I need to thank my neighbour Predrag Cvetkovic, YU1YP, who talked me into taking amateur radio classes in 1980 at the age of 14. From then on I operated from a local radio club YU1IMN in my hometown in Central Serbia, mostly HF and CW. Later under Predrag’s influence I decided to go study electrical engineering at the University of Belgrade, where I joined the university radio club YU1EXY. This is where I learnt the basics of contesting and how a station can be built on a larger scale. I had the honour of meeting and operating with some amazing contest operators. My personal call used to be YU1JJ.
After graduating from electrical engineering at the department of Electronics and Telecommunications, I worked for 4 years at the national telecommunications company in Belgrade as a system RF engineer. I moved to Canada with my wife Marija and our son in 1995. We moved to Ottawa since it was a large hi-tech centre, and we stayed in Ottawa until today. In Canada I have been working for various hi-tech companies as a software developer.
I passed the Canadian Advanced amateur radio class in 1997 and obtained the call VE3ANX. In 1999 I got on the air again after putting up a small tower in the backyard of our house. In Canada you had to wait for 5 years in order to apply for a 2-letter call, so in 2003 I obtained callsign VE3JM. I operated from home and from my friends’ places, most often from VE3RM. Don Dashney, VE3RM, was also my technical mentor.
But thanks to the influence from the YU1EXY gang, I always wanted to build my own contest station. In 2010 we bought a property outside of Ottawa, where I started building my station. The station is giving me immense joy. I feel blessed that I have an opportunity to enjoy ham radio and that Marija and our 2 children, who are now adults, are supporting me. I am slowing down on the work front and am spending more time with the family, enjoying a dream hobby called ham radio and still playing soccer. I cannot ask for more!
I would like to thank VE3NNT, N3JT, W8XAL, VE6RST and KA7MDM for sponsoring me. See you on the air.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.