Licensee: Glen Millen

I have been interested in electronics and radio since the mid 1960's.  I was introduced to 'ham' radio when my dad took me to a local radio club around 1970.  I sat for the Limited Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency (LAOCP) in 1973 as 16 year old and was subsequently allocated the call sign VK2YAU.  I have held a couple of 'ham' call signs since then with VK2FC being the most recent and issued in 1998.  My station is located in the Western part of the Port Stephens district near Newcastle.  My grid square is QF57vi.  Port Stephens is approximately 200 kilometres to the north of Sydney.

Over the years I have enjoyed many facets of the hobby except for 'contesting' and as such have participated in very few as I'm not too interested in collecting awards.  I understand why hams worldwide enjoy the "sport" but the competitive side of the hobby is not for me.  However I do enjoy 'rag chewing', as it's known, whether it be with a DX station or a local station just down the road.

For some years I worked from my home workshop, (which coincided with a solar peak) so occasionally had the opportunity to switch on a rig and listen to the 'old timers' discussing various topics of a technical nature; sometimes from as far back as the very beginning of radio.  I found these QSO's were always informative and often quite humorous.  It certainly passed the hours whilst at work!  

Most of all I enjoy the technical aspects of the hobby including building various equipment or antennas, rebuilding & modifying tube type H.F. linear amplifiers as well as restoring vintage receivers, transmitters and transceivers.  Currently I have a some vintage Collins radios from the 1950's in the shack.  On H.F. I have the option of a Ten Tec Orion II driving an Ameritron AL-80B amplifier or a Yaesu FT-950 transceiver and a Kenwood TL-922 amplifier.  I also have a Kenwood TS-60 for 6 metres and a Kenwood TS-711A for 2 metres plus various other radios.

I hope you find something of interest at vk2fc.com.

73 Glen

This page was last edited on Tuesday, 15 December 2009