It all started in 1983. A friend and colleague of mine showed me his CB transmitter. Wow... that was fun! I bought myself a CB set and, of course, an antenna too.
I made a lot of local QSOs on the Citizens Band, but there was more. Europe had to be discovered! So, a BREMI amplifier was the next step, and FM was no longer sufficient. SSB — that was the magic mode.
In the meantime, I moved on to digital modes, such as RTTY, and the computer also became part of the shack. More and more equipment found its way onto the shelves.
That was the question that kept me thinking for three years.
I knew that my transmissions were illegal, and I often wondered what would happen if I got caught. So, eventually, I made the decision to become licensed and operate legally.
A year later, in November 1987, I successfully passed my exam for a C-license (VHF and above) and was issued the callsign PE1MEZ.
Five years later, I passed my Morse code exam and obtained the A-license (nowadays called a “Full Licence”), which opened up the complete world of amateur radio to me. My callsign became PA3GEU, which I changed to PC2C in 2003.
Most of the contacts I make nowadays are in digital modes such as PSK and JT65, but JT9 is my preferred mode because of its narrow bandwidth and low power requirements.
Occasionally, I take part in a contest, such as the annual Dutch PACC Contest in February, where I can happily “turn up the power” if needed.
One of the most precious contacts I ever made was in 1994 with KC7NHZ aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, using “2-meter FM voice.”
