In 1970 I knew little about radio, transmitters and suchlike. Within three years I was building hifi quality stereo FM rigs.

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IT CHANGED MY LIFE....

Radio Invicta was to change my life. It was to give me the interest and courage to get involved with legitimate radio stations, later in my life.

In the autumn of 1970 I was embarking upon my career in the media. Between studies at Carshalton Technical College I 'moonlighted' as a freelance photographer for the local newspaper - The Mitcham News & Mercury.


From 1971 onwards Radio Invicta used home-made transmitters based upon a Mullard design. This mobile radio rig was modified to give wideband FM and 100 Watts using a QQV-06-40A twin beam tetrode output valve. The left hand meter showed modulation. The right meter showed PA current. Throughout its 14 year history, Radio Invicta built around 10 such transmitters - cost

One chilly November afternoon I was asked to take photos of a pirate radio station that was operating from common land outside Mitcham. Radio Love was a medium wave station broadcasting on 359 Metres. Along with the crew from this station was Peter St Crispian who wanted to tell the press about 'The future of FM'.

I remember it now. Peter St Crispian explained that AM Medium Wave Radio was old-hat. He and his friends were conceiving Radio Invicta which would broadcast 'hifi' sound on FM. According to St Crispian, Invicta would be the first-ever FM Pirate in the UK.

Radio Invicta's second studio. The mixer fed an old Leak valve amplifier. The microphone was from an ancient Philips tape recorder.

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