GW0NGA - my introduction to amateur radio
Radio is one of the great loves of my life - both community radio and amateur radio. These pages are about my amateur radio exploits.
I spent my teenage years as a shortwave listener, tuning in to English language services all over the world. My radio was able to pick up local radio amateurs talking on AM on 160m ("top band") and this opened up another new world for me.
I obtained my class B on 23 February 1989 when aged 20, and my class A on Good Friday in 1990. Other interests took over and after filling up a mere 47 pages of my (recently discovered) logbook, I disappeared from the airwaves on 6 September 1992.
I didn't leave radio completely; in 1995 I worked on a community radio station in Billericay, Mayflower FM, and in 1996 I formed a new group, Phoenix FM, with the aim of getting a full time community radio station on the FM band for Brentwood and Billericay in Essex. We finally got a full-time FM licence in 2007 and the station is still going strong.
I dipped my toe back in the amateur radio waters in 2006, using a Icom IC-7000 and a Diamond CP-6. Sadly my vertical antenna interfered with a persistent neighbour, and despite me trying to help him, he found a new hobby - complaining about me 24 hours a day! So after a couple of months, everything went back in the box.
I had been thinking about restarting the hobby for some time after this, and on 14 January 2023 I plugged in a new Icom IC-7300 and slung a EFHW down my garden. A few days later, I set up FT-8 on a laptop, and much to my suprise I suddenly found myself making a crazy number of contacts on this too. That laptop has been on day and night ever since.
In January 2024 I left Essex behind and moved to beautiful rural Mongtomeryshire in Wales. I'm now using the callsign GW0NGA instead of G0NGA. My garden doesn't have enough room for the EFHW, so with the help of Nigel MW0OMZ we built a doublet and I'm back on air (and when I say "we", I mean 95% Nigel. I think I held the ladder).
The doublet is working okay on 20/15/12 but it's been very good on 17m and I've had countless contacts into JA, VK and ZL on it.
Date | Time | Band | Call | Mode | Sent | Rcvd | Name | State | Country | Miles | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 Jun 2025 | 0736 | 17 | KO4UWM | FT8 | -16 | -04 | Joseph D Dodgens | GA |
![]() | United States | 3,978 |
11 Jun 2025 | 0734 | 17 | OZ1BSM | FT8 | -09 | -15 | Michael Wassermann |
![]() | Denmark | 632 | |
11 Jun 2025 | 0721 | 17 | CT4VB | FT8 | -06 | -13 | JOSE RAIMUNDO MAINHAS ROSEIRO |
![]() | Portugal | 1,003 | |
11 Jun 2025 | 0717 | 17 | OZ7JZ | FT8 | +13 | +08 | Jan Hansen |
![]() | Denmark | 585 | |
11 Jun 2025 | 0714 | 17 | DJ2DL | FT8 | +09 | -01 | (Ted) Dieter Linke | D |
![]() | Germany | 449 |
11 Jun 2025 | 0711 | 17 | DG9AW | FT8 | -08 | -13 | Martin Erhardt |
![]() | Germany | 691 | |
11 Jun 2025 | 0705 | 17 | W4YRL | FT8 | -17 | -05 | PAUL C BARNES | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,139 |
11 Jun 2025 | 0652 | 17 | DH1AKC | FT8 | -16 | -19 | Kai Schönefeld |
![]() | Germany | 577 | |
11 Jun 2025 | 0017 | 17 | KB8JAN | FT8 | -15 | -06 | JOHN K LANICH | OH |
![]() | United States | 3,728 |
11 Jun 2025 | 0000 | 17 | KB4FSU | FT8 | -10 | -15 | MICHEAL D CAIN, Sr | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,203 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2358 | 17 | WF7I | FT8 | -04 | -12 | DELBERT L HERALD, III | VA |
![]() | United States | 3,670 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2352 | 17 | N4XTT | FT8 | +03 | -12 | SETH M CONKIN | TN |
![]() | United States | 3,844 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2351 | 17 | N4TTE | FT8 | +02 | -12 | DAVID A GOINS | TN |
![]() | United States | 3,915 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2343 | 17 | VE2GPP | FT8 | -21 | -24 | Guy. GP Poulin | PQ |
![]() | Canada | 2,937 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2340 | 17 | WA4NFO | FT8 | -09 | -08 | Arnold G Gregory | TN |
![]() | United States | 4,020 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2329 | 17 | VE2GHU | FT8 | -10 | -17 | Jean-Guy Couture |
![]() | Canada | 2,953 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 2320 | 17 | K8JK | FT8 | -12 | -16 | JAMES A KVOCHICK | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,227 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2315 | 17 | N5DD | FT8 | -06 | -19 | DONALD E DAZE | TX |
![]() | United States | 4,699 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2311 | 17 | W2GM | FT8 | +03 | -18 | MARK C SUGARMAN | NJ |
![]() | United States | 3,323 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2304 | 17 | N1COW | FT8 | -07 | -07 | CHRISTIAN M ARNAUT, Sr. | NH |
![]() | United States | 3,122 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2302 | 17 | KI4KI | FT8 | -17 | -12 | Malcolm Parsons | AL |
![]() | United States | 4,108 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2253 | 17 | R7AL | FT8 | +17 | -08 | Vasily V. Pinchuk |
![]() | Russia | 1,641 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 2249 | 17 | W2LO | FT8 | +02 | -01 | Michael F Mattes | TN |
![]() | United States | 3,977 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2230 | 17 | WB8TLI | FT8 | +00 | -20 | D Douglas Friend | OH |
![]() | United States | 3,744 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2225 | 17 | CO7WT | FT8 | -10 | -13 | Pavel Milanes Costa |
![]() | Cuba | 4,416 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 2202 | 17 | YO4DWD | FT8 | -14 | -13 | DAVID DANIEL ADRIAN | CT |
![]() | Romania | 1,449 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2200 | 17 | KJ4CGU | FT8 | -11 | -04 | Jose L Rosario | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,297 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2153 | 17 | R4RM | FT8 | -06 | -15 | Rinat V. Nasyrov |
![]() | Russia | 2,181 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 2151 | 17 | BI6OIZ | FT8 | -05 | -25 | LI ZHIYONG |
![]() | China | 5,476 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 2142 | 17 | BD4KC | FT8 | -21 | -23 | Li Jumen |
![]() | China | 5,437 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 2135 | 17 | KC4KLM | FT8 | -16 | -18 | Kevin Margraves | NC |
![]() | United States | 3,835 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2130 | 17 | KR4ECC | FT8 | -16 | -05 | NASSER NASAB | GA |
![]() | United States | 4,023 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2125 | 17 | PY1BAB | FT8 | -07 | -15 | Adilson Cardoso | Rj |
![]() | Brazil | 5,748 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2110 | 17 | PY1ED | FT8 | -13 | -15 | Eduardo Rodrigues |
![]() | Brazil | 5,743 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 2100 | 17 | AB4BZ | FT8 | -15 | -08 | RONALD A SPENCER | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,285 |
10 Jun 2025 | 2035 | 17 | PY5IP | FT8 | -02 | -07 | DIRCEU COLLERE CAVALCANTI |
![]() | Brazil | 6,063 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 2005 | 17 | WA8NLX | FT8 | -02 | -13 | Richard W Garan | SC |
![]() | United States | 3,988 |
10 Jun 2025 | 1945 | 17 | A71AT | FT8 | +03 | -18 | Mohammed Alkhayarin |
![]() | Qatar | 3,379 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1942 | 17 | UA0LQE | FT8 | -06 | -18 | Malinkin VASILY |
![]() | Russia | 5,263 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1931 | 17 | EA3RT | FT4 | +03 | -20 | Juan Carlos Muñoz |
![]() | Spain | 825 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1911 | 17 | R2DMV | FT8 | -06 | -20 | Yury Strashnov |
![]() | Russia | 989 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1840 | 17 | K7TD | FT8 | -14 | -20 | TERRY L DILLAHUNTY | CO |
![]() | United States | 4,574 |
10 Jun 2025 | 1835 | 17 | JE0TYO | FT8 | -14 | -12 | ICHIRO TASHIRO |
![]() | Japan | 5,911 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1828 | 17 | N1AH | FT8 | -19 | -25 | ADAM E HOSA, JR | CT |
![]() | United States | 3,253 |
10 Jun 2025 | 1811 | 17 | W4PKU | FT8 | +06 | -16 | FRED W HURD, JR | VA |
![]() | United States | 3,522 |
10 Jun 2025 | 1809 | 17 | JA0GCI | FT8 | -10 | -20 | Kazuhiro Kumagai |
![]() | Japan | 5,850 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1752 | 17 | JA4KTG | FT8 | -10 | -15 | MASAHIRO HARADA |
![]() | Japan | 5,878 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1750 | 17 | NE8Z | FT8 | -04 | -13 | RICHARD E DORSCH, JR | MI |
![]() | United States | 3,620 |
10 Jun 2025 | 1743 | 17 | KB2KBC | FT8 | -03 | -05 | FRANK C MOORE | NJ |
![]() | United States | 3,360 |
10 Jun 2025 | 1742 | 17 | WA2ZSA | FT8 | -09 | -15 | CHARLES M LEAPHART | NY |
![]() | United States | 3,407 |
10 Jun 2025 | 1739 | 17 | BH6RWQ | FT8 | -15 | -18 | YingChao Zeng |
![]() | China | 5,499 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1717 | 17 | JA9KRO | FT8 | -02 | -24 | KAORU SADO |
![]() | Japan | 5,817 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 1518 | 17 | DM5LA | FT8 | +21 | +01 | Johannes Mirsberger |
![]() | Germany | 656 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 0759 | 17 | EA4ZM | FT8 | -05 | -15 | Juan Vazquez Hernandez |
![]() | Spain | 968 | |
10 Jun 2025 | 0047 | 30 | KY4PH | FT8 | -05 | -23 | JAMES C CLIFFORD | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,262 |
10 Jun 2025 | 0020 | 17 | WA1VIL | FT8 | -03 | -24 | GREGORY J MAGARIE | MA |
![]() | United States | 3,134 |
10 Jun 2025 | 0015 | 17 | WB3FME | FT8 | -13 | -11 | MARK D RHOADS | MD |
![]() | United States | 3,503 |
10 Jun 2025 | 0005 | 17 | KA1AL | FT8 | -18 | -19 | Alfred A Hambidge, Jr | ME |
![]() | United States | 2,970 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2347 | 17 | KZ4J | FT8 | -01 | -20 | GREGORY A MASSE | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,181 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2325 | 17 | WA4FL | FT8 | +06 | -16 | William A Russell | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,102 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2323 | 17 | KC1TUF | FT8 | -23 | -13 | Gregory Parachojuk | MA |
![]() | United States | 3,102 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2318 | 17 | PR7AR | FT8 | +00 | -22 | Irapuan De Sousa Ferreira (Ira) |
![]() | Brazil | 4,524 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 2313 | 17 | NF4A | FT8 | +21 | -14 | CHARLES T WOOTEN | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,281 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2303 | 17 | WW4JET | FT8 | +10 | -07 | MATTHEW J LAVIOLA | SC |
![]() | United States | 3,924 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2257 | 17 | WA4WGY | FT8 | +03 | -11 | GARY R BENSON | NC |
![]() | United States | 3,704 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2254 | 17 | N4KXO | FT8 | -03 | -07 | JAY BOEHME | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,187 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2237 | 17 | W1ZE | FT8 | -07 | -10 | JOSEPH B RANDALL | ME |
![]() | United States | 3,006 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2155 | 17 | F4HTA | FT8 | -17 | -18 | LUC FOURNEAU |
![]() | France | 317 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 2150 | 17 | KE4BCN | FT8 | -12 | -22 | ROSS R SLATER | VA |
![]() | United States | 3,544 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2147 | 17 | K1LO | FT8 | -16 | -10 | LAWRENCE H OLSEN | NH |
![]() | United States | 3,117 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2137 | 17 | UA3ALY | FT8 | +00 | -06 | Andrey A. Korobov |
![]() | Russia | 1,628 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 2136 | 17 | W4LUF | FT8 | -13 | -20 | LEONIDES USIN FREIRE | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,300 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2131 | 17 | JH6DUL | FT8 | -12 | -20 | Kaz Hiraishi (also KK9P) |
![]() | Japan | 6,020 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 2129 | 17 | WB4OSS | FT8 | +09 | -16 | TERRY L WELLS | KY |
![]() | United States | 3,845 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2127 | 17 | WB2TQE | FT8 | -19 | -07 | HOWARD E KOENIG | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,255 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2107 | 17 | PY5ZHP | FT8 | +09 | -05 | KAZIMIERZ DLUGOSZ | PR |
![]() | Brazil | 6,058 |
09 Jun 2025 | 2103 | 17 | RW3ACF | FT8 | -16 | -15 | Dmitri P. Kurochkin |
![]() | Russia | 1,640 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 2055 | 17 | PY1ED | FT8 | -05 | -19 | Eduardo Rodrigues |
![]() | Brazil | 5,743 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 1714 | 17 | BI1VHW | FT8 | -12 | -22 | Xin Gao |
![]() | China | 5,079 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 1628 | 17 | K1ZN | FT8 | -02 | -22 | JEFFREY A CANTOR | GA |
![]() | United States | 4,085 |
09 Jun 2025 | 1621 | 17 | JA1IST | FT8 | -21 | -16 | KAZU NAGURO |
![]() | Japan | 5,938 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 1557 | 17 | R4LBL | FT8 | -13 | -22 | Ivan Nikolaevich Chebotar | UL |
![]() | Russia | 2,025 |
09 Jun 2025 | 1544 | 17 | VE3KTB | FT8 | -20 | -20 | Pierre Fogal | ON |
![]() | Canada | 3,432 |
09 Jun 2025 | 1538 | 17 | PP5ZP | FT8 | +01 | -07 | Olivo , José Carlos | SC |
![]() | Brazil | 6,147 |
09 Jun 2025 | 0626 | 30 | SQ7FPD | FT8 | -13 | -20 | Dariusz P. Karcz |
![]() | Poland | 1,096 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0613 | 30 | CT1EDK | FT8 | -11 | -21 | Angelo Cruz |
![]() | Portugal | 1,103 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0601 | 30 | SP3CUG | FT8 | -02 | -10 | Ryszard Grabowski |
![]() | Poland | 843 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0537 | 30 | OE1KRQ/P | FT8 | +02 | -03 | KURT RANNINGER |
![]() | Austria | 888 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0526 | 30 | SP4AU | FT8 | -14 | -22 | Andrzej Umiński |
![]() | Poland | 975 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0520 | 30 | OZ5TU | FT8 | +03 | -11 | Thejs Ulmann |
![]() | Denmark | 608 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0516 | 30 | DL5YEE | FT8 | -12 | -14 | Klaus Henke |
![]() | Germany | 502 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0511 | 30 | LA3LUA | FT8 | -02 | -11 | Stig Auestad |
![]() | Norway | 610 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0507 | 30 | PY7DJ | FT8 | +03 | -19 | Haroldo Bradaschia Neto | PE |
![]() | Brazil | 4,591 |
09 Jun 2025 | 0504 | 30 | YL3AKH | FT8 | +17 | -06 | Vasilijs Cjupka |
![]() | Latvia | 1,089 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0502 | 30 | IK4CBO | FT8 | +06 | +07 | GIORGIO TANZI |
![]() | Italy | 821 | |
09 Jun 2025 | 0413 | 30 | PY2KP | FT8 | +10 | -11 | CLAUDIO GIMENEZ ( DIO ) | SP |
![]() | Brazil | 5,873 |
09 Jun 2025 | 0358 | 30 | K4WCL | FT8 | -08 | -20 | JOHN C GALGANO | SC |
![]() | United States | 3,927 |
09 Jun 2025 | 0243 | 30 | W9SX | FT8 | +10 | -09 | Larence K Oaks | FL |
![]() | United States | 4,243 |
09 Jun 2025 | 0228 | 30 | K4XP | FT8 | +11 | -19 | KEITH B LEWIS | SC |
![]() | United States | 3,899 |
09 Jun 2025 | 0024 | 17 | PY2BW | FT8 | +01 | -09 | EGON BOEHM |
![]() | Brazil | 5,915 |