Harm DE HAAN (The Netherlands)

My name is Harm de Haan. I have been a Radio Officer in the ’60’s and early ’70’s, having sailed in the Merchant Marine for approx. 7 years (Radio Holland). During these years I have sailed on cargo ships, tankers and most cruise ships of the Holland America Line. Than I changed this interesting job for work ashore (Marine Cargo Surveyor).

I have retired for a few years now and fairly recently picked up this hobby after having succeeded in getting my Radio Licence  (2017/N and 2019/F). I also am a Radio Ham operator on board of the ss ‘Rotterdam’ (PHEG/PI4HAL), which is the old flagship of the Holland America Line and presently moored at Rotterdam and used as a hotel, conference center etc. I am familiarizing myself in the mystic of this very interesting hobby. My Radio Shack includes an ICOM IC-7300 transceiver and two Magnetic Loop Antennes (INAC AH-521 and AX-314 incl. LAC2 – remote controllers) facing N-S and E-W. I also use an antique/nostalgic BC-348R as additional receiver. In 2020 an ICOM-5100 was added to the shack, feeding a Diamond V-2000 (Tri-band) antenne, enabling me to not only work VHF/UHF (and DStar), but also my ICOM-7300 on the 50 Mhz. 

I used a Vibroplex bug in the past, but have purchased a Begali Contour Gold paddle which works exceedingly well. An additional CW machine completes the set and is a good aid to demonstrate the morse code on a laptop, so impressing the tour visitors on board the ss ‘Rotterdam’. Recently I also purchased a Kent K-1 morse key to practice my ‘pumping brass’. It is a lifetime hobby as far as I’m concerned.

In the profile picture me at the end of 60’s while working in the radio station of the old cruise liner SS “Nieuw Amsterdam”.

Below me and my radio setup with callsign PG2GF.

Me now

My radio shack

My antennas

My morse keys