Although,in the true spirit of ham radio, things change over time and get modified here are details of my current station setup as of early February 2026.

Main Rig: Yaesu FTdx101MP
Backup/Portable Rig: Yaesu FT-891
Linear Amp: Acom 1010
AMU/ATU: Tokyo Hy-Power HC-2000
CW Key: Begali Sculpture Twin Paddle
Heil Pro 7 ..... the microphone doesn't get much use these days!

Since 20th November 2025 I am now restricted to simple, low profile antennas.....of course, these will change from time to time all with the aim of improving my signals and working more DX!  It's a long and boring story but wouldn't life be so much simpler and nicer if we didn't have neighbours?

Antenna:  Since 15th December 2025 my antenna is an end fed long wire fed via a 9:1 balun.  In total the antenna is approximately 75ft/23m and only 4.5m at it's heighest point.  At the feed point up to a height of 4.5m the antenna is a 50mm diameter aluminium pole.  From the top of the pole for the rest of it's length it is 4mm PVC coated Flexweave.  It slopes from the top of the pole across my garden to a height of approx 2m.  It then rises to around 3m and turns 90 degrees and is supported by a hedge..  From the feed point there is 1 counterpoise approximately 11m long and raised from the ground by approximately 50cm.  Immediately before the homebrew balun is a homebrew CMC.

With this arrangement I can get a match with my HC-2000 to keep my rig/amp happy on all bands from 160m to 10m.

I had christened this antenna an "EFT".....end fed turd!!  My initial thoughts were that it was equally sh*t on all bands and all directions.  Having used it for a couple of months now, and especially having made over 7000 QSOs with it as an activator for GB2WWA during January 2026, I'm kind of warming to it!

This is how things look from the operating position......

This page last updated 09/02/2026 (dd/mm/yyyy).