Geraldo Lucas Poli - PP5GP

Hello everyone! My name is Geraldo Lucas Poli (PP5GP), born and raised in a family of radio amateurs. I learned everything about radio from my father PP5GLP. Since childhood, I've been fascinated by communications, antennas, and the art of reaching distant places through the airwaves.

I’m married and currently living in Brusque, Santa Catarina – Brazil, where I work in the technology industry. Today, I act as Head of Datacenter & Cloud, leading mission-critical infrastructure, high-availability platforms and large-scale cloud environments.

My website: TechPoli

My Radio Journey

My first call sign was PU5GCP, with more than 3,000 QSOs before being discontinued in September 2024 when I was promoted to Class B and became PP5GP. On September 9, 2025, I achieved my Class A license, consolidating my journey and marking a new milestone as PP5GP.

Operating Style

I’m passionate about DX and testing how far my station can go. I currently operate with 1 kW on HF, 80W on VHF, and 20W on UHF. I also enjoy SOTA contests and field activations with friends across the region. My focus is to show how simple and efficient it can be to operate HF from an apartment.

Araucária DX Group

In 2025, I was proudly accepted into the Araucária DX Group, one of the most respected DX-focused radio amateur groups in the world, composed of exceptional operators with deep technical knowledge and an impressive DX pedigree. Being part of this group is an honor and a strong driver of my evolution as an operator.

Antennas

• AP9249 – VHF Base Antenna 3x5/8 Wave (500W)
• Hustler 5-BTV – 80M, 40M, 20M, 15M, 10M with 32 radials (¼λ per band), up to 1500W
• Inverted-V Dual Band Dipole – 40M and 80M, rated 1500W PEP
• Inverted-V Dual Band Dipole – 10M and 20M, rated 1500W PEP

This image shows my Hustler 5-BTV installed on the rooftop with 32 radials made of 4 mm wire, using 8 radials per band (no radials on 80 m). Despite its simplicity, this antenna consistently delivers excellent DX performance, allowing me to work the USA in SSB with signals exceeding +20 dB. The system currently presents a maximum SWR of around 1.5 and is operated at up to 1 kW. The feedline is Rosenberger SL 012S PE, incorporating an air choke wound on a 150 mm tube, a 1:1 current balun (FT240-43) at the feed point, and additional RF suppression using distributed Mix 43 ferrites along the coax. This configuration, refined over time, results in an extremely low noise floor, and the antenna’s rooftop elevation further enhances its radiation efficiency; although it is not a full-size vertical, in practice it performs exceptionally well in several operating scenarios and has become an antenna to which I am particularly attached.

Main Setup

• Yaesu FTDX-10
• Yaesu FT-897 (HF 100W, VHF 50W, UHF 20W)
• Yaesu FT-301 (HF 100W)
• Yaesu MD-200A8X Microphone
• Yaesu Desktop Speakers SP-30 with Phonema PHITS Acoustic 
• Yaesu FT-2980 (VHF 80W)
• Icom IC-2300H (VHF 70W)
• Voyager PS50II Power Supply (50A)
• ABL1200 Zamin Linear Amplifier (700W in 80/40)
• ABL1000 Zamin Linear Amplifier (600W in 80/40 and 350W in 20/15/10)
• Baojie BJ-300 Linear Amplifier (1.8–30 MHz)
• Lextel MS-800 V4 Monitor Station
• Baofeng UV-RH PRO MAX (10W)
• Quansheng UV-K5 (VHF/UHF 5W)
• Nissei RX-203
• Daiwa CN-501H SWR & Power Meter
• Delta-4 Coax Switch
• ATU-500W Antenna Tuner (1.8–50 MHz)
• Ham Plus AS-603WL Automatic Antenna Switch (3 Radios / 6 Antennas)
• Maxtron 50A 12V Power Supply

Locations

Grand Canyon (USA) • Machu Picchu (Peru) • Golden Gate Bridge (USA) • Los Angeles (USA) • Miami (USA) • Tequila (Mexico) • Route 66 (USA)

Ham Radio Outlet - Flórida EUA 

QSL & Contact

QSL: LOTW, eQSL, Direct or Bureau via PP5GP.