Ham Radio Operator - M0YKS

I am pleased to report that conditions are again quite favourable for some evening DX as I just worked into Martinique on the 17 meter band.I was scanning the 17m band on my MARK-V Field and CW-80 antenna when I stumbled across FM5BH booming in with a 5/9 signal on 18.154MHz. His signal sounded great as he worked through a nice pile up of callers, I got through after a couple of calls receiving a 5/9 report back. I am spending more and more of my radio time on 17m these days and enjoying the band very much. I am pleasantly surprised how well the Carolina Windom works on that particular band especially into South America and the Caribbean. I hope to work some more DX stations soon and maybe catch a few on video. 73.

Over the last month I have been mainly active in the late evening time where I have spent my radio time mainly on the HF bands. I have managed some nice QSOs with reasonable conditions using the Ft1000MP MK-V, Carolina Windom and a mug of hot coffee. As usual a big thanks goes out to all stations worked. I decided to list a few of my favorites including the bands that I operated on. 17m - HZ1BL Saudi Arabia & FG5DH Guadeloupe. 20m - WA1P U.S.A. & CO6LC Cuba. 40m - OJ0OUR Market Reef, LU1IV Argentina & CM8AKD Cuba, I wonder where and who I will be getting in the September log? 73 happy DX!

I have been waiting for the new bird ARISSat-1 to pass by and tonight at 21.03 UTC I was in luck. Above is my first ARISSat-1 SSTV image received at my home QTH using a Yaesu FT-847 and Dual Yagi Satellite antenna array. I am looking forward to some closer passes and better reception over the next few days.

During the weekends and holidays the family and I have been spending plenty of time up at the old QTH (the shack on the hill) taking in the fresh Moorland air. When we bought our new family home we decided to keep our old Moorland QTH which comprises of a luxury 40ft Static Caravan up at 1000ft asl on the edge of the Pennines here in Yorkshire. Its a great place to hangout with a wonderful view! The old shack is still working as well as ever with my trusty FT-767, FT-890, FT-2600m and VR5000. The rigs are all connected to my original antennas. The antennas are also holding up exceptionally well. I have still got my home made IO-10EL Sat beam up as well as the 20m Delta loop, Hustler 6BTV, X200 Co-linear and 10m vertical. Our lovely baby daughter is starting to take an interest in the hobby of amateur radio, She has the makings of becoming a keen SWL. Hope to work some of you from both of my shacks/QTH during the next couple of weeks as I enjoy my summer holidays. 73 have f...

Whilst surfing the HF bands on a lazy Sunday afternoon I had my satellite tracking equipment on standby ready to receive and decode NOAA - 18. Here is the received transmission from NOAA-18 received at 3.15 pm (local) at the QTH of 2E0HTS - Yorkshire, U.K. If your intrested in recieving signals from NOAA Satellites check out NOAA SAT Status for frequencies and up to date information.

The video above was filmed in my recently finished radio shack, I hope you enjoy it 73! Video Information Stations worked in the video are: LU1IV - Argentina & GI1CET/p - Northern Ireland. Bands worked in video: 40m, 2m, & 70Cms Equipment used; Yaesu FT1000MP MARK-V & Yaesu FT-847. Antennas used in these contacts were 5 element Yagi (2m) 15 Element X Yagi (70cms) and a Carolina Windom wire antenna (80m - 10m) 131 feet in length. Thanks for watching and if you would like to see more amateur radio videos from my self, check out the 2E0HTS YouTube Channel

I arrived home from work earlier to find my Daughter investigating this months edition of my favourite amateur radio magazine - RadCom. It looks like she is following the "HTS" path hi hi, perhaps I could read some of the articles like SOTA, IOTA and tell tales of DXpeditions far far away during bedtime stories.