AE6YB
Alpha Echo Six Yankee Bravo
Currently, the station consists of a Kenwood TS 2000, an Ameritron ATR 20 antenna tuner, an Ameritron AL811H amplifier, a Bencher RJ-1 key, a Kenwood MC-60A microphone and a Yaesu FT-7800R duel band (2 meter/440) radio. Other equipment include an Allied SX-190 shortwave receiver (which I purchased new in 1970 and still works perfectly) and a Grundig Satillite 800 Millinium multiband receiver.
My antenna system consists of two Van Gorden Shorty Allbander dipole antennas. These two antennas are placed in opposite polarization so as to provide 360 degree coverage. They are both attatched to a home made wooden mast and are in the inverted vee configuration at a height of 40 feet at the apex. Other antennas include a 10 meter mono band dipole in an inverted vee configuration in the North/South polarization mounted at approximately 22 feet at the apex, a vertical dipole for 6 meters at approximately 20 feet at the center feed, a 2 meter ground plane antenna mounted at 25 feet, a helically wound 40 meter vertical and a random length longwire for receiving. The two Van Gorden antennas were kits and the other antennas I built myself from scratch.
I was first licensed in 1994 earning a Tech-Plus license and up-graded to General and then Amateur Extra class in early 2006. I have been an SWL and shortwave DXer since I was a youngster (mostly using the Allied SX-190). In my collection of QSL cards, I have many from International Broadcast Stations (some of which no longer QSL or no longer even exist) which date back to the early 1970s.
I enjoy all aspects of ham radio, especially chasing DX and working contests. I also am a member of the ARRL and the Northern California Contest Club.
With this modest station, I have worked all states, all Canadian Provinces, all continents and numerous countries around the globe including many DXpeditions and special event stations.
73 and good DX,
Will - AE6YB
