Biography

Hello and Welcome to my BIO page. My name is Paul and my current callsign is vk4ma which I have used since moving to Queensland in late 2007. I also hold the contest call VJ4M.

I have been a licensed ham since 1979 (original novice call vk3vdp) and was licensed at age 13 (now aged 57 as at 2022).

From 1980 through 2007 I was licensed as vk3ajj and also operated from various DXCC and IOTA locations including 3w2ajj, vk3ajj/vp2e, jy, cp, OC-139 and OC-196.

I live on a 5 acre property just outside of Hervey Bay on the central coast of eastern Australia (just nearby Fraser Island).

My main interests are dxing (DXCC Challenge) with a particular emphasis on the lowbands and 10/6 metres. I was a keen IOTA chaser with near 1100 islands worked and confirmed but no longer participate in this program due to rules changes in 2019 and generally a dislike for the way the program is now managed ( I believe the RSGB are the main culprit in politicising our hobby and creating unneccessary division in our Ham global community).

I QSL via LOTW and EQSL only. I deleted my QRZ log and account when QRZ decided to delete Russian Hams from its database as a publicity stunt around the time of the Ukraine War.

I am largely retired now but still dabble in a bit of share trading from home to supplement income. I have a diverse working background with academic qualifications in Law, Arts and Marketing. I spent around 15 years in banking and a futher 10 years running my own business.

Interests now include ham radio, travelling (>100 countries visited), reading, watching films and quality TV series, playing tennis, watching Australian Rules Football (go the Demons) and maintaining my small patch of paradise here in SE Queensland.

I look forward to meeting you on air soon.

Cheers and 73

Paul - vk4ma,vj4m

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

MY CURRENT STATION

Icom 7610 and Icom 7300, SPE Amplifier 1.3K FA x 2, 4 el steppir yagi at 15 metres (4els 6 thru 20M, 2els 30-40 metres), 75 and 80 metres diploes at 25 metres, 160M Inverted L 25 metre vertical, 15 metre horizontal - 60 radials, 8EL 6M LFA yagi at 17 metres.

I use AClog for logging, JTDX with JTAlert and GridTracker for digital modes, PSTRotator for rotor control, SPE Amp control console - I frequently operate remotely using my Samsung Tablet as it is great way to spend more time with my XYL or to avoid getting out of bed to capture the early morning openings on topband.