Biography

I MAY SUDDENLY QRT VERY SUDDENLY - I AM SELF-EMPLOYED (NOT RETIRED!) SO IF MY PHONE RINGS OR CUSTOMERS ARRIVE I STOP OPERATING IMMEDIATELY. I AM ALSO A FAMILY MAN - IF MY WIFE CALLS I QRT IMMEDIATELY (FOR MY OWN HEALTH HI HI)

PLEASE DON'T SEND DIRECT!
NO MORE STREET DELIVERY - OUR LOCAL POST OFFICE HAS BEEN CLOSED (POSTAL SERVICE BANKRUPT). NO FACILITY TO RECEIVE OR SEND MAIL. LAST POST RECEIVED WAS IN FEB 2023.

PLEASE NO BUREAU!!! As I am NOT a member of the South African Radio League, I am not able to use the SARL Bureau. Please do NOT waste your cards sending via the Bureau - they will only be either returned to you or dumped by the SARL Bureau!.

ALL QSOs ARE UPLOADED TO LoTW, CLUBLOG AND EQSL (AS A COURTESY ONLY) AFTER OPERATING SESSION, AND QRZ.COM SYNCED ONCE LoTW UPDATED ( QRZ XML SUBSCRIPTION UNAFFORDABLE AT CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE!). NOTE : I TREAT EQSL THE SAME AS LoTW - NO EDITING OR CHANGING OF QSO DETAILS!

I was born in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth in January 1966, and (apart for a 9-year stint in Johannesburg) have been in the same house in the suburb of Walmer all my life. I attended the Grey High School in Port Elizabeth, and subsequently spent a couple of years studying Computer Science at the University Of Port Elizabeth before finances forced me to abandon studies and embark on my 2 years of Compulsory Military Service in 1988. I was trained at the SADF School Of Signals, and during 1988 joined the SADF Permanent Force. I was posted to the Eastern Province Command in Port Elizabeth, where I served until late 1991. After a brief stint in the Liquor Trade I moved to Johannesburg in early 1995, where I trained and worked as an Apple Service technician until late 2003 when I returned to Port Elizabeth due to health issues (diabetes and high cholesterol). After a time recovering and working part time, I joined my friend Donovan ZS2DL in his Radio Business up until 2012 when I returned to the IT industry as a freelance Support Tech. In August 2016 I married Tracey, and we live happily in the family home along with my brother and our 3 dogs (All "Rescue" crossbreeds) and a cat. In 2026 (after the family occupying our house for 68 years) we sold and bought a property in the suburb of Parsons Hill, Port Elizabeth. Station in Walmer was shut down on 10 May 2026 pending move in June 2026, and finally became QRV again on 12 September 2026. Antenna now only an 80-10m EFHW.

First licenced in 1985 in Port Elizabeth as ZR2AAB (restricted licence, limited to VHF), and subsequently held further restricted calls ZR6DXB (following move to Johannesburg) and ZR2DX (upon return to Port Elizabeth). Upgraded to my current Unrestricted call of ZS2EZ in 2005.

Active from 80m - 10m. Due to declining hearing I am almost exclusively operating FT8 and FT4. On occasion I attempt RTTY but with no amplifier I struggle. I also have FLDigi set up but seldom use it.

A note re the JT Modes : I hold the view that these are Weak-Signal modes, NOT Low-Power modes. I routinely run 80W on both FT8 and FT4 (I no longer own an amplifier!). If you cannot get through to me, you may need to TURN UP THE POWER! Additionally, I am located in a high-noise Suburban area, so very weak signals are a problem for me!

I currently hold DXCC Awards for Mixed (336), CW (314), Digital (315) and Phone (300). I also hold DXCC on 80/40/30/20/17/15/12/10 meters (8BDXCC), and in July 2018 reached the entry level of DXCC Honor Roll (at present on 334 of the current 340). I also hold the ARRL Triple Play Award, and qualify for WAS on 40-10m (hold certificates for 17m and 12m). Still need 1 State on 80m (AK). Have both RTTY and Digital (endorsed for FT8, FT4 and JT65) WAS certificates. I also hold a WAZ Certificate for RTTY, as well as WAZS (300 Level) and All Africa Awards from the SARL. During 2020 (by tuning my 80m dipole to 160m) added the SARL Top Band Certificate!

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Kenwood TS-2000X
Kenwood SP-23 Speaker
Kenwood PS-60 Power Supply
Kenwood MC-60 Microphone
microHam NicroKeyer II
EFHW Antenna 80m-10m
Yaesu FC-902 Tuner
Daiwa CN620A Power/SWR Meter
SDRPlay RSP1 SDR with TX/RX Switch
Heil ProSet Plus Headset