Members Spotlight
Mervyn S Foster - G4KLE
I trained back in 1963 as a Radio Officer, for the Merchant Navy at the "North Easter School of Wireless Telegraphy", Bridlington and then finished off at "Plymouth Polytechnic" (now Plymouth University), I gained my PMG 2 in 1965 but did not go to sea, instead, I joined the Army and served with the Royal Corps of Signals, Queens Gurkha Signals, & UK Special Forces for 24 years.
I started my Amateur Radio journey when I was stationed in Gibraltar in 1967/69. I had the privilege of operating the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Club Station ZB2A, as there were no other operators or interested RAF staff in the station who wanted to use the club, so I was given special permission (by Gibraltar Post Office) to operate the Club Call Sign to keep it active.
Gaining my Amateur Licence and Call Sign G4KLE back in 1979 I worked from my first QTH in Portchester, Hampshire. Moved to Hong Kong (1982-85) and operated as VS6KL, following that to Germany (1985-87) as DA2MS. On returning to the UK my QTH was Herefordshire (1987-89), on leaving the Armed Forces in 1989, I joining Cambridgeshire Police as Head of Communications and IT (for 11 years), headhunted by a Comms and IT consultancy company as a senior consultant and finally set up at my present QTH in the village of Fenstanton,Huntingdonshire.
I started my Amateur Radio journey when I was stationed in Gibraltar in 1967/69. I had the privilege of operating the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Club Station ZB2A, as there were no other operators or interested RAF staff in the station who wanted to use the club, so I was given special permission (by Gibraltar Post Office) to operate the Club Call Sign to keep it active.
Gaining my Amateur Licence and Call Sign G4KLE back in 1979 I worked from my first QTH in Portchester, Hampshire. Moved to Hong Kong (1982-85) and operated as VS6KL, following that to Germany (1985-87) as DA2MS. On returning to the UK my QTH was Herefordshire (1987-89), on leaving the Armed Forces in 1989, I joining Cambridgeshire Police as Head of Communications and IT (for 11 years), headhunted by a Comms and IT consultancy company as a senior consultant and finally set up at my present QTH in the village of Fenstanton,Huntingdonshire.
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VS6KL -
Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society
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I was absent from Amateur Radio for 20 years (1993 - 2013) when work took over lots of my time, now semi-retired (aged 71) I retrieved my equipment (ICOM 720A) from the loft and set up the station again in June 2013. My Main HF Rig is my KX3 with KXPA100 Amp, also have a Kenwood TS2000X which I use for SatCom plus VHF/UHF. My antennas are, a Half G5RV, Windom HW-40HP (by M0CVO) and SE HF360 Vertical.
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I work mainly CW (95%) (A Straight Key Op, but have been known to use Paddle and Bug), with some SSB (5%) (Club & Natter Nets), also work PSK31, FT8 plus RTTY on occasions.
I am very much into Portable/QRP at the moment so can be heard on most bands either from the back of my Car or having traveled by Bicycle to a local QTH. With KX3 on 5 - 8 Watts, using Ex Military Fiberglass 8m mast Vertical and Homebrew G5RV or SOTABeam BandHopper 4 on top. (also have 6m ProWhip/10m Travel Mast) More Antennas are being constructed and experimented for working Portable/ QRP. I also have the KXPA100 Amp (I built the kit in March 2015) so can up it to 100 watts if needs be.
I am very much into Portable/QRP at the moment so can be heard on most bands either from the back of my Car or having traveled by Bicycle to a local QTH. With KX3 on 5 - 8 Watts, using Ex Military Fiberglass 8m mast Vertical and Homebrew G5RV or SOTABeam BandHopper 4 on top. (also have 6m ProWhip/10m Travel Mast) More Antennas are being constructed and experimented for working Portable/ QRP. I also have the KXPA100 Amp (I built the kit in March 2015) so can up it to 100 watts if needs be.
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My QTH is 10 miles West of City of Cambridge in a village called Fenstanton (along the A14 towards Huntingdon). I am currently Chairman of the "Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society" and a Volunteer at the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park (Home of the Code Breakers).
