The AM Forum

Hi guys,

First post on this Forum, so please be kind!

Bit of history - Radio Officer in UK Merchant Navy 1964-68, then installing and commissioning ILS/VOR nav systems for UK CAA 1968-74, also Radio Operator in the Royal Naval Reserves 1969-74, emigrated to NZ 1974 and taught the unwashed apprentices in theory and practical 1974-79, then Flight Inspection of Navaids throughout NZ and South Pacific 1979-89 staying in posh hotels at the tax payers expense, then 1989 to retirement in 2007 Avionics and Calibration Engineer for Air New Zealand. Waltzed through General Ham ticket in 1982 but not actively Tx-ing. More interested in SWLing, restoration and generally mucking about with radio!

Hope I can make a useful contribution and make some new friends.

Cheers and best 73 - Martin

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn180/majoco21/Theworldinmyearstouchedup.jpg)

Welcome aboard, Martin! :D

Not a lot of Zedders on here, you're fixing that.

73DG

 :) WELCOME TO THE FORUM

We're glad you joined the group, Martin.
Fred

Welcome aboard, mate. 

Welcome aboard!  You've had an interesting and well rounded career.

73 , Bill

What is the "thing" in your right hand? :p
Is that some sort of microphone?

Welcome aboard, I will swing my beam in your direction here on 75m. Might have to crank up the juice though...

                      _-_-WBear2GCR

Welcome...find one of those old NDBs and put it on 75meters....Are those thingsstill in use in your part of the world??    Steve KL7OF

If your logistics permit, a simple dipole on 10M would get you on AM with us during Cycle 24.

Would enjoy talking with you, and welcome to the site.

" What is the "thing" in your right hand? :p  "


It looks like some kinda switch...... maybee he can't run VOX with his radio.


klc

...and here we go; aye, t'is a bipolar bit generator of the manual class, circa 1840 or so to present.

Welcome aboard from me too.

You'll find us a set of miscreants all. ;)

Hi Martin and welcome. Operating by the ambient light of your equipment (as pictured) is a pleasant way to go!

73,

Rob W1AEX

Hi Martin. Welcome!

Ignore the nea sayers and have fun. We don't bite........ much!

Hi Martin, glad to see you here and you will find less PC nazi moderation than elsewhere 8)

Carl

North Island or South Island?

Welcome OM we are glad you came aboard!

Welcome Martin there is ALWAYS a spot for another AMer.

John W9BFO

1975 to 1989 in the North
1989 to 2009 in the South
and now back in the North - just got out of Christchurch in time!

Welcome to the board Martin!

You will find, as I have, that the band of miscreants on this board are a super friendly and knowledgeable bunch. Be careful though, you may find yourself yearning to get cracking on some massive home-brew projects - and it's all down hill from there. Not that it's happened to me or anything...  ;D ;D ;D

Hey Marty, got 3 phase?

73DG

Hi Martin maybe I will work you on CW.  I have J-36 and J-38 keys.  (don't bet on me using the 38 though.)

73

Rob

Glad to have you aboard.

Here's something you can help with, right off: please tell us which HF aircraft radios are usable for AM and where they can be found.

Thanks!

73, Bill W1AC

Good for you. That photos of the damage looked rather bad. I was briefly in Christchurch in 2006 during a 4 day whirl-wind tour of the South Island. I would have like to have spent much more time. I did see some ham radio antennas at a house in Te Anu and I've since had a QSO with an expatriate American that lives on the road (Rt 94) from Te Anu to Milford Sound.

Hope to catch you on 10 or 15 meters soon.

Bill said:
The old Collins 618T is/was about the only one I can think of that had AM. Nowadays since the early 80's all the HF aero stations have been on USB - consequently the current manufacturers don't bother building in any AM capability.

The 618 is a monstrous thing that needs two guys to get out of the rack! Also consumes a fair bit of power from 28volts DC and requires a 618L longwire tuner, I have seen them on Toronto Surplus but not recently.

Thanks to all the guys for the warm welcome and the invitations for a QSO or two. At the moment I am QRT with no suitable antenna. I have recently refurbished a worm-warmer 80 to 10 trap vertical and fixed up a TS120V last winter (PSK31 anybody? 10watts - wow!). Need some time and the nod from SWMBO to erect the vertical and dig up her garden for feeder and radials. (As you may deduce, I am training a new-ish partner into the way of radio!)

Unfortunately I am in a low-signal area for analogue TV so the chances of TVI from any more than a few watts is high. At the end of this year that will all be turned off so the sources will be UHF Freeview or satellite which hopefully will improve matters. At the moment I am just SWLing on a 16m longwire but we'll get there sometime. I'm happy just to take it slowly at the moment - but, hey, I'm retired! : ;)