First, I would like to thank Bud – AA3B and the other sponsors for nominating me for a membership in the club. I was very pleased upon receiving the invitation.
I am married and a father of two children. As of 2018 I am in retired. I graduated from the Secondary School of Electrical Engineering and then continued my studies at the Faculty of Administration at the University of Ljubljana. I have been working in the police force for 32 years, the last 23 years as a Special Criminal Police Inspector and Head of the Corruption Unit. In my free time I like to engage in sports, especially in skiing and cycling, but spent most of my free time in my room (shack) in front of the radio station.
I started to study radio amateurism while studying at the Secondary School of Electrical Engineering, but I did not get a license at that time since I first wanted to finish school. I obtained my first license in 1981 (Class C) and 1982 (Class B) while in military service. After returning from the military service in 1982, I joined the Slovenj Gradec Radio Club S59DCD and received the call sign YT3VK. I used it until Slovenia gained independence in 1991 when I received the S52VK call sign. In the meantime, I was managing radio connections at the S59DCD Club. Quite soon, I purchased a used radio station, the Kenwood Trio TS 510, which I still own. It is still working. I used dipoles as antennas for the lower bands and the Fritzel vertical for the upper bands. In 1989, I obtained my license for the A Class and received the S55N call sign in 2002.
The next radio that I purchased was the Yaesu FT 950 and I even considered purchasing a better antenna for higher frequency bands. My friend Igor S51IC, unfortunately SK, suggested that I build a 3- element wire antenna by myself (mini horse – MH, kicks like a grown-up horse, takes the space of a pony, broad as a highway), following the construction plan of Martin SM0DTK. He used an antenna like this himself and praised it. I started constructing the antenna but had to face some problems because Martin’s antenna was designed as a monoband antenna whereas I wanted to have an antenna for several bands. I solved the problem by mounting four antennas (like Hex beam) on one carrier and powered each one individually. It worked – the antenna works very well. I compared the antenna to a Hex beam and 3 element Yagi, both for 14 MHz, and found it to be better than both, so I do not consider changing the antenna. My future project will be the construction of a 2 or 3 – element antenna for 7 MHz; still searching for the best solution how to do it (place).
Most of the QSOs, about 80%, are done in CW, the rest in SSB. I have only a small number of digital QSOs. I work at 100 w maximum. At 1.8 and 3.5 MHz I work only QRP with 5 w.
I now use the Yaesu FT DX 3000 and FT 991, the latter for VHF and portable work. However, for DMR and UHF, I use the Retevis RT3S. I am well aware that my amateur radio equipment is not top notch, but it meets my needs and desires and I really enjoy my hobby a lot. Prefer DXing and looking for interesting countries. I also participate in contests, preferably those with a shorter duration. 48 or 24 hours of sitting? Uh Uh. I participate in the ARON (Radio Amateur Activities during Accidents and Emergency Events) regional team of radio amateur activities in the event of accidents and newcomer education. I am also a member of the IPA Radio Club and a member of the Supervisory Board of the Slovenian Amateur Radio Association.
I am convinced that with my membership in the club, I will gain new knowledge and will be able to make progress in all areas of radio amateur work. I look forward hearing from you.
Thank you again for welcoming me in the club.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.