I began in Amateur Radio when I was 13 ... taking what was then the RAE run by City & Guilds in London. I was a member of the RSGB as a SWL from 1979 (number RS42461). In those days, although you could sit the exam earlier, you had to be 14 before you could get a transmitting license. (Looking back from where we are now, I think we had it about right then!) In 1982, I became G6JBI and spent some time learning about VHF on FM and SSB from locator JO01PW. In my early days, I helped pioneer some of the earliest data modes between the first home computers over RF (including protocols such as AX.25 and Cambridge Packet).In 1985, I took my morse test at 12wpm and became G0DVJ. I then began exploring HF. In 1991, I moved QTH to locator JO01MX.

Since then I have tried most aspects of amateur radio (TV, datamodes, ragchew, contests, satellites, etc) and pretty much decided where my interests lie. I have tried to contribute back into the hobby in a number of ways. At a local level I helped form the current HARIG club in 1990, and have served in various capacities on the committee of that organisation since then. I have also served on the committees of other local clubs including Ipswich Radio Club and Colchester Radio Amateurs. From 1988 until the abolition of the Morse Test service in the UK, I was one of the volunteer County CW Examiners for Suffolk. I have also been involved in providing CW practice over the years for people wanting to learn, both at local clubs and on-air. I have also been a volunteer GB2RS news reader for East Anglia for over 20 years. More recently in 2009, I helped form a new CW club (ECWARC).

I enjoy radio because of the challenge it offers, especially the technical challenge governed by the physics involved and the challenge of efficient operating techniques. My two main interests are therefore CW and contesting. I enter many contests each year, either individually or as part of a team. I enjoy both VHF & up contests as well as HF contests. I have operated with groups including G0VHF/P, M1CRO, G4IRC, G0RGH, 3Z0I/1, M4U, M6T, M5C and G0KPW. In recent years I have been part of the national UK team operating GB5HQ, GB7HQ and GR2HQ in the IARU HF World Championship contest each July.

From 1995, I also had a reciprocal licence in Poland with the callsign SO6DVJ. My main operating QTH there was in Locator JO81MB. I have also operated from the USA and Canada amongst other countries.

I have recently assisted in the development of some contest logging software for Mac OSX called SkookumLogger. Other radio software I use on my computers include MacLoggerDX, MacDoppler and CocoaModem. I began back in 1982 with a (Trio as it was then) Kenwood TR9000 transceiver. Although I still have a Kenwood Handheld transceiver, the rest of my shack is based on Yaesu equipment now. Since 2008, my QTH has been in locator JO02MA.

In March 2011, I spent time on Lundy Island, EU-120, working mainly CW alongside Kevan 2E0WMG on SSB. QSLs for this activation of WAB SS14 from grid IO71PE may be sent via the bureau or direct via 2E0WMG.

In November 2011, I spent 10 days in St. Lucia, NA-108, working as J6/G0DVJ from grid FK94MC alongside Mike J6/W0MU and Jim J6/N1NK. We also operated as a team using J6M during the CQWW CW contest 2011. QSLs for the latter should be sent via Mike W0MU.

In June 2012, I spent a week on Rathlin Island, EU-122, working mainly CW as GI0DVJ/P from grid square IO65VH and WAB D15.  QSLs for this operation maybe sent via the bureau or direct via 2E0WMG, who was also QRV from there.

I continue to learn, get pleasure, have fun, and relax in the amateur radio hobby. Maybe we'll work each other some day, if not already.