Shack

This is most of what I need at present.  Currently I am not on 8m or 630m.

Just out of shot is my 10m WSPR beacon that is about the size of a pack of cards on the shelf below producing 500mW.

Also out of shot it the small PC used for FT8.

The IC-705 at 5W to the V2000 vertical omni has been spotted across the planet on 6m FT8.

1955 shack

This photo appeared yesterday of a USA shack in 1955.  

When I started in the early 1960s, most HF was AM. These days it is mostly FT8 and SSB.

RF in the shack?

 As reported yesterday, I have an issue using my IC-705 on 10m FT8. There was no problem on 6m. 

It suddenly occurred to me that this might be due to RF in the shack as I use an end-fed antenna on 10m. Later I will try adding some RF chokes to see if this cures it.

October 2024 shack

The photo shows the shack currently.  As you can see, the QDX is very tiny. The box it is sitting on is the 472kHz transverter.

G3XBM shack

As you may know, most of my fun is seeing how far I get with low power. 

Some years ago I made a page about my shack. Although I tend not to change gear often, the photo shows the shack as it was a few years ago.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack .

Not my shack!

 

This photo was on a Facebook group earlier. As I am sure you are aware, this is not my shack!

As well as the modern rig in the centre, there are some nice vintage rigs.

1950s amateur shack?

 This looks like a nice shack from the 1950s or early 1960s.

Me in the shack

 

This must have been a few years ago after a tidy-up. At the moment it is badly in need of a clean!!

Real ham shack?

Many have asked me about how I match to my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground from my rig or 630m transverter. This is a 3C90 42mm toroid (I think I bought it from Farnell online years ago) and it is used on 630m, 160m and 80m.  So, I thought a photo would tell a thousand words. The meter is my antenna RF current meter used on 630m.

As you can tell, when the XYL is not looking, it is a real shack with plenty of mess!

1980s "shack"

Whilst trying to find something else, I came across this old photo of my radio gear. It must be about 1985. My shack was just a desk in our bedroom!  The grey handheld is a 2m SSB MX2 and the CB radio was converted to 10m FM. The black vertical radio is a 2m ICOM IC202 used on 2m and 10m QRP via a homebrew 1W transverter.

First shack

This photo of a shack in California got me thinking of my first shack. Actually it was a small corner of a bedroom and occupied a space of about 1m by 0.3m. Personally, QRP seems to get results.

Shack

Since moving to this QTH nearly 10 years ago (doesn't time fly?) I have a dedicated shack. 

SSB and FM operation require me to be in the shack, whereas FT8 and WSPR may be monitored on a different PC in the lounge. 

I usually sync to internet time early morning (just using Windows 10) and I can pop in the shack (which I do often) in seconds.  Although I sometimes re-sync later in the day, I am not convinced this is really needed.

Although I have a separate bench for building, my poor fine motor skills mean it is rarely used these days, sadly.

The photo shows me looking at birds in the garden as the shack probably has the best view.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack .

Shack - December 2022

As it has been very cold recently, I spend less time in the shack.

It is heated, but the central heating is off most of the day. I only go in the shack for skeds and contests. 

WSPR can be monitored in the lounge which is warm. I can be in the shack in seconds if there is any issue. 

When the weather is more normal, I shall spend more time in the shack.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack .

Shack photo

 This was my shack in 2015. It is much the same now, although a few rigs have changed.

Shack walk-through

Nearly 4 years ago, I did a walk-through of my shack at that time. Since then, the rigs have changed a bit and I have an 8m dipole erected.

Shack 9 years ago

 

This photo shows my shack when we moved to this QTH in summer 2013.

Shack 2015

 

When clearing some old photos yesterday, I cam across this photo of the shack in 2015. 

How time flies!

Shack

Since we moved in 2013, I have had a dedicated shack. Funny how it still gets used as a dumping ground when we have visitors and want to look tidy!  

The shack has one of the best views in the house, not that I am complaining. The photo is deceptive: the shack is much smaller than it looks.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack .

2015 operating

The photo shows me operating in 2015. Since then, I have bought and sold an FT991A and bought a network radio and an IC-705 from ICOM. 

My Shack

Since moving to the present QTH in summer 2013, I have had a dedicated amateur radio room. Mostly I use digital modes that don't require me to use my poor voice that I have had since my stroke. 

The shack is only about 8m walk from the lounge, so I often monitor on a different PC in the lounge. If I need to go into the shack, it only takes a few seconds. For SSB and FM, I clearly use the shack.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack .