Throughout my amateur radio life, and especially in the last 18 years, I have always wanted to visit the big show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Well 3 years ago after the 2019 show I decided to book and go to the 2020 show with my mate Charles (M0OXO), Tim (M0URX), and others who we know from around the world. But sadly in March 2020 the whole world shut down as we know and the plans were kyboshed. Sadly Tim cannot make it this year, but we hope he will in the future.

Two years on and we are finally getting to go. So now the countdown begins. A long weekend in Germany with other like minded people from around the world, as well as a show with all the latest amateur radio equipment to drool over and covet. Not only this but good food, drink, and laughs with friends who I have only ever met on air previously. Hopefully this will be the first of many.

Not just the show but the journey will be fun. Starting with Charles picking me up in his car to go to London Heathrow. Overnight there for an early flight to Zurich, Switzerland. Then from Zurich a train to Romanshorn, on the Swiss side of Lake Constance, to catch a ferry across to Friedrichshafen. Ending in a taxi ride to the hotel. I guess I will have to make sure all my camera batteries are charged. 

Finally back on VHF and UHF bands, well 2m (144 – 145 MHz) and 70cm (430 to 440 MHz) with a Yaesu FT897D. The radio used to belong to a friend who sadly passed away earlier this year and was part of his estate sale. RIP Bob. 
The local radio club held an auction to raise funds and sell off his equipment, and this is my reminder of a true gent that walked amongst us. Today (2nd May 2022) I have been integrating it into the shack and setting it up to my laptop for use both at home and out portable. A couple of QSO’s on 2M FT8 have satisfied me that it is working and will be a great addition to the G1VDP shack and tool box.

Hello all and welcome to the new G1VDP.com website. Still under development but will be updated weekly at the minimum with news and information about my hobbies of Amateur Radio and photography. There will also be a Gallery of my images, with an option to purchase the image on a variety of mediums (Canvas, Poster, framed or unframed) via an external site that will be linked. 

There will be news about my local radio club, my old radio club in the North, the RSGB, and DX News on DXpeditions, IOTA activations, & New Products I think will be useful. If possible, and with permission from the authors, I will include websites and information from their sites. 

So for now thanks for looking, and please keep an eye on the site.