A STOCKTON Heath hobby radio enthusiast has been putting technology he once created many years ago to good use.


Colin Horrabin, aged 72, is a member of Warrington Amateur Radio Club (WARC) and with the help of Dave Roberts, aged 54, also from Stockton Heath and George Fare, aged 83, from Latchford, released a new transceiver which is now used by more than 800 enthusiasts worldwide.


Colin made use of components he once developed 20 years ago while working at the Daresbury Laboratory.


The unique ability of the new HF7070 radio is to pick out weak radio signals next to very strong ones, something which has surprised many in the world of radio technology.


The development is not only superior to anything currently being made in Japan; it also breaks a conventionally accepted theory proposed by David Leeson in 1996.


Colin, a former Stcokton Heath Primary School pupil, first became interested in radio during the days of government surplus in the 1950s.
 

His attraction soon turned to a profession. After training in electrical engineering he worked at Daresbury Labratory after sending bosses of the then newly opened facility a letter asking for a job in 1968 before retiring in 2000.


Even in retirement Colin is heavily involved in the world of electronics – describing it as a way of life.


He has written articles for RadioUser magazine, as well as the American-based specialised QEX magazine after coming into contact with their technical editor, Joel Hallas.


Colin said: “All this goes to show that when it comes to fundamental design issues the British are still the best.”