Biography

Welcome and thank you for visiting.

I was born in November 1963 about 2 miles away from where I now live on the beautiful Isle of Portland in the county of Dorset, south-west England. I was taught morse by an ex-professional merchant navy radio telegraphist at 11 and 12 years old. I obtained my amateur radio licence G0ACQ in 1984 after an idilic childhood spent as an electronic experimenter and very keen SWL using a variety of different old receivers containing valves, which were often rescued from local rubbish bins.

I've been interested in amateur radio forever. After a twenty year break, I have recently built a new shack. I am up and running on several amateur bands (HF/VHF/UHF). It is great to be back!

I'm fond of operating QRP CW on the HF bands because I like a challenge and love the potentilal for being able to work huge distances using a few watts fed into a simple wire antenna. I'm a member of the RSGB and I've also been a member of the GQRP Club for many years (Member No: 3997).

I am currently having lots of fun tinkering with some digital modes using a small computer hooked up to my transceiver with low transmitted power. I'm finding FT8 to be a particuarly interesting mode, so much so that I've recently joined the European Phase Shift Keying Club (Member No: 32247) and the FT8 Digital Mode Club (Member No: 15699).

I really enjoy collecting paper QSL cards so if we have had a QSO, please send me your card and I'll gladly reciprocate (either via the bureau or direct - no IRCs or USDs are necessary).

Reports from SWLs are also, always very welcome.

Besides amateur radio, my other much enjoyed hobby is digital photography.

Professionally, I'm an engineering geologist (chartered / European geologist and chartered / European engineer).

I hope to meet you on the bands soon. Many thanks for dropping by.

Very best 72/73 de Mark - G0ACQ.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Yaesu FT857D
Yaesu FTdx101MP

Wire antennas.