Thanks for visiting my webpage. My name is Derek and my QTH is KATIKATI on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 40km north of Tauranga.
With a population of some 5,000 people it has earned itself a reputation of being the perfect holiday destination for those who enjoy outdoor activity in the sun and surf.
Excellent fishing, diving, surfing and rolling beaches are all here in the Bay of Plenty.
We have about 40 active radio hams operating here in the Bay of Plenty. You will find them on the vhf local repeaters, so if you are just passing through...or staying a while, feel free to give a call.
One of our friendly local Hams is sure to greet you!
The first year of my operations on HF were restricted to CW only . It was a requirement in 1980 to ensure proficiency in that mode. It certainly helped me get a handle on it and it has served me well over the years.
I still love the mode and use it regularly on HF, having worked over 200 countries of the world in code. I guess about 90% of all my DX contacts are on CW.
As time goes by, my interest in ham radio broadens to include many of the newer modes that have developed over the years. I first used RTTY in the early 1980s with an old Texas Instruments TI 99A
computer there were loads of hams using Vic Commadores in those days.........who would have thought that our communications via PC linking could be made so easy in a space of only 20 years?
With PSK, SSTV, Hell, and all the electronic modes now easily accessible via a PC, it is no wonder that our hobby is expanding all the time.
I get real enjoyment from operating MFSK16, MT63, Hell, SSTV and PSK ...I see the combination of PC and radio as the means to grow our hobby by retaining the interest of younger people and encouraging them to join our ranks, I am glad to say that this is happening here in The BOP with younger new members adding to our ranks.
Now with Internet linking systems like IRLP & Echolink functioning throughout the world it makes International communications very reliable and easy......just in time for the current dip in the solar cycle. These wondeful means of communication are proving to be very popular for maintaining scheduled contacts with friends without being at the whim of the ionosphere ........Give it a try!
73, and thanks for sharing our wonderful hobby
de ZL1CYK- ZL4DS Derek ............KATIKATI NEW ZEALAND.
If you want to arrange a sked..... email me.(info on QRZ.com)
Cheers!