Murray's Amateur Radio History
Murray's interest in amateur radio dates back to his childhood when he first became aware of amateur radio through the operation of his father Ralph ZL2VN. Ralph was first licenced in 1935 as ZL3KM and served with the NZ Corps of Signals in Egypt and Italy during World War 2.
Shortly after the War, Ralph built a 100W AM transmitter using a pair of 807s in the final, and this he used on AM and CW for around 20 years.
Murray saw this operation and decided that he wanted to pursue the same interest. During the early 1960s while he was at High School in Palmerston North, he started building simple electronic projects using some of the early transistors, and he was licenced in 1966 as ZL2SW.
He built his first 80m transmitter using a design from the RSGB Handbook, using a 5763 in the final, and for this receiver he used a Sharp portable radio, which came equipped with a BFO - very necessary because, by this time, Ralph was using a Heathkit SB-101 on single sideband.
At the beginning of 1968 Murray moved to Christchurch to attend university and he was able to obtain Ralph's old callsign of ZL3KM, and he was able to maintain weekly QSOs with Ralph on 80m.
When he got married in 1971, Murray and Laurice moved to Wellington and Murray was issued with the callsign of ZL2AZY and, using the same equipment continued the weekly QSOs with Ralph. These continued when Murray and Laurice moved back to Christchurch in 1973, again as ZL3KM, and then on to Timaru in 1976.
During his time in Timaru, Murray gained his Grade I licence and purchased his first transceiver - a homebrew copy of a Swan Cygnet. Unfortunately this transceiver was built on an aluminium chassis and the VFO therefore suffered from instability, but QSOs were now able to move to 40m, using a second dipole erected for the purpose.
In 1981 Murray and Laurice moved to Greymouth and he purchased an FT-200 which he used at home and mobile before purchasing an Atlas 210-X. It was now possible for the QSOs with Ralph to move to a daily basis, and for Murray to develop interest in working others, including Bryan ZL2AFT with whom Ralph had a weekly QSO.
The move to Auckland in 1985 saw further changes with the purchase of his first VHF equipment, a 2m handheld. This was later replaced with a dual band handheld, a TM-221A 2m mobile rig and then a TM-731A 2m/70cm mobile rig which he currently uses in his car.
The Atlas 210-X was sold and replaced with a TS-120S and, in December 1990, the purchase of his first HF yagi - a TET three element tri-bander.
With this the world of DX opened up with a vengeance!
Murray soon made several very good friends, including Henry & Sharon, KK6PH & AA6XZ (who visited New Zealand in early 1991 and early 1992), John K1VW and Karl K8KT. When Murray and Laurice visited the United States in April and May 1992 they were able to visit these good friends in their homes, and be taken on some wonderful sightseeing trips.
In 1993 Murray purchased his TS-50 and, on the death of Ralph in October of that year, obtained Ralph's callsign of ZL1CN. With this also came his vanity plates.
It was at about this time that Murray first became interested in Packet Radio. He had seen the DX PacketCluster operating at the home of K1VW and, in October 1994, established the ZL1BN Cluster.
In October 1997 the world of DX contesting opened up with the receipt of an invitation to join the Kiwi Contest Group, ZM2K, at Martinborough in the Wairarapa for the CQWW SSB contest. Murray joined the Group again in 1998 and in November 1998 an invitation came to join ZL9CI for the DXpedition to Campbell Island in January 1999.
In November 1997, Murray purchased a Yaesu FT-1000MP, an FL-7000 amplifier and a Cushcraft ASL-2010 log periodic antenna.
With these purchases, the TS-50 was moved to the car where it is permanently installed, together with a High Sierra Screwdriver antenna.
International Travel Host Exchange
In around 1993 Murray and Laurice joined the International Travel Host Exchange Scheme and it was through this Scheme that they met up with Ron VK3OM and Lynn from Upper Beaconsfield near Melbourne. Murray and Laurice stayed with them during their first visit to Australia in 1995 and there have been several visits to them since, and Ron and Lynn have also been to New Zealand several times. There have also been joint visits to Hong Kong and to China and, also with Vaughan ZL1TGC and Jenny, to Thailand.
Auckland VHF Group
Murray joined the Group in the early 1990s and served on the Committee for several years, including two terms as president.
New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters
Murray has belonged to the Association since he became a Ham and has served on the Executive Council since 1997.
Visit to Dayton
After the successful ZL9CI DXpedition, Laurice and Murray decided to visit Dayton Hamvention in May 1999. This trip included time with Art AA0JN & Carroll in Colorado & Utah, Henry & Sharon in California & Nevada, Trey N5KO in California, and Jon AB0BF & Bonnie in Minnesota. Trey had been part of ZL9CI and Murray and Laurice had previously met with each of the others in New Zealand. It was good to see them again.
Pactor 2
During the ZL9CI DXpedition, logs were transferred off the Island by Pactor2 for onwards transmission and posting on the Worldwide Web. This was made possible by the kind donation by SCS of two PTC-II controllers. Murray purchased one of these controllers from the Group at the end of the DXpedition and, with help of Gordon ZL2ARN and Wilbert ZL2BSJ, he is now active on this mode. Details
Details of Murray's Current Station
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