Schlatter Family Site

My Amateur Radio Station
W4HH

Here are photos and information about my amateur radio station as of October 2008.  First, some background.

I obtained my first amateur radio operator's license in November 1958 -- Novice Class, KN4FPT.  A few months later I upgraded to Technician Class, K4FPT.  Here's my license history:

• Novice, KN4FPT, November 1958;

• Technician, K4FPT, February 1959;

• Advanced, K4FPT, April 1979;

• Extra, K4FPT, September 1992;

• Received vanity call W4HH, January 6, 1997.

• While stationed in Japan, July 1990 - July 1993, I held Japanese amateur radio license 7J1AJJ.

I have had a number of stations, some very simple, some complicated.  Now that we have settled down in Northumberland County, Virginia, I have put up a small station in my new home.  (Follow this link for more info on our new house.)  I planned to put a small station in the utility room of the new house but didn't realize how little room I would have.

The Station

Here are two photos of my station as it looks in late October 2008.

The station sits on a homemade table under which is an icemaker.  To the left is our extra refrigerator, to the right is the only window in the room -- it opens into the back yard.  Note the two coaxial cables and the copper ground wire coming in the window.

Here's a close-up view of the station.  The equipment is:

•  Top shelf, left to right:
  • Yaesu FT-211RH two-meter FM transceiver (oldie but goody).
  • ICOM PS-55 power supply.
  • MFJ Model 968 antenna tuner.
• Tabletop, left to right:
  • ICOM IC-729 transceiver (HF + 6 meters; 100 watts, all mode).  The PS-55 on the shelf powers the transceiver.
  • Bencher paddle (telegraph key).
  •  Hidden behind the Bencher paddle is an AEA Morse Machine electronic keyer.
  • Scroll back up to the first photo, look under the table sitting on top of the icemaker and you will see -- mostly hidden -- a 20-amp 13.8 VDC power supply -- this powers the 2-meter FM rig and the AEA keyer.

Behind the station is the main electrical entrance box for the house.  To the right of the station is a sub-panel.  We have a 12KW generator that kicks in when the main electrical power goes out (as it does from time to time) -- the small panel on the right distributes the current from the generator to critical circuits so they will not lose power in case of electrical main failure (freezer, refrigerator, kitchen, sewer pump, master bedroom).

Mobile station

In addition to this equipment in the house, I have a Yaesu FT-857 HF/VHF/UHF rig in my truck.  Here's a link describing that installation.

Go to the next page for a description of my antennas.