Catching Up with 9M2FRI: Ham Radio Projects in Setia Alam

One of the greatest joys of amateur radio isn’t just the contacts we make over the airwaves, but the lifelong friendships that form along the way. Sometimes, those friendships span across entirely different continents.

Recently, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with an old friend, Martin PA3FRI (now operating as 9M2FRI). Martin is originally from the Netherlands but has since migrated and settled down right here in Malaysia.

Our history goes back quite a bit. Back in 2017, I was the one playing tourist on his home turf in the Netherlands. I still vividly remember meeting up with him at the bustling Amsterdam Central station. From there, we caught a train and took a taxi out to his beautiful home in Warmenhuizen. It was a fantastic visit, filled with great conversations, plenty of radio talk, and excellent Dutch hospitality.

Fast forward to today, and the tables have turned. Martin has traded the cool European weather for our Malaysian tropical heat. I took a nice, relaxing ride over to Setia Alam, Selangor, to visit him at his new home.

Naturally, when two hams get together, it’s only a matter of time before the conversation shifts to antennas and shack projects. I was eager to see what he had been working on lately.

Stepping out to look at his setup, the first things that immediately caught my eye were a beautifully constructed magnetic loop antenna and his satellite dish.

What really impressed me during this visit was how Martin has completely embraced 3D printing to elevate his homebrew radio projects. Rather than buying off-the-shelf parts, he’s been designing and printing his own custom solutions right at home.

He proudly showed me a custom LNB holder he designed specifically for his satellite dish setup.

The creativity didn’t stop there. He also walked me through a sturdy, custom-fitted case he 3D printed to house his antenna tuner, keeping everything neat and protected.

Finally, he gave me a look at his latest design work: a very clever and well-engineered holder for a V dipole antenna. Seeing these projects up close is a great reminder of how versatile our hobby is, blending traditional RF concepts with modern maker technology.

While admiring all his current creations, Martin also pointed out a sturdy mini antenna crank type tower he has waiting in the wings. He hasn’t had the chance to get it installed just yet, properly planning and erecting a tower always takes time and the right conditions but you could already see the wheels turning in his head as he maps out his future antenna array. If anything, it gives me a perfect excuse to come back for another shack visit once he gets it raised and on the air!

It was a brilliant, laid-back afternoon catching up with an old friend, swapping stories, and getting some fresh inspiration me. It is truly amazing how this hobby keeps us connected, whether we are sitting in a quiet town in the Netherlands or a lively neighborhood in Selangor.

Until next time,

73 from 9M2PJU (ex PA3/9M2PJU)