Amateur Radio Station

 

Thank you for visiting my Amateur Radio page, my name is Mervyn Foster.

 

My QTH is 10 miles West of City of Cambridge in a village called Fenstanton (along the A14 towards Huntingdon).

 

 

I am the CHAIRMAN of the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society (HARS)

 

I am the RSGB District Representative for Cambridgeshire (Region 121)

 

 

I am also a Volunteer at the RSGB​ National Radio Centre - Bletchley Park (Home of the Codebreakers)

 

WAB = TL26 ---- ITU Zone = 27 ---- CQ Zone 14

 

Grid Square = IO92XH

 

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 University", I gained my PMG Certificate in 1965 but did not go to sea, instead, I joined the Army and served in the Royal Corps of Signals for 24 years.

 

I gained my Amateur Licence and Call Sign G4KLE in 1980 and worked from my first QTH in Portchester, Hampshire. I then 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), then finally set up at my present QTH in the village of Fenstanton.

 

I was away from Amateur Radio for 20 years when work took over lots of my time, now semi-retired (aged 69), in June 2013 I retrieved my equipment (ICOM 720A) from the loft and set up the station again.

 

The equipment here is now a Kenwood TS2000X which I purchased (second hand) in May 2018, my antennas are, an HW-40HP (by M0CVO), an EndFed (Trapped for 40m & 80m) and SE HF360 Vertical.

 

With a number of friends, we operate /Portable /QRP, under the name of "The Ninja Communicators". My portable equipment is the Elecraft KX3 -I enjoy building antennas and setting up Masts and my SotaBeam 10m Travel Mast to operate from Parks and Farms.

 

I work mainly CW (90%) (A Straight Key Op, but have been known to use Paddle and Bug), with some SSB (10%) (Club & Natter Nets). My ICOM 720A (Purchases in 1982 in Hong Kong) is now having a well-earned rest but sits in the shack as my TSB (Technical Stand-By).

 

As Chairman of HARS we operate a number of Special Event Stations throughout the year, including "Airfields on the Air - GB0YN", "Mills on the Air - GB2DWM", "Museums on the Air - GB2RRM", "Churches & Chapels on the Air - GB1SMB" and at the "Buckden Village Festival - GX0HSR".

 

 

I am a Life Member (#315) of the

Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society 

 

 

I look forward to working some of you on CW or SSB .....

 

Best 73's ES GUD DX = Mervyn...

 

 

 

 

I am also a Nordic Walking Instructor and take people of all ages and abilities out walking to keep them fit and healthy, my other activities are that I am a Shiatsu Practitioner & Quantum Touch Healer and practice in the Cambridgeshire Area, also a Black Belt Instructor in Akido and Iaido - My hobbies are Walking, Keeping Fit, Amature Radio plus Business Mentoring and Public Speaking.

 

My Club is the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society.

 

 

 

I am also a member of    FISTS CW Club   #16273      SKCC Club   #11018     WACRAL   #435   -   

and      G-QRP  #14486   

 

 

 

Some of My Keys

Some of my Ex-Military Radio Sets that I own, the MK123 is still in working order and I have Crystal(s) for 40M. The PRC316 still has its working parts, but was presented as a Leaving momento.

 

 

 G3CN

 

These certificates were presented to my Uncle Mr L A J (Shorty) Hill in 1938 when he operated with the Call Sign G3CN, He served in the REME and I remember visiting him in 1964 when he lived in Gainsborough, Linconshire and watching him operate his 19 SET Amature Radio station in his attic.

 

Mr L (Shorty) Hill - G3CN

 

5 July 1938 - RSGB Worked each of the 5 Continents and on 25 July 1938 - IARU Worked All-Continents