DX (er) (ing) 

The radio spectrum gets ever more interesting as technology develops, changes accessiblity, miniaturises, and finite resources encourage invention. The principles remain and as we have found throughout our history, Old Skool can always make a return and always has value.

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CB27/81 and my paper Post Office licence were the gateway to the airwaves and the social platform of the day, I learnt from my piers like 'Mr. Bluesky' cheers good buddy. Ham radio a mythological beast guarded by the feared RAE, just ask an 'elmer' to talk of the older A & B licences, modular learning and tiered privilages now the norm. It says much about the hobby that it is still at the forefront of technical innovation, experimenting and learning embraced by hams worldwide.

I like most hams have real estate constraints for HF with 14 mhz as long haul from my third gen 5 band cobweb and 7 mhz in the vehicle now using a screwdriver, I'll continue to work on a 40m solution at home and due to the inner suburban location have not overly worried about SSB on 70,144 mhz and 70 cm with FM for analogue and digital repeater use. The 4 * 4 is somewhat loaded as a project vehicle and enjoy the chats whilst rolling across country using all the digital modes, IRN and my current favourite, although well established, Wires-X.

I have had an absolutely engaging time as a volunteer working at Bletchley Park, RSGB National Radio Centre, with 300 or more visitors all with a story to tell. Countless QSO's a day on many different bands & modes, it can be an infectious environment, no pun intended, pressing the PTT and calling CQ the original invitation to the world to respond.

If you are an RSGB member, just go to the main website and download a voucher, take your licence if you wish to operate otherwise pop in for a chinwag with the volunteers anyway.

If you haven't visited the park, then you should. A day will not do this historic site justice.