An introduction to

VK3BJM.

Arrgh!

 

I showed an early interest in “breaking” things…  I recall a “toy” telephone set that was bought for my two siblings and myself in about 1975 – one of the first things I did was to take the phones apart to “see how they worked”.  So much very fine gauge enamelled copper wire…  Anyway, after being given my own cell room and an old valve broadcast receiver in 1976, I became fascinated in making up antennas for it, in order to get better reception.  The allegation that our whole house was draped in masses of wire in order to catch ducks is a complete LIE; besides, the court let me off with a gentle warning…

 

Next came CB Radio (HF, of course) in 1980, introduced to me by two High School friends.  Fortunately, one of them knew an amateur, and so we were introduced to the local amateur radio club.  I’d already been “wowed” by the pictures of amateur radio stations in the World Book Encyclopaedia, and the sights of the towers festooned with Yagi, Quads, and countless long-wire antenna in the backyards of some of Warrnambool’s amateur stations.  In 1982, Warrnambool High School ran a joint venture with the local TAFE to provide an “Electronics” course for Year 10 and 11.  About the same time, Colin Magilton (VK3DRF) was running a night school course for those wanting to qualify for the Novice Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency (NAOCP).  My two friends and I joined the course, and sat the exam – unfortunately, while passing the regulations exam I failed the theory exam (by a lousy rotten 2%!).  Next thing I knew, school was over; I’d managed to obtain a Technician (Telecommunications) apprenticeship with Telecom Australia and the whole radio thing went on the backburner until 1988.

 

In 1988, and in a manner similar to malaria, the whole radio disease flared up again.  This time I was more aggressive, and managed to study and pass both the regulations and the full-blown theory (the “hard” stuff) exams to gain my Limited Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency (LAOCP) – within period of about 3 months...  This gave me access to all amateur bands including and above 50 MHz.  Nine years later, I finally managed to pass the 10 words per minute Morse code exams (sending and receiving), to gain my Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency (AOCP).  This gave me access to all the HF amateur bands.

 

From 1994 until 2003 I lived in Melbourne on the southeast end of the Surrey Hill ridge – quite a good location for VHF and above.  In 2003 I shifted to a 3.5-acre block of land near Kyneton, in Central Victoria.  This has given me room to play around with larger antenna systems – I’m also appreciating less man-made electrical noise, which made life difficult in the big city.

 

The beauty of amateur radio is that it is a multi-faceted hobby – I mean, layer upon layer upon LAYER of facets…  You could have an interest in radio, antennas, propagation, or building things (radio gear, test gear, antennas, all sorts of associated equipment).   There are many different modes to explore: voice modes, computer modes, working via satellites, stations on the International Space Station or on the Space Shuttle, amateur television.  There are volunteer organizations that provide emergency communications during disasters, or during public events (like Car Rallies or the annual Murray River Canoe Marathon).  There are groups that love Radio Direction Finding – the pursuit of hunting for hidden radio transmitters.  These are the same folk how get called upon by the Police to help locate personal emergency beacons, now commonly carried by bushwalkers and the boating fraternity.  The list goes on and on…

 

It is also therapy.  I’m a classic introvert – when I first established my station in Box Hill South in the mid-90’s I used to sit at my desk, microphone in hand, for up to 20 minutes summoning up the courage to call and initiate a contact.  This is less of an issue these days (well, most of the time…).

 

Below is an extract purloined from the “Dxers Profile” page in the ANDVG website (see LINKS), to help sketch me out a little further.  I’ve fleshed it out a little further than the original profile at ANDVG.

 

Callsign

VK3BJM

Name

Barry Miller

DOB

1967

Years licenced on AR

Since 1989

Grid Locator

QF22es

What VHF+ bands are you active on

144MHz, 432MHz, 1296MHz, 2.4GHz; and partially built equipment for 3.4, 5.7, and 10GHz.

I got started in radio when

I was given a 1940's AWA broadcast receiver at age 9, and started hearing voices from far away places (they were coming out of the speaker, honest...)

What I like most about VHF+ DX is

It ain't easy.

Toughest thing about VHF+ DX is 

Being in the right place at the right time, to catch a propagation opening.

The best set up I have had for VHF+ DX is

So far...  My current one.  144MHz: 4x 14el DL6WU Yagi, BF981 M/H pre-amp, Phillips AM-17 power amp (320w). 432MHz: 4x 28el DL6WU Yagi, Siemens CF300 M/H pre-amp, RFC-110 100w power amp.  1296 MHz: VK5EME transverter (15w) to 1x 39el DL6WU Yagi.  The next major task is to get a 432MHz tube amplifier operational, which should provide 200w…  And get both PA modules working together in the 1296 MHz transverter, for 30w output.  And get 2.4GHz operational at home.  And get the 50 MHz 5el Yagi on the second tower.  And…

 

Mobile I run a Icom IC-706MkIIG transceiver, with a Mirage B-5016 power amp and a RFC-110 power amp providing 160 watts and 100 watts on 144MHz and 432MHz respectively.  Both amps have inbuilt pre-amplifiers for receive.  I use “Big Wheel” antennas on 144MHz and 432MHz.  I also use whip verticals for HF and 50MHz.

 

Portable I use the same radio and PA set-up as for the mobile work, but have used a 144MHz 10el DL6WU Yagi and a 432MHz 15el DL6WU Yagi.  I say have used, as in mid-2005 I completed building new portable antennas: 144MHz 14el DL6WU Yagi and a 432MHz 28el DL6WU Yagi.  Both Yagi mount on a 6 metre telescoping mast that clamps to the side of my car.

Favourite station to contact

Yes.

Most memorable contact and why

Could name about half a dozen; too hard to pick just one.  My first contact (2m & 70cm) over the Australian Bight with Wally VK6KZ; my first meteor scatter contact (with Glenn VK4TZL), using my mobile station in the Blue Mountains; my first contacts into Sydney, via AEP, from Mt Manara, NSW; working into both Melbourne and Sydney from Fowlers Gap (100km N of Broken Hill) on 2m, at distances of 813 and 923km respectively...  The list goes on.

Most memorable propagation opening or condition and why

Could be either my first experience of auroral propagation, or the first AEP contact in far western NSW (Mt Manara, April 2001).

People most admired in AR

Those who keep trying after an initial failure; those who can give advice in a form that encourages rather than discourages; and the groundbreakers.

I'm really good at

Avoiding profile questionnaires – most of the time.

I'm really bad at

Profile questionnaires.

Favourite music

I avoid pigeonholing my musical tastes wherever possible.

Favourite TV show

TV?  What's that?

Favourite food

Too much good food available to have a favourite.  Mmmm, food...

Favourite drink

Almost any fermented product from the House of Coopers, or a good red wine.

What really annoys you

Equipment failure.

I wish I could stop

My equipment failing.

Biggest regret

All the equipment that I've allowed to fail...

I hope I never have to

Sell my body parts in order to pay off my mortgage.

Smartest thing I've ever done

At age 11 I somehow managed to pull the chassis and HT power supply of an AM receiver out of a Phillips Radiogram (which was stored under our house in Warrnambool), and reconnect it all together in my bedroom so that it worked.

Dumbest thing I've ever done

Having reconnected the naked chassis and HT supply, I then shifted it up into the bunk bed I slept in, so that it lay on the mattress alongside me for the best part of a year.  I would listen to the AM DX late into the night, before going to sleep.  No, I can't explain how I survived the electric shock and fire risk.  Nor did I do this in order to make everything else I've done since look smart - that's just the way it's turned out.

Best advice I've ever had

"Put that bloody chassis and HT supply back in the Radiogram" - my dad.

Advice to new VHF+ DX'ers

Ask questions.  Call CQ.  Remember that the hobby is what you put into it.

Future VHF DX goals

Break the 1000km barrier for a 2m mobile meteor scatter contact.  Break the 700km barrier for a 2m mobile AEP contact.  Break the 600km barrier for a 70cm mobile AEP contact.

Other Hobbies/Interests

Geology, history of the Victorian Goldfields, camping/travelling, playing the drums (well, that's what I like to call it), maps, photography, writing (?) and supping on the blood of freshly hand-killed kangaroos.  Sorry, that should read “Coffee, drinking coffee”…

 

 

 

Updated 5/9/2005

 

 

INTRODUCTION

HOME

PHOTO GALLERY - Home Station

MOBILE OPERATIONS

GLOSSARY

PHOTO GALLERY - Portable and Mobile

PORTABLE OPERATIONS

MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT

PHOTO GALLERY - Home Brewing

PORTABLE OPERATIONS II

ADS-B

PHOTO GALLERY - Portable and Mobile - The Early Days

HANDY GADGETS

LINKS

T-BOOM YAGI