160m mobile antenna in a loft

Wow, FT8 is very forgiving but at dusk I worked PA0TCA, near Rotterdam, which must be 300 miles or so! Determined to be active on 160m again but remain stealthy with only loft antennas my choice fwas either a mag loop or a 160m mobile whip with a loading coil. Both antennas would be very … Read more

75th Anniversary of D-Day

Unfortunately my HF equipment is off the air still but the 75th Anniversary of D-Day reminded me of the excitement when I had my M3 license of working GB6OD, South Dorset Amateur Radio Society, who 15 years ago put up a Special Event Station for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. I was limited to 10 … Read more

One transister topband transmitter

BFY51-transmitter-circuit

Back in the 70s, I remember my friend Richard G4EIE building a one-transistor transmitter for 160m. It comprised a BFY51 transistor, crystal, L-C tuned circuit, a resistor, a couple more capacitors and a carbon microphone. It put out 250mW AM or 750mW CW and was surprisingly effective! I’ve wanted to build this circuit ever since … Read more

160m 20w AM transmitter – Walford Cam

Walford Cam - AM transmitter for 160m - front view

160m 20w AM transmitter project – Walford ‘Cam’ The ‘Cam’ project was built as a companion transmitter for my Yaesu FRG-7 receiver, now around 30 years old and previously belonging to my late friend Tony G0DLX. FRG-7 companion transmitter Originally I planned to do a complete transceiver mod to the FRG-7 as described by Ian … Read more

80m Inverted-L Antenna (Base-loaded for 160m)

80m Inverted-L Antenna (Base-loaded for 160m) “Topband” was always my passion band, it being where I first heard amateurs as a boy. My coaxial-dipole would just about tune up on 160m but its replacement, a standard 40m half-wave dipole wouldn’t. Given the small size of my garden even a long wire contorted with lots of … Read more