Welcome to the web site of M0KTY

Grid Square Locator:  JO 01NH - (Juliet Oscar Zero One November Hotel)

Home
About me
The Cathedral
Sound Files
"Shack" & rfi
Homebrew
Homebrew2
Homebrew3
Homebrew4
QTH Aerials
Mighty "Doublet"
CW
Radio Humour
Going Portable
Going Portable 2
Favorites

Web Updated;

20/06/2016

Mail me!

 

Sign the guest book

 

About me.

Graham M0KTY (Left) with Martin Lynch G4HKS (Right)

 I first became interested in radio and "wireless" at an early age. Born in November 1969 I grew into the dawn of computerisation and saw many household items disappearing into new multi-tech devices half the original size of their predecessors!

Radio has always captivated me, the magic of suspending a simple length of wire and receiving voices and music through a simple receiver amazes me to this day.

At the age of 17 I commenced a RAE course but unfortunately due to my Fathers sudden death never completed it. I was unfortunate to be hospitalised in November 2008 with a severe chest infection and was placed in a ward with a chap I had never met before who lent me some radio magazines to relieve the boredom of hospital life!

Photo of a homebrew off set dipole with vertical radiating tuned length of coax. The rf choke is shown at the lowest point of the radiating vertical, 
a 4:1 balun is inserted at the feed point.

the balun is a voltage type not current.  

 I owe a great deal to Ron (G3KTZ) who through those magazines and chatting, rekindled the fire and enthusiasm to seek a Foundation course.

By the 23rd of December 2008 I had completed the Foundation course at Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society under the watchful eye of Steve M0SSR and was a licensed Amateur Radio Operator. (M6GLF)

I spent the next few months learning about various types of aerial's and general radio information and had completed my practical assignment
(a morse code oscillator). Following a few weeks of reading through the intermediate course book had taken the exam again with BSARS. Funny though it seems the exam date was the 1st April 2009, So it did take some convincing by fellow amateurs that I had passed my intermediate on April fools day! (2E0GLF)

Straight after passing the intermediate I was hungry for the Advanced examination so looked for any available courses within a reasonable distance.
The quickest course to commence was being run by Dover Amateur Radio Club, so I registered and started the course in September 2009 under the expert tuition of Tony G4IMP.

I took the advanced exam on 21st April and became licensed on the 10th May 2010. The whole process completed in 17 months.
When I received notification from the RSGB that I had passed, I was faced with choosing a new call sign.

As M0GLF was already allocated, I decided to dedicate my call to my Daughter Kate, who is just asking about her foundation license! Great eh!
So taking M0KTY seemed like the perfect thing!

Many people have helped me over the last 18 months, so many that it would be too long a list. I am very thankful and appreciate all your help!      You all know who you are!

Now in 2016 I am enjoying my eighth year in Amateur Radio and I am as enthusiastic as ever!

 

73 De Graham M0KTY

 

Latest update - June 2016

I've just acquired a Yaesu FT897D as I really missed and regretted trading  my previous one in, its not the best HF rig but there isn't much on the market to compete with an all in one shack for the money! Also treated myself to a Rigol Oscilloscope and a 24 Mhz signal generator.  

Previous update - July 2015

I traded in the Used Icom IC718 and decided after much research to invest in a (Nearly new) Icom IC7200. This Rig is quite amazing and having read all the EHAM reviews, I have to say that performance is every bit as good as described. I'll keep you posted with some Photos of its use "Portable"