MyRig My journey into the world of radio

Biography

My journey into the world of radio began in the early 90s on the Citizens Band (CB). I started with a Dirland Europa 1, followed by a Midland Alan 58e, and later the Midland Alan 48+ and 78+. In 1995, I expanded my horizon by purchasing a Yupiteru MVT-7100 scanner. Its wide frequency range introduced me to the world of HF conversations, which sparked a deeper interest in long-distance reception.

During the mid-90s, I was also very active with Packet Radio on CB, using callsigns such as NL1GSD, NL9GSD, GS1DOR, and GS1BDT. This technical side of the hobby started with a packet radio modem connected to a Commodore Amiga 500. Later, I replaced the Amiga and that modem with a simple 8088 PC and a Baycom modem. This setup evolved quickly as the 8088 made way for an 80286 (286), and a few years later, I upgraded to a Cyrix 5x86. Around that same time, I started using a TNC2c-NL with a TF-eprom to further improve my digital operations.

After a long break that started in the early 2000s, an old friend reached out to me in 2023 and introduced me to Meshtastic. This re-ignited my passion for radio technology. I started with my first Meshtastic node and quickly decided to pick up shortwave listening again using an RTL-SDR v4. After adding a Youloop and a Mini Whip antenna to my setup, I fully returned to the hobby as a Shortwave Listener (SWL).

SWL Callsign

Initially, I registered with the VRZA, which gave me the opportunity to obtain an official SWL callsign. In practice, however, the number of bureaus where you can officially register as an SWL seems to be declining; in more and more countries, these bureaus are even being discontinued. In the Netherlands, you can still obtain an SWL callsign through the VERON or the VRZA to exchange QSL cards via the Dutch QSL Bureau (DQB). While collecting such cards is certainly enjoyable, nowadays it is primarily done digitally through platforms like eQSL.cc.

Current listening activity

Most of my time on the HF bands is spent monitoring digital modes. Occasionally, I tune into voice frequencies to listen to phone transmissions, especially during major events like the PACC contest. While I currently do not log these voice contacts, the phone contacts aren't logged at the moment! I am active across a wide range of bands, specifically the 160m, 80m, 60m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 15m, 12m, and 10m bands on HF, as well as the 2m and 70cm bands for local traffic.

Hardware and software setup

My main receiver is powered by a MiniPC N5105 with 32GB of RAM, running OpenWebRX+. For the actual reception, I rely on an RTL-SDR Blog v4 for the HF and VHF bands, and an RTL-SDR Blog v3 for VHF and UHF monitoring. For base station and handheld use, I still utilize my classic Yupiteru MVT-7100 scanner alongside a more modern ATS-20+ Plus v2 receiver.

Portable and mobile equipment

When I am underway or working portable, I use several versatile handhelds for reception. My collection includes the TIDradio TD-H3, the Quansheng UV-K5(8), and the Radtel RT-490, all used in receive-only mode for VHF and UHF. For the 27MHz CB band, I use a Commtel Com 3000 handheld, which is capable of both receiving and transmitting on FM.

Antennas

The quality of my reception depends on a variety of antennas suited for different frequencies. For HF reception, I mainly use the Youloop antenna in the attic, and are planning to also place my PA0RDT Mini-Whip somewhere. For VHF and UHF frequencies, I use a Moonraker SKYSCAN DESKTOP antenna. In addition to these primary antennas, I also use various telescopic and other portable antennas depending on the situation and location.