Like many others, I was bitten by the CB-radio bug in 1975. At that time, the use of the 11-meter band (27 MHz) was prohibited in the Netherlands. During those early years, I used several radios and transceivers, including the Hygain 2, Hygain V, Superstar 2000, and later the Yaesu FT707. My antenna setup consisted of a 5-element beam for 11 meters, mounted on a Kenpro rotor.
Over time, I lost interest in the CB-radio (27 MHz) hobby. However, after a 20-year break, I reconnected with the radio world when I met Jan Scharroo (silent key PA2JSL). I decided to follow his amateur radio course, and after a while, I passed the Novice (N) exam, which was over 20 years ago.
Due to family and work commitments, I had to put my radio hobby on hold until October 2022.
Now, I’m preparing to sit for the Full (F) exam in 2025.
What I enjoy most in amateur radio includes UHF/VHF, amateur radio satellites, HF, CW, magnetic loop antennas, digital modes like FT4 and FT8, homebrew projects, and Software Defined Radio (SDR).
My primary transceivers are:
- ICOM IC-9700
- ICOM IC-7300
- Yaesu FT-736R
- Yaesu FT-767GX
- QRP FT-817ND
Looking forward to what the future holds in the world of amateur radio!
