Biography

I was licenced in October 1983 as G4VJI and was very active on the bands between 1983 and 1992 - mainly in the data modes like Amtor, Packet Radio and Pactor. I went QRT in 1992 after a few heart attacks. In 2013 I was diagnosed with cancer which took over my life for some 18 months, it was after this and with some encouragement from a long time friend G4UGB that I decided to get involved in Amateur Radio again.

What a difference though, so much has changed over the yearssince I have been away from Amateur Radio !! It is quite incredible to see how the hobby has moved on - in both innovation and advances in technology.So much has changed, D-Star is one example, I am lucky in having a local gateway and someone to guide me along the way.
My good (and long time)friend (Richard G4UGB)has been a great help and source of inspiration to me. His patience with my never ending questions over the last 9 months has been instrumental in me getting to grips with a lot of the 'new technology' so quickly. So 'THANK YOU RICHARD' !!!

So coming to the end of my building phase now, Dipole up ok on top of Mast, Cobweb just finished building, just needs tuning then up it goes and then back to improving my CW speed which is an embarrassment at the moment, have never forgotten the characters but am as slow as a striking snail. !!

Hope to see you on the bands

73 Cliff G4VJI

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Icom IC-7100 All mode Transciever
Palstar 500 ATU
Home made ZS6BKW dipole
Just finished building a Cobweb which should be up in a few days.
Have SCAM 12 military mast up at 40ft.
Co-linear for 2/70 on the top
Just renovating home made linear using 2 x 813.