Welcome to N6WDB/mm sailing ham shack (and KC6SEF)

Equipment:

Icom-718 HF Transceiver

Icom AH2 AutomaticTuner with about 60 ft long wire to top of main mast

MFJ Manual tuner with Hustler triple band vertical (40m/20m/15m)

SCS Multimode PACTOR- Controller (PTC 3 PRO)

Icom-706 MKIIG HF/VHF/UHF transceiver in need of repairs due to corrosion

VHF vertical antenna

Computers: P3 VIA Samuel 2 – 599 Mhz –480 Mb of RAM –

12vdc fed computer designed by IslandTimePC

Echo Q Barebone P4 – 3 Ghz – with external HD

IBM PII Thinkpad

History:

I was attracted by ham radio when a kid but … in Belgium it takes real dedication to get involved in ham radio (only technicians by trade or retired/handicapped people can spend the time to study all the materials needed in order to pass the exams!). I got involved in sports and plenty of other activities at the time. When working in 1989 on cruise ships, we met Babbie KF8RR, who recommended getting a ham license in the US as it would be very useful when cruising on our own boat later! Following her advice, I was lucky to find Arnie in Grass Valley, CA to administer my Novice and Technician license in between assignments on cruise ships. My first QSO were made from Raiatea, French Polynesia in April 1990 with a loaned radio from Gerard FO5KF using a long wire in a coconut tree! Spoke to Japan, Scottland, Aleutian Isl.,Spain, … When the XYL helped me study the 13 wpm morse code in Hawaii one year later, she learned it herself and while I went for my General and Advanced license, she went for her Novice, Tech & General … that’s a lady! When the 20 wpm requirement was dropped in the Extra class license, I passed it and became VE in order to help ham candidates in far away places! I was happy to assist Cliff & Karen in Pago Pago administering some exams while visiting there.

Great way to stay in touch with Frank, KM6PD and our California family long before internet! Wonderful to meet (sometimes years later) hams I had qso with while cruising the 7 seas! Great memories of Jean FG5FT in Guadeloupe, the ham community in Dominica, Elbert V44NE in Nevis, Alain FG5GI in Guadeloupe, Gunther HP1XVH in the Perlas islands, FO5QG and FO5JR in Tahiti. I regret being so busy lately that I do mostly digital mode (mostly email via pactor – Winlink) and have little time for voice qso like in the early years … Someday I will spend more time again at qso and will be happy to host a Winlink shore station to return to pass to new hams the great service I get from Winlink operators.

Since 2000, I became SCS dealer in the South Pacific in order to help fellow cruisers with email onboard!

Check the rest of our website to know more about our floating QTH, current location and activities.