VE7AVV Station Tour

While my interest and involvement in radio dates back to the late sixties, I’ve only been licensed in the last few years. Looking back on this passage of time, I find it hard to believe I waited (or more appropriately procrastinated) the license process for so long – what a waste of good solar cycle operating time. But in the here and now, I am making up for lost time with 309 countries worked -- 126 of which are on 80m, the "magic band." Additionally, I've participateded in various national and international contests as well as having attained my DXCC membership.

Given the numerous radio, tower and antenna projects that I’ve been exposed to over the past 30 years, I felt I had a good background to draw upon when it came time to build my station. I tried to take the best examples from the past and incorporate them into the development of my station. In the fall of 1995, a rather meager StoneyGround Station was born with a few simple wire antennas on the acreage near the southeast coast of Vancouver Island (NA-036) -- just south of Duncan, BC.

With my first retirement in mid-1999 came the luxury of additional time and the opportunity to begin building a bigger station. A Delhi tower was installed in September 1999 and topped off with a Hy-Gain TH6-DXX. Using the big trees on the acreage, a number of large wire antennas were constructed for the low bands. In April 2003 I completed construction of 2 new antennas for 80 meters and two new antennas for 40 metes. I now have two (2) dipoles at right-angles to one another for both 80m and 40m; both sets of antennas are at 115 feet. The entire station is built using the PolyPhaser design system for grounding.

Inside the shack, I use an YAESU FT-1000MP MARK-V's to drive either a Kenwood TL-922 or SB-220 amplifier for everyday DX-ing, casual contacts and contest work. For contesting I use either TR-Log or CT in concert with the K1EA DVP unit or N1MM and a Super Combo Keyer. The station in combination with its immediate surroundings appears to play very well and I’m delighted with the overall performance. In August 2003 the entire station was rebuilt from scratch to improve a variety of operational features. In late 2005, a major upgrade to the entire station is currently underway.

In the words of a legendary character - non other than the Old Timer I firmly believe "DXing is a state of mind" and you should "judge a DXer by what they are and what they think, not what they have worked."

**Click on any picture for a larger image**
Circa 1956... this is where the magic of radio truly began for me. This is VE7GG, the club station at the (now decommissioned) Canadian Forces - VWS or Vancouver Wireless Station, Ladner, BC. This is where I grew up and that's likely my bicycle at the front door of the shack -- I spent a great deal of time at this fine station.		At a variety of locations over the years (before getting my license) I built a number of elaborate SWL antenna systems. This photo was probably circa 1972 in Victoria, BC
VE7AVV today
	TH6-DXX at 52 feet

Station Tour: