W7SX is ex-WN9RAT, WA9RAT, WA9RAT/HR2, and SV1/W7SX. Licensed since 1966, 5BDXCC + 160 meter DXCC, 5BWAZ (200) ARRL Life Member, ARRL Technical Advisor. e-mail: w7sx@live.com

The top photo shows our log home built from trees we cut on the property. If you increase the size of the photo you can see two of the four ice-coated horizontal wire antennas in the photo. These wires provide complete azimuth coverage on 160-30 meters, and can also be loaded on the high bands as well. These wires average 100 feet (30 meters)high, supported by 140 foot (40+ meters)high Douglas Fir trees.

We are located in the heart of Oregon wine country, also visible is our small Pinot noir vineyard, now enclosed by a fence to keep deer from enjoying the grapes. The QTH is located at the top of Demming Ridge with 200 foot drops to both the east and west. To the north is a more gradual downward slope, the southern take-off angle is about level.

Main interests include working DX, especially on low bands, designing and building antennas, antenna tuners and other equipment. I answer all QSL cards, keep in contact with old freinds and enjoy meeting new friends on the air. Our QTH is about 20 miles west of Eugene, Oregon in the Coast Range Mountains and about 40 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

This photo shows the complete operating position including two 6 foot racks containing the GS35b Russian triode 1.5kw homebrew amplifier, wire antenna and tuner selectors, selector switches, and 8 high power tuners for instant QSY. The entire station is homebrew except for the K-3, four Johnson Matchboxes, and a rebuilt TH6DXX. Eight tuners are homebrew, along with the wire antenna farm, homebrew self supporting steel tilt-over tower that I welded together, a control and selsyn motor direction indicator for the prop pitch motor rotator, the 4-square RX antenna for 160/80 together with the 8-direction control box using passive phase shifters. Three foot-operated switches control the tower rotor and a foot-to-transmit switch that can control any combination of rigs and amplifiers. Another homebrew GS35b amplifier is under construction for 6 meters and will be placed in the top left opening in the racks.The racks also contain a serious stereo system when the bands go dead.

The next photo shows W7SX at the feedpoint of the European Curtain-Zepp in our back garden. The curtain-Zepp is essentially a mini-Bobtail wire curtain for 160 and 80 meters and an extended double Zepp for 40 meters.The Curtain-Zepp for 40, 80 and 160 meters (for Europe, the MIddle East, and East Africa) was described in February 2010 QST. Also published a paper on vertical antenna radiation resistance in June/July 2009 QEX, Maximizing Radiation Resistance in Vertical Antennas, and over 60 additional articles and papers in both professional and amateur publications. Recent additions have included the construction of a full-wave reflector loop in back of the Bobtail for Europe, providing about 6 dBi at 15 degree take-off at 30 degree azimuth (right down through central Europe).

These two photos show details of the homebrew 160-10 meter amplifier.

This photo shows the interiror of the homebrew controller for the 4-square 160/80 meter receive array. This direction selector is somewhat unique in that it uses passive phase shifters rather than transmission line shifters. Shown in the picture is my old Corsair II.finally divorced for the K-3 this year.After a 25 year marriage with the Corsair, the separation has been a difficult emotional and logistic challenge, but it will be best in the long term.

This photo shows the detail of the prop pitch motor mounting at the base of the tower. The permanent gin pole is securely bolted and welded to the base under the rotor. The two inch mast runs the length of the tower.The selsyn motor is driven by a velcro strap and provides the direction indicator system (an identical selsyn motor in the box in the shack). T-11 exterior siding is bolted to the base of the tower with one side hinged for access, and a small roof overhead to prevent direct contact with rain and snow.

The homebrew steel tilt-over tower with old TH6DXX and a homebrew 6 meter Yagi. The tilt-over feature negates the climbing of the tower and makes for easy antenna adjustments on the ground. An automotive wench serves as the power for raising and lowering the tower. This photo also shows the Oregon State Tree, the Douglas Fir in some detail. Its nice living in a secion of the world covered with 140 foot antenna masts!