late November 2002. This accessory is fantastic ! It allows SSB reception and gives you the ability to move the passband around in manual so as to virtually eliminate nearby signal interference... even on AM. Here is a view of the entire R-390A listening post. Rick Mish is a true Master.... he not only talks the talk but he walks the walk. There is no more knowledgable R-390A guru out there. Just think.... these radios are 45 years old and are STILL hard to beat in performance...the ultimate AM and SWL band cruiser... near state of the art and the professional receiver all others are still compared to.

Also in daily use is a Watkins-Johnson WJ-8718A/MFP VLF-HF surveylance receiver (an amazingly capable receiver). I'm rewriting as I find time and plan to devote a dedicated page to this receiver later on...stay tuned !

I'm also into other "green" radios in a big way.... ex-military manpack HF/VHF/UHF/SATCOM sets and HF fixed stations. I have owned and operated a number of different military portable radios in the past, including the MEL PRC-2000, PRC-77, PRC-9, PRC-104 and others like the Vertex VX-1210 and VX-1700. If you have a SELCALL equipped radio my SELCALL ID is 3434. I have an entire air-droppable Vietnam War vintage PRC-47 HF system... complete including all original components and manuals. The Collns built PRC-47 is an interesting radio, build quality is supurb and the transmit audio even using the original handset is amazing. My current "field" manpack/portable radio is the fantastic and very rare MEL PRC-319, a late 1980's vintage 1.5 MHz to 40 MHz radio built in small quantities in the UK for Special Operations users (only 350 were built). They were/are used by such Special Operations groups as the British SAS and SBS as well as the USN SEALs and Army Special Forces. It's a channelized set that is a bit difficult to use but when mastered it's a fabulous performer. My radio works perfectly and is complete with EMU (Electronic Messaging Unit - a type of digital communicator that uses number groups representing the message text) and the entire "as issued" radio kit. For VHF portable use I'm currently using several amateur radio handheld radios as well as a NATO (German) SEM-52S radio for 6 meter FM as well as a PRC-9 for 10 meter FM fun.

I also have used a number of HF military base stations to include the Harris RF-350K based Pacer Bounce system, Sunair GSB900DX HF base system, and Harris RF-5000 Falcon base system.

I enjoy building VHF and HF antennas, radio and test equipment restoration,various kits and some "from scratch" home brew projects as well.

I have a fair background in electronics and a nice collection of service and test equipment which make up my electronics hobby shop. Here I tinker with radio repair and build home brew projects.

I enjoy rag chewing on SSB and CW, chasing DX and participating in a few Sprints, fox hunts and contests. I have earned WAS, WAC and am getting closer to DXCC. I'm very involved with emergency communications and utilizing ALE (automatic Link Establishment) and SELCALL (Selective Calling) in the amateur radio service. Be sure to check out the HFLINK link below.