|
|
While my interest and involvement in
radio dates back to the sixties, I wasn't licensed until the late
1990's; initially as VE7AVV. In November 2005 my call changed to VE7BZ. At
present I have worked 325 countries (mixed mode) and
of particular interest to me are the 163 counties I have worked on 80m.
So I've been working hard to make up for those missed cycles.
After a 30-year career in the telecommunications industry, I had the extremely
good fortune to retire at an early age and start a second career supporting my
local community emergency program. Working almost exclusively in the field of
VHF commercial radio applications that support emergency services, the parallels
to ham radio are too numerous to mention on a day-to-day basis. So it's the best
of both worlds for a self-described 'obsessive radio guy.'
Over the years, my career has spanned a host of technical
and senior managerial positions -- but I was never far from my interest in ham
radio. During my working years, I was invited to participate in numerous big radio, tower and
antenna projects. So when it came time to build my first station I
selected the best examples from the past and incorporated them into my station.
In the fall of 1995, StoneyGround Station was born with a few simple wire antennas on
an acreage near the
southeast coast of Vancouver Island (NA-036) -- 6 miles south of Duncan, BC.
With my first retirement in mid-1999 came the
luxury of additional time and the opportunity to begin building a bigger station. A
50' Delhi
tower was installed in September 1999 and topped off with a Hy-Gain TH6-DXX.
Using the big trees on the acreage, a number of large wire antennas
were constructed for the low bands. I have two (2) dipoles at right-angles to one
another for both 80m and 40m; both sets of antennas are at 115 feet. For 160m I
use an Inverted 'L' (between two trees) that has a 106 foot vertical section, two
135 foot raised radials and number of
ground-based radials. In addition I have a
480' beverage for 160m that runs
northeast out into the back of the property. The entire station is built using the PolyPhaser
design
system for grounding.
Inside the shack, I use a YAESU FT-2000 which drives an Alpha 99 amp. For occasional contest work I use the N1MM software with a ZS4TX Super Combo Keyer. Even though N1MM is a great (Windows-based) contest software package, I enjoy firing up my trusty DOS machine so I can run either CT or TR-Log because they can drive my K1EA DVP unit -- it's still the most natural sounding digital voice keyer on the air in my humble opinion.
Over the years -- a liberal mix of patience coupled with due diligence research, attention to detail, a great deal of listening and lots of testing has produced a station that in combination with its immediate surroundings appears to play very well. I’m delighted with the overall performance of my creation!
In the words of a legendary character - non other than the Old Timer I firmly believe "DX'ing is a state of mind" and you should "judge a DX'er by what they are and what they think, not what they have worked." I learned a long time ago why Deserving has a capital D.
Let the pants ride low and work DX.... Paul
...to
the Tour Page
Last modified
February 06, 2010
by Paul B. Peters,
Show contact information
Copyright © 2000 -2006 Paul B. Peters, VE7BZ. All rights reserved.
