Biography

Full licence July 2019 Callsign MØJOC

Intermediate March 2019 Callsign 2EØJTO

Foundation November 2018 Callsign M7JOC

Former British Merchant Navy Radio Officer.

Attended Fleetwood Nautical College, Lancashire, UK 1972 -1975 and then went to sea with Houlder Brothers from 1975 - 1980 maintaining and operating the ships HF and VHF equipment, Radars and Direction Finding equipment.

Sailed all around the world - North America, Caribbean, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, South Africa, Java, Sumatra, Singapore, China, Japan, Suez canal, Panama canal, Kiel canal, Egypt, Iran, Malta, Libya, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, N. Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Pakistan, India - not exhaustive but an incredible 5 year experience at 19 to do this in the mid 70's.

After the Merchant Navy, I worked for 3 years in Burnley, my home town at an aerospace engine manufacturer in non destructive testing (x-ray etc.). I then spent the rest of my working life in voice and data communications/managed wide area networks/local area networks and software defined networks as product specialist, presales support consultant, senior consultant and my last role was as Integration Services Business Devolopment Manager for Europe/Nordics at Orange Business Services.

I took early retirement in April 2018.

Became interested in Amateur Radio after visiting Bletchley Park and the RSGB national radio centre in November 2018 - three weeks later and I took my Foundation exam and passed! I'm now studying for the Intermediate in February 2019 (update - passed!) and with a good wind I hope to have my full UK licence in July/Aug 2019. (Update - passed my advanced full licence exam 11th July 2019).

I'm a member of Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) G0MWT, GX0MWT, GB75CH, GB100MWT, GB95-2MT

My main interest is in CW - I have a straight key (Hi-Mound HK-708) which I've just started using - amazing after 40 years that I can still do morse ! I now own a Marconi 365A full restored. I also have a Bencher BY-2 dual paddle and a Kent twin paddle (TP-1) which is my favourite - still learning to use it! Elekey Type A and Reverse dot/dash is my preference ;-)

In my spare time I am Tour Manager for a 12 piece jazz funk band - Incognito and also work as a stage tech/tour manager for other bands in the UK. Biggest gig to date - Royal Albert Hall May 2019 with Incognito supporting Tower of Power.

Equipment

Yaesu FT-991A 100W

HyEndFed 80/40(30)20/17/15/12/10M, 40 metres long 12 metres high for HF

Diamond X200-N 2M/70cm VHF/UHF 2.5M vertical

Hi-Mound HK-708 key

Bencher BY-2 key

Kent TP-1 twin paddle key

Marconi 365A Serial No. 8999