A Profile of Peter Halpin, PE1MHO

From time to time we include a profile of one of our customers. Here is one on Peter Halpin, PE1MHO, by Dick Pascoe, G0BPS.

June 20, 2005 Update: Peter Halpin, PH1PH and formerly PE1MHO, has become a Silent Key. Three years ago Peter was given a short time to live after being diagnosed with cancer. He defied all the doctors and lived for an active three years longer than was expected. He will best be remembered by his contribution to the 'Ham Radio Deluxe' software and his successes on 6 meters.

Peter Halpin was born in Battersea, London in 1950. Although a full six years after the war food rationing was still in place and some foods difficult to obtain. He went to his first school in Eltham in London. Others schools followed as his family traveled, a period of time in Nigeria and another in Ireland. During one stay in the UK he lived in Exmouth, Devon and went to school in the quaint village of Clyst St Mary.

During the mid 1950’s his grandfather had given him a crystal set, this fascinated the young Peter and when later in Nigeria he saw an old Phillips Short Wave Radio and listened to the British BBC World Service he was hooked. It wasn’t until later when at Sandymount High School in Dublin that he met his first Ham. His neighbor Ken Vaughan used AM on top band and helped Peter build his first real radio.

In 1967 Pete left school and joined the Royal Air Force as an aircraft technician. He served in many places including Germany. He served for 9 years then left the service to take up work in heavy vehicle engineering while living in Holland.

His other love was motorcycles, but in 1980 he was involved in a nasty accident and lost most of his right leg. A long period of recuperation and rehab followed where his interest in radio was rekindled. After all, there was little else to do.

In the rehab centre he was not able to do much and memories of these radios sparked an interest in ‘modern’ Ham radio . In 1982 gained his first call of PD0MAM (Dutch novice license). What a lot he had to learn, especially as he was also continuing his Dutch lessons at the same time. In 1986 he upgraded his Ham license to PE1MHO aided by Wilbert, PE1INB (now ZL2BSJ).

He met and later married Jeanette in April 1983 and lived in the Dutch town of Goor They later moved to Hengelo in 1986 where they now live. 

When the six metre band was first advertised in Holland Pete and his friends Marinus (PE1LIF), Marcel (PA3FGI) and Harm (PA3AQO) had their applications ready and waiting for the announcement of the new 6m band. Each was a founder members of the Dragonslayers QRP Group (Other members include Klaus DL8MTG Ex Y24TG) Dick (G0BPS), Bob (VE1YX). Plus Henk (PE1LRG-SK) and Rudy (PE1NHS-SK)

In 1984 he wrote to George G3RJV asking about the G-QRP club and joined getting membership number 2548. He always shows an interest in QRP operating and he gained a reputation of being a 6m DX hound, so much so that he gained the ARCI DXCC for single-band operation. This is not exceptional except that this was award number one for the 6m band! The first 50 contacts were made on homebrew equipment and Meon Transverter with either 2.75W or 4W watts out. This particular award is extremely exceptional in that it took him 13 years to work all the countries required and get enough QSL’s to claim the award.

Pete has always been an avid builder as well as 6m operator. His skills in building are excellent as shown by the number of local hams who asked him to build their Meons for them. His latest challenges include building an Elecraft K2 fully loaded with all options. This is a work of art, not only by his construction ability but the way the rig works. Pete is also heavily involved in software testing for Simon HB9DRV the author of the FT817 Commander plus PSK31 Deluxe, Mapper and latterly Ham Radio Deluxe. 

Pete has been the Dutch representative of the G-QRP Club since 1991, and is a member of QRP-ARCI, I-QRP, NCI and SixItalia.

He and Jeanette love Scotland and take every opportunity to holiday there. Their latest trip was in June 2003 with the author, G0BPS, to take part in the International QRP day.

Peter's awards include: