KLCC from the air

This is a picture of me in a Piper Warrior PA 28. This shot was taken when I took my two boys, Nazeem and Najeeb for a city tour around Kuala Lumpur. The picture on the right is the aerial shot of the famous Petronas Twin Tower.

Notice the haze around the buildings in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

The picture below is the aerial shot of the Kuala Lumpur Tower.

The photos were taken by Nazeem and Najeeb from an altitude of 1500 feet above sea level.

Yaesu FT-950

After reading the reviews on the new Yaesu FT-950 in http://www.eham.net/ and the March 2008 issue of QST magazine, I have decided to get one for my shack. Since the price of the FT-950 is almost tripple of that of the Icom IC-718, I will most probably have to dispose off my Icom IC-718 to help fund part of this purchase.

It will be sad for me to part with the IC-718 as it has been a very faithful and reliable HF transceiver. With its basic features, this tranceiver is very easy to operate. You don't need to read the manual, just make the right connections and you are ready to go on air. It looks like it will be a challenge for me to operate the FT-950.

I hope to have the Yaesu FT-950 in my shack by May 2008. If anyone is interested in a used IC-718, MFJ 945E antenna tuner and a 20A homebrew linear power supply, please email me.

My HAM Shack

I have not been buying new stuff for my HAM radio hobby. What I currently have in my shack are the followings:

1. ICOM IC-718 (HF)
2. ICOM IC-706 MKIIG (HF)
3. ICOM V-8000 (Mobile)
4. YAESU FT-8800 (Mobile)
5. YAESU VX5R (Handheld)
6. ICOM V8-5 (Handheld)
7. MFJ 949E Antenna Tuner (Manual)
8. MFJ 945E Antenna Tuner (Manual)
9. LDG Z-100 Antenna Tuner (Auto)
10. Homebrew 20A Power Supply (Linear)
11. DIAMOND GZV2500 25A Switching Power Supply
12. DAIWA PS-140IIA 14A Power Supply (Linear)
13. MFJ 4125 25A Switching Power Supply

14. DIAMOND SX600 SWR Meter
15. LODESTAR SWR-3P SWR Meter

16. D-117/K4 Heavy Duty Straight Key "Chinese Army Key"

17. Sato Straight Key

18. K8RA Lambic Paddle

I would normally use my ICOM 706MKIIG, MFJ 4125 power supply, LDG Z-100 auto antenna tuner, MFJ 945E antenna tuner, Mini Buddipole and a G5RV antenna for expeditions or whenever I go on a vacation. These stuff are packed in a black Pelican Case, ready for action at anytime.

I am using a G5RV antenna for 6 meter to 40 meter band in an inverted V position, about 25 feet above the ground due to the limited space I have at home. I also have a Diamond X50, a dual bander antenna mounted on the roof at a height of 30 feet above the ground.

I buy most of my HAM radio stuff from Sim Lim Square or Tower in Singapore, Ban Moh Street in Bangkok, Pasar Glodok in Jakarta and the internet since it is quite limited and expensive to buy locally.

If you are in Bangkok, Ban Moh Street is the place to visit where you can find most electrical and electronic items from shops around this area. It's cheap to buy connectors, cables, locally produced ham radio products such as power supplies, antenna brackets, mini towers, VHF and UHF antennas, battery casings for handies and radio accessories.

If you need to repair you electrical stuff, this is the place to go. There are many road side stalls around this area to cater for repairing of electrical appliances, almost anything under the sky.

Ban Moh Street is situated next to the famous Old Siam Shopping Center (about 50 meters from the shopping center). Get a cab to the Old Siam from the city center. Just mention this place to the cab driver and he will know where it is since it is a popular place to shop for local handicrafts and traditional products. If you are into traditional Thai food stuff, this is also the place to be where you can find all sorts of local kueh. Actually, this place is not too far from China Town, a walking distance from Grace Hotel.

If you are in Jakarta, the place to look for your HAM radio stuff will be at Pasar Glodok. Things are a bit more expensive compared to Singapore but it's worthwhile to drop by this place just to have a look at the stuff on sale. You can take the Busway and stop at Glodok Station and it will only cost you less than RM3.00 or just ask a cab driver to take you to Pasar Glodok, but make sure it is a Blue Bird taxi and not any other taxis.

Well, if you need more information on how to get to these places, just let me know and I am more than happy to provide you with the location details and coordinates if you have a GPS receiver.

73 de 9M2NAZ

PPL

Finally obtained my wings in September 2006. My license is due for renewal on 30 th September 2007. I have not been flying for quite a while since the fuel prices have gone up. It's too costly to fly now days.

I have been flying the Eagle 150B, a two seater aircraft since day one of my flying lessons. Last November, I flew a Piper Warrior PA28 for the first time. The Piper is a very old plane and it can accomodate four POB. Since it is an old plane, the rental is much cheaper than the Eagle. Currently I am looking at joining other flying clubs with lower aircraft rentals. Probably I'll join the Royal Selangor Flying Club or Subang Flying Club.