Biography

Dear friends,

SWL since 1978 (Age 12). I was "on the air" for the first time in the evening of 26th January 1981. The novice license only allowed me use CW and 15 Watts output on the HF-bands (LB was a novice license back then). First QSO was with DL5JP on 40 meters at 20:05 UTC. On my 16th birthday (sep 1981), I started using LA5EBA as callsign (Class-A license). On 17th October 2008, after 27 years as LA5EBA , I received permission to use my old "vanity" callsign again - still with full privileges.

I graduated from the radio officer training school at age 17 with a Radio Officer 2nd class certificate issued on my 18th birthday. After a year at sea, I upgraded to 1st class. Then, "suddenly", I had to go to the navy and do my service there. I was a radio operator in the Norwegian Coast Guard (Coastguard vessel "Senja"). I also served as a radio operator in the Army. Both in Bergen and Oslo area. I worked several years in the Norwegian Foreign Ministry as a radio operator in charge of daily radio communication with Norwegian embassies in approx. 40 countries around the globe. I spent several years as a radio technician for the same employer, dealing with communication both home and abroad at the embassies. Total visited 76 UN countries.

Today I am 55 yrs old and work as a Marine Radio Surveyor, performing survey on GMDSS installations on ships. I also do the practical examination of new ROC and GOC candidates (maritime certificates).

Until now, I have been chasing DX without a beam. 324 DXCCs and 2480 slots for the Challenge are confirmed. I am QRV more or less every day, even though I am still at work every weekday.... I am QRV on all HF bands - 99% CW. Mostly Ragchewing, but also looking around for a new slot - and sometimes a new DXCC. Having fun with my Begali Paddle, the Vibroplex Deluxe Bug or my simple morse key...

Equipment

Rig:
Yaesu FTDX5000
ACOM 1000 (1kW amp)

Antenna system:
Palstar AT4K (Antenna tuner)
Doublet: 2 x 39,5 meter (2 x 130 ft) - up abt 20M (65 ft) - my only TX antenna.
26M vertical spiderbeam pole with 4 x 40M elevated radials - only for RX (9:1 UNUN)

Keyers:
J36 Chrome (Replica) from I1QOD
Begali Magnetic Classic
Vibroplex Deluxe Bug
EB (Elektrisk Bureau) straight key

Also in shack:
Elecraft K3 (upgraded)
Elecraft KPA500 (500W amp)

...and more...