CATS HOME

CATS Radio Links

 

CATS Internet links are grouped under the following headings:

Antennas Broadcast National Societies Local Clubs Events
Historical & Vintage Manufacturers Operating Publications QRP
Satellites Software Suppliers Technical Topics Miscellaneous

 

ANTENNAS

80 Metre Vertical GM4AFF site with good practical information
AA5FR Lots of stuff including including info on satellite tracking
AC6V's Antennas Links Literally hundreds of antenna links
AC6V Antenna Suppliers Comprehensive list
Analyser Comments about the MFJ-259B
Antenna Analysers Comparative review of different manufacturers' offerings
Antenna Software Many links to other software sites by AC6V
Butternut Antennas Well-known antenna manufacturer: Bencher & Butternut
Coaxial Collinear Interesting design for 432 MHz - not tried by G3WZK
Cushcraft Well-known antenna manufacturer
Cushcraft R7 Manuals for the R7 antenna
Cushcraft A449-11 Manual for this 70cm antenna
Diamond US site for many antennas
DK7ZB Homebrew antennas
EZNEC Antenna design software by W7EL
Gamma Match QST article on gamma matching
Gamma Match II Info from a Google book
Hy-Gain Well-known antenna manufacturer
Magnetic Loop   (G4FON site)
Moxon Antenna Project Inspiring antenna project completed in YU-land
Moxon Calculator Program to calculate the dimensions of a Moxon Rectangle
Log Periodic How to design a log periodic antenna
Log Periodic 2 More info on how to design a log periodic antenna
Phoenix 4 metre Dipole Simple practical design
PicATUne Auto ATU, as featured in Radcom in 2000/01, now updated
Pro Antennas Manufacturer and supplier of HF antennas
Pro Whip Antennas Verticals and Delta Loops
Resonance How to achieve it (Google Book)
Safety RAYNET Guide To Antenna Safety
Slim Jim Not an amateur antenna, but easily scalable
Slim Jim 2 Design for 2m version
Slim Jim Calculator On line design tool
Small Loops Slide Set From Professor Mike Underhill
SOTA Beams Manufacturer of portable HF, VHF and UHF antennas
Spiderbeam Antennas Manufacturer of portable HF antennas
Tennamasts Manufacturer of masts for amateur and other use
Tenna Reviews Reviews of Tennamast products on eHam.net
Tower Installation Practical info with photos from HS0ZEE
Tri-band Collinear Full design information
Versatower Versatower and Radiostructures lattice masts
VHF antennas (in French) Links for 6m and 2m antennas
Vine antennas  
VK5JST Supplier of antenna analyser design PCB
W2BRI  Magnetic Loop Antennas Includes practical design for 80 metres (or 75 m in the US)
Yagi design Access to DL6WU's Yagi design software

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

BROADCAST

A.T.V Aerials and Television
BBC Network Status Up-to-the-minute information
FM Reception Reception Advice (Radio Jackie site)
Freesat Main site for satellite equivalent of Freeview
Freeview Free digital TV and radio
Radio Susy Local Community Radio For Surrey and Sussex
Rajar Audience Research
UK Broadcast Transmission Interesting collection of both historical info and future plans

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

National and International Societies:    

 RSGB 
Radio Amateur Invalid & Blind Club
RAOTA Radio Amateur Old Timers' Association

Broken link Sept 2011

Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society
The Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society: National/worldwide organisation for people interested in vintage and vintage military radio
 ARRL (USA)

(Click on "open This content in a new window")

EPSK European PSK Club
 German DARC (In English)
JARL  Japanese National Society (in English)
 New Zealand ART 
 Spanish National Society
SARL  South African National Society 
 Wireless Institute Of Australia
 Gibraltar National Society
HARTS  Hong Kong National Society (in English)
CARS  Cyprus National Society (in English)

(Checked for broken links 21/09/2011)

 

Local societies:

BDARS  Bromley & District ARS 
CARC Crawley ARC
CPREC Crystal Palace Radio & Electronics Club
Caterham RG Caterham Radio Group
CARS Chelmsford ARS
CVRS Cray Valley Radio Society
DDRS Dorking & District RS
EDRS Edgware & District RS
HARC Horsham ARC
Mid-Sussex ARS Mid-Sussex ARS
RATS Reigate ATS
Southgate ARC Southgate ARC
SRCC Surrey Radio Contact Club
SCRS Sutton & Cheam RS
SCRS Practical Group The SCRS group that meets on Monday evenings in Banstead
W&DARS Wimbledon & District ARS (currently out of service)
Region 9 Clubs Other local clubs (RSGB Site)
Radioclubs.net List of RSGB-affiliated clubs.  CATS entry
and not so local ....  
CVRC Crescenta Valley Club (California) - twinned with CATS

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

EVENTS

Friedrichshafen International Amateur Radio Exhibition
International Museums List of Museums registered for 2009
Kempton Park Rally West London Radio & Electronics Show
Rally Information What's on and where in the Amateur calendar
VMARS events Military Radio Events

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

HISTORICAL AND VINTAGE

1945 Wireless World Includes link to historic 1945 proposal by Arthur C Clarke for geostationary satellite communications
1950's British TV Nostalgia Not technical, but interesting info on 1950's programming
50 years The second fifty years of amateur radio
Andy's Valve Website Restoration of old electrical and electronic technology
Antique Radio Classified Monthly US publication for buyers and sellers of old radios etc 
Antique Radio Supply Links to sources of supply
Aurora Design Standards converters of obsolete TV systems
Bakelite World Masses of information on old wirelesses
Brenell Tape Recorders Also contains info on Ferrograph, Truvox, etc
British DX Club Guide to radio museums & vintage radio in the UK & Ireland, by county
British Vintage Wireless Society Self-explanatory
British Vintage Wireless & Television Museum All about the Dulwich museum lovingly created and maintained by Gerry Wells ( and others)
Bush DAC90 Classic set - but not rare - got one myself
Carlos Miranda Radio Collection Relatively small collection
Classic Wireless Info on many vintage wirelesses
Coast Stations Info on Coastal Radio Worldwide
Droitwich YouTube clip of Droitwich's construction
Early TV Load of fascinating historical material on this US site
Eddystone User Group
Ferrograph Tape Recorders Lots of info including downloadable manuals
Heathkit HW8 Info on popular 4-band QRP transceiver
Heathkit Shop Disappointing site with very little for sale, despite the name
Home Radio of Mitcham Browse parts of the old catalogue and dream of times past ...
John R's Mellow Pages Home-constructed TVs
Jonz Valve Page Info on vintage television sets and wirelesses
Light Straw British telephone memorabilia
Marconi Documents Index of historical Marconi-related documents
Mikey's Vintage Technology Page Diary of 8 years repairing TVs
Old Computers On line museum since 1995
Old Radio World Everything from crystal sets to regenerative receivers
Past Times Radio Vintage radios and projects
MSF Rugby Fancy a mast 180 m high ...
Old Radio World Circuit diagrams and service manuals for radio sets, vintage radios, tape recorders, amplifiers, TV sets, record players, etc.
The Radar Pages All you ever wanted to know about British air defence radar
Radio Caroline The cyber home of the Ross Revenge
Radio Constructors' Circuit Archive Transistor TRF circuits from Radio Constructor and elsewhere
Radio Constructors' Circuit Archive Valve TRF circuits from Radio Constructor and elsewhere
Radio Constructor Info Site covering the now-defunct magazine
Radio Picture Gallery Pictures of and links to vintage wirelesses
Rugby Wikipaedia entry for Rugby radio station
Rugby Radio The history of Rugby (part of a site about low frequency (LF) amateur radio
R1155/ T1154 Lots of info on this Rx/Tx combination used in the Lancaster and Sunderland aircraft
Service Data UK Vintage Radio Service Data
The Telephone File The history of UK customer telephone apparatus & systems
Transistor Museum The history of transistors
UK Vintage Radio Repair and restoration
The Valve Page Radios - televisions - test equipment
Valve & Tube Supplies Supplier of thermionic components
VIs Radio Security Service - Voluntary Interceptors in WW2
Vintage components Specialist vintage components
Vintage European Circuit Diagrams Circuit diagrams and components for vintage wirelesses
Vintage & Military ARS The VMARS Technical Information Service
Vintage Radio & Electronics Articles from Radio Constructor and other vintage electronic constructor magazines and books
Vintage Radio Emporium A virtual radio shop that has mysteriously moved from the past to the web. The shop keeper lives in England and is particularly fond of crystal sets.
Vintage Technology Lots of interesting stuff (not just radio) from South Wales
Virtual Valve Museum Info and pictures of a wide range of thermionic devices

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

MANUFACTURERS

Adat Swiss maker of all digital transceiver
AEA Antenna Analysers
Alinco Rigs
Amidon Ferrite and iron powder products, baluns, inductive components for EMI suppression and RFI suppression
Bencher Keys and (Butternut) Antennas
C&K Switch Manufacturer
Caddock Precision resistor manufacturer
Cushcraft Antennas
Elecraft High quality equipment - kits and ready-built
Fair-Rite Ferrite components
Fluke Test Gear
Heil Headsets and mikes
Hilberling Radio gear manufacturer, including amateur
Hy-Gain Antennas
Icom Rigs
IK-Telecom Finnish manufacturer of antennas for 6m, 4m, 2m and 70cm, plus professional gear
Jensen Danish capacitor manufacturer
Johnny Melvin G3LIV - supplier of data interfaces
Kenwood Rigs
Kuhne Microwave kit
MFJ Antennas, antenna accessories and power supplies
microHAM High end DX accessories
Microtelecom Italian SDR manufacturer
Mitsubishi Semiconductors and modules
Philips PMR rigs
RM Italy Interesting manufacturer of RF gear
Steppir Antenna Manufacturer
TigerTronics SignaLinkModel SL-1+  (Datamodes interface)
Tonna Antenna Manufacturer
Ultrabeam Italian antenna manufacturer
Vertex Standard Yaesu parent company
Versatower Versatower and Radiostructures lattice masts
Winradio Radio communications equipment manufacturers
Yaesu Rigs
Yaesu Museum German site (includes recording of QSO between W5LFL on Space Station and JY1 (King Hussein of Jordan)

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

OPERATING

4 Metre Website Self-explanatory
6 Metre Group UKSMG: dedicated to encouraging amateur radio operation on 50MHz around the World
6 Metres Info from the Northwest Amateur Radio Club 
10 Metre Net  Home Counties 10m net every Saturday from 9pm (local) on 28.5MHz USB (28.6MHz if busy)
50 MHz and up The DK5YA VHF page
50 MHz Beacons G3USF site
70 MHz Forum EA6CA site (in Spanish)
425 DX News Italian site (In English)
Amateur Radio and DX reference guide    from AC6V
Beacon List  (HF)  
Beacon List (Over 30 MHz)  
Callsigns I Detailed explanation of UK callsign system
Callsigns II List of callsign groups issued by approximate date  since 1920
Contests (HF) RSGB Calendar
Contests (VHF) RSGB Calendar (need to click on Calendar on the RSGB page)
Contests (worldwide) SM3CER site- comprehensive contest calendar 
Czech repeaters  
Distance & Bearing Useful calculations on line
DL7DF Botswana dxpedition
DXFC A site for DXers who like to travel
DX Summit Real time information about DX station activity
Echolink  
eQSL  
FISTS International Morse Preservation Society
French Repeaters  
GB3CCX Gloucestershire Repeater Group
GB3VHF  
Great Circle Maps Great Circle Maps Based On Any Location
IARU QSL IARU list of QSL bureaus
IOTA  
Locate the Distance   Calculates distance between Locator squares
Locator finder (1) AMSAT site
Locator finder (2) Google based
Locator finder (3) Starting from UK post code
LOTW ARRL log of the world
Lynx DX Group Invalid "amateur" operations
MC0SHL Strumble Head DX and Contest Group
Mobile Operating Useful site run by K0BG
Mozambique DXpedition info
Ofcom Ofcom Licensing Page
Operating Practice Guide by ON4WW
QRZ.com  Info about individual amateur radio stations worldwide
QRZ.ru Russian site - click on "Translate to English"
Prefixes Extremely comprehensive list from AC6V
Propagation Amateur Radio Propagation Studies from DF5AI
Propagation Check Live info on MUF, sporadic E, etc
Reverse Beacons You explain it to me please!
SM2CEW Moonbounce site
SOTA Summits-on-the-air
SpaceWeather Information on solar storms, aurorae etc
Spanish Repeaters 144 MHz
Spanish Repeaters 432 MHz
Syria DXpedition  
Telegraph Vast collection of material on CW and telegraphs by W1TP
UK QRM Group Yahoo user group on QRM (requires group membership)
UK Repeaters Comprehensive up-to-date information 
VHF DX Net Lots of info from EA6VQ (in English)
WebSDR Listen live to yourself on  SDRs around the world
WSPR G4ILO site

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

PUBLICATIONS

CQ-DL In German
CQ-VHF US magazine
Dubus Magazine for VHF and up in English and German
Elektor Electronics magazine published in 9 languages
EPE Magazine Everyday Practical Electronics
Funkamateur In German
FunkTelegramm In German
Ham-Mag New On-line Ham Radio Magazine
ICQ Podcast News from Martin, M1MRB
Practical Wireless & Radio User Site covering both magazines
QST ARRL magazine
Radio-REF In French
Six News UKSMG publication
UKW Berichte In German
VHF Communication Magazine For Radio Amateurs and Professional RF Communications Engineers, covering VHF, UHF and Microwaves

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

QRP

AMQRP American QRP Club
FPQRP Flying Pigs QRP Club
G-QRP GQRP Club
HCQRPC Home Counties QRP Circle
Hendricks QRP Kits Wide range of Californian QRP kits
KD1JV Designs QRP Kits and Projects for the low power Amateur Radio enthusiast
QRPARCI QRP Amateur Radio Club International
QRP Project Interesting German site
W0CH QRP World Lots of QRP info from the US

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

SATELLITES

432 MHz & Above EME K2UYH site
AMSAT Main AMSAT site
AMSAT Satellite Status Information on OSCAR 
Britain's Moon Shot BBC news item
Delfi-C3 Dutch nano-satellite project
ESA European Space Agency
GEO Independent Organisation for Weather Satellite and Earth Observation Enthusiasts
Heavens Above On line tracking of the ISS and other spacecraft
Orbitron Satellite Tracking From Poland, updated daily or better
P3-E AMSAT-DL's P3E -satellite project
P5-A AMSAT-DL's Mars project
Surrey Space Centre University of Surrey site

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

SOFTWARE

Contest Logger Amateur Radio Contest Logging Software by EI5DI
CW Skimmer Wideband CW decoding programme
Digipan PSK31 software with panoramic display 
DX Lab Dxing and other software
Echolink  
FT857 Rig control program
FT950 Memory saver for FT950
G4HFQ Radio Programming Software
G8PUT Computerised Logbook
Ham Info Toolbar Downloadable tool bar with up to date DX news, articles, cluster spots, propagation predictions, ITU access and maps
HRD Ham Radio Deluxe computer control for commonly used transceivers and receivers
Minos Contest logging software
Radio Mobile Propagation Simulation Software from VE land
Virtual Legacy Software   Rig control software
Weak Signals Software from Alberto I2PHD
  Weak signal software
WSPR WSPR enables you to participate in a world-wide network of low power propagation beacons
Yagi design Access to DL6WU's Yagi design software

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

SUPPLIERS

CATS are sponsored by SYCOM trading please take a look at their web site for good value for money components

If considering buying second hand, why not check out "The Rig Register" to make sure that the piece of equipment is not stolen - click here to visit the site.

Other suppliers in alphabetical order:

Barend Hendriksen (Netherlands) Useful mail order for hard-to-get components, including ICs
Belmont Communications Amateur and professional two-way radio
BHI Amateur noise reduction
J Birkett Surplus components
Bowood Electronics Electronic components
CPC Farnell Major component supplier
CQ Shop Supplier in Hong Kong
Digi-Key Components
Display Electronics Surplus electronics
Down East Microwave US supplier of kit for VHF and above
ESR Electronic Components Components, Velleman Kits
EZ Hang (USA) Aerial rigging catapult
Electrojumble Surplus Equipment & Information
Farnell Major component supplier (but different range from CPC)
Garex Electronics Accessories, components, EMC
G4HFQ Software Amateur radio software
Ginpoles WB0W site - supplier of hardware for erecting towers
Golledge Electronics Quartz Crystals etc
HamStuff by W7NN Various, including QSL card holders
Haydon Communications Rigs and accessories
Hendricks QRP Kits Wide range of Californian QRP kits
HF Projects (USA) Range of HF kits, modules and projects
Hofi German supplier of antennas and towers
ILink Boards Echolink and other interfaces
JAB Electronics Components company owned and operated by Radio Amateurs Primarily for Radio Amateurs & Hobbyists
Jaycar Electronics (Australia) Kits and bits.
Juma Interesting selection of kits from OH land
K9YIG SoftRock radio kit supplier
LAM Communications Rigs and station accessories
Mainline Supplies include variable capacitors and slow motion drives
Marcucci (Italy) Rigs and station accessories
Martin Lynch Rigs and all station accessories
Maplin Major component supplier
Mechatronics Mechanical & electronic components, stainless steel fixings
Microwave Components G3WDG microwave site
MiniKits Comprehensive Australian Supplier Of Kits and Bits
Mode Components Components
Nevada Radio Amateur rigs and antennas, non amateur gear
Pro Antennas Manufacturer and supplier of HF antennas
Pro Whip Antennas Verticals and Delta Loops
Radio Structures Ltd Towers, masts and antennas
Radio Works (USA) Cables, antennas and accessories
Radioshop888 Hong Kong based supplier of value-for-money rigs, etc
Radioworld Communications Rigs and all station accessories
Rapid Electrical and electronic
RF Parts (USA) Specialist RF Parts. Amateurs supplied min order $25.
RF Source (Greece) Useful RF Modules
RigExpert Supplier of antenna analysers and other kit 
RossComm New supplier of amateur radio equipment in Fareham, Hants
RS Online Major component supplier
Sandpiper Aerials Aerials and accessories
SDR Kits G0BBL SDR kits
Sharman Multicom Manchester-based supplier of amateur and CB kit
Spectrum Communications Amateur radio kits, including transverters
Thunderpole Mainly CB gear
Toolbank Supplies Q-Max chassis cutters and other stuff
Transmitters R Us As its name implies - for broadcast
Tube Shop On-line supplier of thermionic valves
UES&S Ltd Surplus electronics
Vacuum Tubes Stock over 7,800 different radio and and vacuum tubes
Versatower Versatower and Radiostructures lattice masts
Vine Antennas Supplier of rigs and antennas in GW land
VK5JST Supplier of antenna analyser design PCB
Walford Electronics Amateur radio kits
Waters & Stanton Rigs and all station accessories
WH Westlake Cables and connectors
WiMo German supplier - large product range
Wood and Douglas Professional communications (ex amateur supplier)
Worsley Communications Rigs and masts
ZLP Electronics Yorkshire-based supplier of radio data interfaces, etc

(Checked for broken links 21/09/2011)

 

TECHNICAL TOPICS

4m Transverter ARAC (Andover Radio Amateurs Club) design
13cm Downconverter Design from G0ORY
10 GHz Simple FM design for 10 GHz
24 GHz Initiative The UK Microwave Group 24GHz Initiative
AC6V Technical Reference Many links on a wide range of topics
ADSB Simple design for an ADSB pre-amp
ADSB2 Simple design for an ADSB antenna
ADSB3 Comparison of ADSB receivers
BATC Amateur TV (including ATV streaming)
BITX 20 metre transceiver An easy to build 6 watt SSB transceiver for 14MHz
Circuit Symbols Downloadable Circuit Symbols
Cool Circuits Interesting collection of circuits, but mainly non radio
cqham.ru Russian site - click on union flag for English version
Datasheet Archive Claims over 6 million electronic component datasheets
Datasheets  Various, incl Tonna antennas
DSP Radio An Elektor magazine design
D-Star UK D-Star Interconnect site
Dummy Load Construction Information
Dummy Load 2 Design in a paint tin (also adopted at G3WZK)
Earthing Systems Wikipedia Info On Electrical Earthing Systems
Earthing Systems 2 Simple explanation of the three main systems
Electrical Wiring Useful Guide To IEE Regulationjs
Electrolytic capacitors Reforming
Electronic & Electrical Symbols Downloadable Symbols
Frank's Hobby Corner NL land (PA0FBK)
G4BAO Microwave site
G4GYS Mainly antenna related items
G4JNT Site Andy Talbot
H-Mode H-Mode Mixer Front end
Ham Exams On line questions for US amateur exams
Hans Summers Many buildable designs
Heatsinks All about heatsinks and heatsink design
Hobby Circuits Good collection of useful circuits
HPSDR High Performance Software Defined Radio
Impedance Matching (1) On-line impedance matching network design. Try it! 
Impedance Matching (2) More on-line help 
"In Practice"   G3SEK
ezscreen  IP ratings (water and dust proofing etc)
K5LXP Constructional projects
LC Meter Project From VK3CMZ
LF Amateur Radio G3NYK site
Microphone Pinouts G4WPW site covers countless rigs and mikes
Microphone Powering Information on powering electret microphone capsules.
Microwavers UK Microwave Group
mods.dk Modifications and manuals
N Connectors How fit N-Type Connectors
Ofcom - Legal Legal Aspects Of Using Transmitters In the UK
Oscilloscope Make a 'scope designed by N4BCU
PA0FRI Lots of technical Info
PLT Item on PLT and alleged interference caused by BT Vision with YouTube clip.
Plug Fitting How to fit a BNC plug
PW Exe Classic PW Microwave Design
Radio waves below 22 kHz VLF and ELF
RF Design Journal for RF design engineers
Rigpix Rig photos from SM land - 3660 radios at the last count
SCART Club ATV in Southern England
SDR 2 High Performance Software Defined Radio
SDR 3 FlexRadio: Software Defined Radios for Amateur Radio Use
SDR 4 Open source software defined versatile radio board
SMA How to wire up an SMA connector
TAPR Amateur Digital Communications Organisation
Transistor Pinouts Common legacy device pinouts
Tube data I think they must mean data sheets for thermionic VALVES
ULF Ultra Low Frequencies
WA1MBA A domain for microwave amateur radio
ZL1BPU Lots of info on communications modes
Z-match Z-match Design from VK land

(Checked for broken links 20/09/2011)

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Airband Frequencies VHF / UHF Airband Frequencies in use within the UK
Airband Online UK VHF Airband Transmitter Sites
Bletchley Park Bletchley Park National Codes Centre
BPL Noise BT Vision Powerline Adaptor Interference - YouTube Recording
CW Ring Tones For mobile phones
Digimodes W1HKJ site covering many data modes
eHam.net Ham radio on the net
Electromagnetic Pulse Bomb Military use of EMP
Encyclopaedia Science and Engineering Encyclopaedia
G3KAC University Of Bristol Club
G7FEK  VOIP gateway etc
HMS Collingwood Royal Navy radar and communications museum
HS0ZEE Experiences of living in Thailand, including amateur radio
Joint Radio Company Spectrum management
Learn About Fantastic Learning Resource For All Electronics
Manuals Download a manual for almost anything
NOT the GB2RS News A humorous site, sporadically updated
Olivia W1HKJ site covering this data mode
Ofcom Ofcom licensing page
ON4KST Chat Chatrooms for all amateur frequencies (not checked out)
Palau Rent a radio shack in Palau for your holidays
RAE Old RAE exam papers
Rig Register Check to see if a rig has ever been stolen
Robot Wars Radio and antenna considerations
Sam's Telecoms Documents eg Post Office N diagrams
Superfi  Like hi fi, only better (allegedly!)
Telecom Heritage Group Mainly Post office era, including Strowger
Transmission Mode Recordings A collection of recordings of various transmissions, including: Hellschreiber, PSK31 and PSK125, DominoEX and RTTY.
TAPR Tucson Amateur Packet Radio
VHF Communications Construction-orientated publication for Amateurs and Professionals,  covering VHF, UHF and Microwaves
Wireless Waffle Describes itself as "a whole spectrum of radio related rubbish" but is actually quite interesting and always topical. Lots to read!
WWII - War Time Radio Some interesting facts on ULTRA

(Checked for broken links 19/09/2011)

 

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Page updated 21/09/2011 by G3WZK