Welcome.

I have had an interest in electronics since the age of about 11. I wasn't introduced to radio until a few years later though, when my parents bought me a CB radio, which was around 1978 I guess, just after CB was legalised in Australia.

A chance meeting with a Radio Amateur named Chris a few months later introduced me to Amateur Radio. Chris had a complete Kenwood TS-520S Station, everything from the radio right down to the station monitor and everything in between. He had, what seemed like hundreds of postcards on the wall from people he had spoken to from around the world. I was in awe, and remember thinking at the time that some day I would be a radio Amateur as well.

Years passed. I finished high school, completed a trade apprenticeship, got married and did all the other stuff that goes along life. It wasn't until I moved to Queensland that I renewed my interest in amateur radio, and in 1993 I sat my Novice Limited Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency (NLAOCP) to become VK4HBC. I followed this up a year or so later with my Morse qualification, and my call changed to VK4LAJ along with my Certificate of Proficiency; I was now a Novice.

In 1998, I again had a chance meeting, this time with Ron VK2DQ. Ron was setting up an on-line school for those wanting to become Radio Amateurs; The Radio and Electronics School. I assisted Ron in the day to day running of the school, and upgraded my theory with Ron as my tutor in 2000, gaining my Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency (Combined Limited). This forced another call-sign change, and I became VK4KSS, a call-sign I still hold.

In 2005 the regulating body for amateur radio in Australian restructured the licensing system, and five licence grades became three. With that I applied for and gained VK4IM. Since then I have mentored people coming into the hobby and I am assessor with the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA). It's my way of giving a little back to the hobby.

The rest, as they say, is history. I have had the opportunity to meet some really interesting people through amateur radio, and I value each friendship I make.

BCNU

Adam VK4IM