The Smith's Family Crest

 How I started in Ham radio...

Me, age six

Hi...my name is Brian Smith (G1EIO).  The photo above was taken in 1945 at Hough Green Primary School, Widnes, Lancashire, UK.  At the age of 11 I went to Fairfield Secondary Modern School, Peelhouse Lane, Widnes. That's when I took an interest in radio as a hobby.  (This had nothing to do with the school). 

I started as a Short Wave Listener, (that was in the 50's) in those days I used to get a Magazine called 'Hobbies Weekly'. It contained many articles covering a wide variety of topics, including 'How to make a Crystal Set' and 'One and Two Valve Radio Sets'. 

This is how I learnt the basics of radio. Using my new found knowledge, I would make Crystal Sets and one & two valve radio sets using 120 volt Ever Ready batteries (priced at seventeen shillings and sixpence - one month's pocket money) and a small  two volt accumulator.  This was obtained from a local scrap yard for a few pence.

The Crystal Set Circuit Diagram

The antenna was a long wire stretched across the back yard, which enabled me to listen to the hams on shortwave bands. I used to dream that one day I would be one myself.  Those were mainly my school days when I lived in St Michael's Road, Ditton, Widnes. Many years later I relocated to Hindley -  small town just outside Wigan, in the North West of England. 

The Crystal Set built

I joined the RSGB as a Short Wave Listener in 1980, where I got my SWL No RS52905. A few years later I joined a local group of radio enthusiasts - The West Manchester Radio Club, and decided to go in for the Radio Amateur Exam, better known as the 'RAE'. After about 18 months of hard studying at home, I sat the Exam at Leigh Collage on December 3rd 1983...and passed.

Finally, on February 9th 1984, I received my Amateur Licence...yes, I had finally got it - and so the call sign "G1EIO" was born. Within a few weeks I was on the air with a Sommerkamp FR290R, 2 metre rig and a 2 metre Collinear, mounted on a 12 ft pole in the back garden.

Me

In this photo I am a young 67 and one of the founder members of the South Lancashire Amateur Radio Club based at Bickershaw, Wigan, of which I am the President and now I really do have my very own Amateur Radio Station and the equipment I use now is as follows :-

Yaesu-FT990 all HF Bands this Transceiver is Computer Aided with the CAT System so I can use PSK31 and SSTV.... And a Yaesu FT-840 Transceiver HF this is set up with a Morse Reader.... Also a Yaesu VHF/UHF FT-736R all VHF/UHF modes (2m/70cms) Transceiver. And finally a ASCOM SE550 for 4 Metres FM.

 

 

My Antennas are:- Halfsize G5RV (running East to West) for the HF bands, and a long wire (also running East to West) 20ft from the ground this is tuned up with a MJF delux versa tuner II, also for the HF bands a VR5000 HF Vertical antenna, a Tri-bander for the VHF/UHF bands and a Endfed Dipole for 4 Metres. 

 

I have come a long way in the world of amateur radio over the years.....From a dream to reality ... I really have enjoyed every minute of the time I have spent on the airwaves, talking to other hams both in the UK and around the world. And now I find, I also get satifaction teaching the new comers and getting them interested in this fascinating hobby.

I have tried to get together interesting material for both the SWL and Radio Hams in general, from the old crystal set to a one valve regenerative receiver, antennas and technical stuff, also rules and regulations etc. If you have something you would like to share with other hams please contact me and I will put it on this site. 

Thanks for taking an interest in my web-site and I hope I have achieved helping you. 

I am also interested in steam models trains and steam boats etc.... (Toys for boys).... See the link "STEAM MODELS" for a very good site.

You can see one of my steam trains on ... 

YouTube.com

G1EIO EXPRESS 3

 

                 

          "Happy is the man with a Hobby for They have Two Worlds to live in."

73 and Good Dx to one and all.

                                     Brian G1EIO.

 

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If your interested in radio and you want to know more about it 

please contact me :

bri.smit@virgin.net   or ring 01942 742219