VA3MPM

Episode 130 - Mike Myers - VA3MPM

My QSO Today with Mike Myers, VA3MPM, was the result of one of your suggestions from my recent listener survey.  Mike is a very active ham in Ottowa, Canada, and enjoys ham radio through rag chewing on 80 meters, collecting vintage rigs, participating in his ham clubs, and helping new radio amateurs become successful hams.  Mike is also a musician, a member of the Myer Brothers Band, and shares his interest in tube type guitar amplifiers.

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Show Notes

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First License: 1993 VA3MPM  morse code
"Passion was the mentor"

First Rig: Yaesu FT101E with external VFO and phone patch   

Current Rig: Yaesu FTDX 9000 SSB, and lots of 1960’s tube rigs: Swan, Drake, Heathkit

3730 Net : 80 meter net

Current Work: Pollution Abatement

Extended Zepp Antenna

Favorite operating mode: SSB

VA3MPM vintage rigs:

• RCA Broadcast Transmitter BTA-1S
• Heathkit DX100 Transmitter
• Hammarlund SP-600 Receiver
• Drake TR7 Transceiver and Drake L4B amplifier
• Swan 500 Transceiver
• Swan 350 Transceiver
• Yaesu FT501 - rare radio in North America

QRO - high power operator, amplifiers.  

Field Day advice: include displays of equipment, invite families, and have lots of food.  

Sugarbush Camps  - maple trees produce maple

VHF and UHF Digital Modes:

• DMR plus
• D-Star - Icom’s digital mode
• DMR Hotspot - single channel radio “node” that links by Internet to other DMR networks

Tube type guitar amps:

• Tone is warmer, sounds natural.
• Brands: Fender and Marshall
• Most sought after guitar amplifier: Fender “Princeton”  

Guitar Amp Kits:

• Tube Depot
• Ted Weber Famous Speakers

Myers Brothers Band

• Facebook Page
• YouTube Channel
• Soundcloud

Shure Controlled Reluctance Microphone

Excited in amateur radio by:

• DMR digital audio
• Old is new again
• People getting back into CW.

Advice to new or returning hams:

• Get a Heathkit DX100 to get on AM
• Investigate the new technologies in ham radio: software and go to vintage gear

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Yaesu FT-101 and Station Accessories

RCA BTA-1 AM Transmitter 

Drake TR7, L4B amplifier, and Shure Microphone

Yaesu FT-501 Transceiver