My Shack
The equipment in use at my shack comprises a Yaesu FT920AF for the HF bands and 6 metres plus a Yaesu FT897D which, in addition to providing back-up for the HF bands and 6 metres, also gives me access to multimode operation on 2 metres and 70 cms. On the handheld front I have a Yaesu VX-2 mini-handheld for 2 metres and 70 cms. This is a marvellous piece of engineering, so small that it slips easily into my breast pocket.
I have been impressed by the specification of the Chinese Wouxun KG-UVD1P 2/70 full dual band handie recently introduced to the UK and one of these has been added to the shack.
For mobile operation I use a Yaesu FT7800 dual band VHF/UHF transceiver. This provides up to 50 watts of power on 2 metres and 40 watts on 70 Cms.
The antenna farm is small and comprises a Watson WS300 for 2m/70cm; a 5 element yagi for 2 metres; dipoles for 160, 80, 40 and 30 metres; a Cushcraft R6000 for 20 through to 6 metres; one 20 metre Bazooka and a 3 element beam for 6. An SRC X80 vertical for 80-10 metres has now been added to the collection and performs well.
I am an avid CW operator and currently have three morse keys at my disposal. I use a Kent KT-1 Professional for straight key operation and also have single and twin paddle keys from Kent.
Although both rigs have in-built electronic keyers, I frequently use a Kent EK4 external electronic keyer because of its more extensive memory facilities.
A recent addition to the shack has been the bhi NES10-2 noise reducing speaker. I experience a lot of noise on the 40 and 80 metre bands at times but this little dsp filtered speaker removes the noise thus making the bands workable in conditions when they would otherwise not have been used.
Logging has been computerised so in addition to the radio gear, modern computer facilities have been installed in the shack and also linked directly to the radios. Rig control by computer is available whilst the link also enables valuable information to be retrieved directly from the rig by my logging program, Logger32.
Updated 14 May, 2011 13:32:59 GMT