I am delighted to have been accepted as a CWOPS member.
I was licensed first as G8IOE in March 1974 at the age of 15 and then went on to take my 12 wpm CW test to gain my full license in 1981 when I gained this current call.
As with many hams I lapsed with the CW only having one QSO on air and then due to family and work commitments as an NHS General Medical Practitioner largely put the hobby on hold until retirement a couple of years ago with a move to rural Norfolk in the East of England.
The local club, Norfolk ARC have been very welcoming, and I was encouraged to re-learn CW by Roger G3LDI, Jim G3YLA and Chris G4CCX and have been attending their on-air classes.
I am lucky to have sufficient space here for reasonably decent wire antennae with full-wave dipoles on 160 m and 80 m and a full size G5RV. With these I seem to get out reasonably well and have enjoyed working the world.
My main rig is a Yaesu FT-991a coupled when needed to an Acom 2000A linear. I also have a TS-850S, still an excellent rig and an IC-9700 for VHF/UHF with homebrew linears currently for 2 m and 70 cm and more being worked on.
I have an old Post-Office brass straight key from the late 19th century and a Begali HST Mark 2 single lever paddle for CW.
I am thoroughly enjoying the hobby again and it has been a great support during these days of lockdown due to COVID 19.
I look forward to meeting you all on the bands.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.