House #7 (2019-Present)
As you might expect the shack layout is rarely the same for a long time period. In late 2019 I swapped out the Elecraft K3 for an Icom IC-7610, though don’t worry as the K3 is still my travel radio. I also swapped out the monitors. I was finding the three monitors to be oppressive and too low resolution after I was spoiled by higher resolution ones at work.
You may also notice that my main shack Morse key has changed up. I was lucky enough to acquire an N3ZN ZN-9Z from eBay for a good price and am using it as the main key. I still have the Scheunemann key.
Likewise I kept the Elecraft KPA500 and KAT500 in play and swapped over to a Timewave ANC-4 noise canceller, which is much more effective against my local noise than the MFJ-1026 was. In order to drive the KPA500 and KAT500 auto band switching I also got myself an Array Solutions BandMaster V, which takes C-IV in from the radio and outputs 4-bit BCD and also Kenwood RS232 data. Now the amp and the KAT500 auto switch when I change bands on the IC-7610.
House #8 (2019)
Between April and July 2019 I had a temporary station in the UK at my fiancé’s house. Usually only used when I visit. I have a spare K3, PSU and paddle there as well as a fibreglass travel pole and an Aerial-51 404-UL OCFD antenna.
House #7 (2018-2019)
Already I’ve rebuilt the shack once since I first set it up here at AD5XI.
In late November 2018 when my shipping had arrived in Maryland I set about building the new shack.
Going back to basics was my strategy. Only a single HF radio and amplifier on the desk. The second K3 and KPA500 live in their boxes in a cupboard ready for DXpeditions. The K2 didn’t sell and so I brought that out as a back-up to the back-up!
Out of shot is the more office function parts of the desk and the small workbench.
House #6 (2016-2018)
In late 2016 the joint shack became solely that of M0PCB. There was a period of expansion to fill the void and the shack ended up looking like this:
The main station is still the Elecraft K-Line (K3, KPA500, P3, KAT500). The second station is an Elecraft K2 with KPA500 and KAT500.
For a while I had a Hunter 750 as the second amplifier, but the KPA500 is much smaller and quieter for similar output capability.
House #6 (2011-2016)
There were a few iterations of the theme during this time period.
There is a third to the left around the corner desk, which houses the Yaesu FT-201 and Heathkit HW-101 valve radios. The HW-101 is working on receive, but needs a good clean through and some minor restoration work. The FT-201 is fully working.
House #5 (2009-2011)
During 2009 to 2011 M0PCB was located in rented accommodation and a corner of the living room looked vaguely like this:
At the time I was active on HF (160-10m inc. WARC), 6m FM and SSB/CW, 4m FM and SSB/CW, 2m FM and SSB/CW, 70cm and 23cm FM, 2m Packet and potentially a whole host of other data modes on any of those bands. Data modes I that appear in my log are thus far RTTY (J2B) and PSK31 (J2D).
House #4 (2008)
During my time in the second rental I had a tiny yard and no space in my own room for the shack, so I took over a corner of the living room and was able to get antenna cables in through the window.
House #3 (2007)
Space was at a premium in this house. My room was on the 3rd floor and had a roof window, which allowed my to get cables out to the antennas in the garden.
An Icom IC-7000 was the HF radio and a Yaesu FT-8900 for local VHF and UHF repeaters.
House #2 (2003-2007)
During my University years in York I was active from my student house with an Icom IC-706 and FT-817ND for HF, and a Yaesu FT-90R for VHF/UHF.
Meanwhile back at my parents house I maintained a station for use during vacation time from University.
Likely 2005 May 2006
House #1 (2000-2003)
October 2000 2001 February 2002
The spare bedroom became home to my first ever radio shack. Directly above the radios was the hatch to the attic, where the antennas all lived. There was a rapid evolution as more equipment was acquired.