Please QSL direct to VK6JX (no return postage required !) or via the Buro.

G'day. I got my advanced call at age 14 back in 1975 and I'm still passionate about antenna systems, tube linear amplifiers, technical stuff and the camaraderie and good fun you usually find in this hobby. My activity levels have certainly varied throughout the last 36 years and 8 shacks - but my interest has never waned. I enjoy CW and occasionally dabble in the digital modes - including WSPR and SSTV.

In 1987, I joined the fledgling Northern Corridor Radio Group (VK6ANC) and for the last 24 years my Ham Radio life has been inextricably linked with this Club and several of the fine people in it. I was damned proud to call myself a member of the NCRG Inc. and all my design and construction work on the antenna systems and contesting shacks paid off handsomely for my Club. I even did 2 stints as Secretary and was awarded the 2008 Al Shawsmith Award for an article I wrote about a DX Chasers Club DXpedition to Faure Island. But, all good things must come to an end and in April 2011, I was un-Constitutionally kicked out for insisting the Club act within it's Constitution and for simply asking the recently elected Secretary to do his job and post the monthly meeting minutes. My best mate Alek VK6APK (now VK6AP) was very nearly kicked out for defending me, but as the Club had [quote] "changed very much for the worse" [unquote], he resigned anyway. Alek has never suffered arrogant fools easily ! 50 years combined membership and excellent service to our Club lost due to one boorish ego-maniac and a membership who mostly couldn't care less. I still have a few good friends there, but  will be staying well away until sanity returns.

In 1988, I installed a small tribander on the roof of my new house in Mullaloo, 40km north of Perth, but the local authorities soon put paid to that.

In July 1989, I took my young family 200km south to a 160 acre farm near Donnybrook where two stacked 3 element 20m yagis on a 100' mast and some large low-band wire antennae were deployed. My favourite was the 75m 4 element LPDA! The 1990 peak was pretty fruitful for dog x-ray, too. In early 2000, I set up a nice shack in Eaton just outside Bunbury and cranked the tribander up to 18m with no hassles. Then I met my second wife Michelle in 2002, got married again in 2004 and now we are living on a 2400m² property in Baldivis (40km south of Perth).

I again erected the trusty old 18m 3-section mast with a 3-element 40m-6m SteppIR on top in October 2009 and immediately fell foul of my local City Council - thanks to one whining neighbour. The final solution was to request an amendment to their Town Planning Scheme to allow a "commercial" antenna on my property. Anything bigger than a TV antenna is categorized as "commercial" in the City of Rockingham - and they were NOT interested in creating a "hobby antenna" category. $3,700 later,my antenna was approved in February and again in June 2011. Then a rogue Council planning officer decided screening trees would not work and recommended against my application in the third report! Luckily, a last-minute appeal to all Councillors was successful and they unanimously overturned the recommendation of their own senior officer in the July Council meeting. Am I just unlucky or do I attract dickheads ? (See my Radio Club problem above) Now I await the Planning Minister's pleasure.and will probably have to spend another $3000 on those damned screening trees.! At least I'm on the air.

Current gear includes an IC7700, IC208H and IC740 (ex-VK6NE SK), Emtron DX-2SP,a 40m-6m SteppIR at 18m and a160m dipole at only 10m. A 3.5MHz inverted-V dipole is now working well with its apex at 17m and an HF-6V vertical will be operational shortly.

Michelle and I have two young sons - Jack (May 2007) and Alex (December 2008). They will hopefully both turn into low-band CW-loving wireless men - just like their OM !

All the very best to you from downunder, es mni 73 !

John VK6JX . . . - . -. .

P.S I also hold the calls VK6JS and VK6RU