MD3YLX - Dave Cain (Mike Delta Three Yankee Lima X-ray)

I sat the RCF Amateur Radio Foundation Licence in January 2009, after nearly thirty years involvement and use of radio communications of one sort or another. My radio life started with CB in 1979, and the rest as they say, is history!

I am a member of the Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) I am a member of Isle of Man RAYNET (Radio Amateur Emergency Network) Group. I have recently joined the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society (RAFARS) and hope to be assisting other members on the island acivating the three local airfields - RNAS Ronaldsway, RAF Jurby and RAF Andreas... watch this space!

Above left: MD3YLX (me) operationg GB4MNH Special Event Station at the Old Grammar School, Castletown May 2009

Above middle: Eary Cushlin Outdoor Pursuit Centre - the home of the IoMARS for one weekend a year for some rare DX!

Above right:My mate Mike - GD0HYM (also GD0MAN and RAFARS IoM Representative) demonstrating how to empty a bottle of Carlsberg Green whilst building antennas at Eary Cushlin!

I operate from radio mainly my home QTH in Douglas, or mobile from various locations around the island.

I own several radio transceivers which include models from Icom (IC-706 Mk2 G), Yaesu (FT-7800, FT-2800, FT-77, FT-2000, FT-897D), Phillips & Simoco (FM1000, FM1100 and FM1200) and Belcom LS102L (badged as a Beltok 102).

I was originally a pirate 'CB'er in the late seventies and eighties - and on 11 metre SSB I was a member of what is still the largest radio DX Group in the World - "Gruppo Radio Italia" known more simply as Alfa Tango, based in Asti, Italy. My callsign was 137 Alfa Tango 108.

I have had various other SSB callsigns from various DX groups around the globe which included:

• Vikings DX Club in Iceland - Viking 126
• Ocean Nancy DX Group in Belgium - 137 Ocean Nancy 3
• Kilo Lima Group (Yugoslavia) - 118 Kilo Lima 1
• Tartan Pirate DX Group in Lockerbie  -  118 Tango Papa 1
• Isle of Man CB Club - 118 Echo Victor 55
• Manx CB Club - Mike Bravo 56
• Mannin Wordwide Communication - Mike Whisky Charlie 1

Nowadays I can be found on HF and VHF using my official UK Amateur Radio Callsign MD3YLX. Hopefully I will soon take the intermediate paper and my callsign will change to 2D0 ? - although I may ask to retain YLX as I have got quite used to using it! Once I have passed the intermediate I plan on sitting the full exam ASAP so that I can use the MD0 prefix with my callsign.

Thanks for looking in, I hope to catch you on the bands soon!

73 de Dave MD3YLX

You can find more information on me and my location on www.qrz.com or visit.........

Upcoming IoM Radio Events 2010

January

• Sunday 31st: 6AM - 6PM: RNLI SOS - Special event station transmitting from the Sea Terminal in Douglas to assist the RNLI fundraising. Further information from www.rnli.org.uk/sosday

February

• Club Night Tuesday 9th February - "The Snaefell Wheel Project" talk by Peter Geddes 7.30pm for 8pm start.

March

• Club Night Tuesday 9th March - BRING AND BUY SALE - Amateur radio gear and bits'n'bobs from lofts, sheds, shacks and boxes. Sell what you bring for a 5% donation to the Society funds.

April

• Saturday and Sunday 10th-11th April - Northern Amateur Radio Rally at Norbreck Catle, Blackpool - GT3FLH goes mobile! Trip to Blackpool for the annual amateur radio rally. Those going: MD3YLX, GD1MIP, MD6IOM, GD7DUZ, GD0HYM, GD0NFN - flying the flag for the IOMARS and local branch of RAFARS.

• Club Night Tuesday 13th April - TBA

May

• Club Night Tuesday 11th May - Possibly a talk from Simon Brown GD4ELI, Software Defined Radio and Ham Radio Deluxe, subject to confirmatin at this time.

June

• Mad Sunday Special event station from the Vintage Engine and Tractor Fair, Port St Mary showground.

July

• Tynwald Day Special Event Station - GB5TD from The Manx School, St Johns

August

• TBA

September

• EARY CUSHLIN RADIO WEEKEND - Details to follow regarding dates. Cost likely to be £20 per person - bring your own food and a sleeping bag if you plan n staying overnight!

October

• TBA

November

• TBA

December

• IoMARS Annual General Meeting at Sea Cadet Hall, Tromode. Further details TBA.