http://www.rigexpert.net

Got involved with HAM Radio in 1974 at the age of 13. I was lucky that we had a club station at theHigh School where I was studying and my sister's boyfriend was one of the operators of UK4LAC.

My first QSO was with UK7JAC from Kazakhstan in September of 1974, and on that very same day I made few more SSB contacts, including a big DX for me at that time- LU1DVR. By the end of 1974 I completed Morse Code classes at the local Youth and Pioneers Palace and was able to participate in the RAEM CW Contest on my own in December of 1974. BTW, my first Contest was CQ WW DX SSB 1974 (as UK4LAC) and first CW Contest was CQ WW DX CW 1974 as a part of UK4LAA M/S Team. Got my first own license with call sign of UA4LAR in 1977.

While studying at the Kiev Polytechnical Institute (now Kiev Technical University) I was one of the most active operators of UK5UDX Club Station. Later in the 80s and early 90s I was the Chief and Trustee of the Club Station at the Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers in Kiev, Ukraine - UT4UXW (RT1U).

Moved to Canada in 1998, former call - VA3UZ (1998-2002).Changed this call toVE3DZ in May of 2002. Also holding VE2IM call which I mostly use for my annual trips to Zone 2 in Northern Quebec.

My other active calls are: 6Y2T, 8P9AA (8P3A), CG3DZ, CK3DZ, N2WCQ, PZ5T, UT4UZ, V31UZ, VC3T, VE2IM, VE3DZ/VP9, VO1AAM, VY2IA, ZF1DZ

Ex- 6W1/N2WCQ, 8P4A, 8P9AL, 9N1UZ, CF3UZ, EM4U,KB2PBJ, OH1/VE3DZ , PP5/VE3DZ,S5/VA3UZ, PZ5TT, R3/VE3DZ, RT1U, RY1U, RY2U, UA4LAR, UB5XCM, UJ8/UB5XCM, US9D, VA3UZ, VE3DZ/VP9, XL3UZ, XM3DZ. etc.

WRTC (participated as competitorin 5 so far): 1996 - K6K, 2000 - S523W, 2002 - OJ6E, 2006 - PW5X, 2010 - R33L.Only missed the 1st one in 1990. Best result - # 4 in 2006 (in Brazil).

Operated at UK4LAC (74-79), UK5UDX (79-84), UK3AAC (79-80), 4J1FS('92) - M V Island, RJ6R('84) - Tadjikistan (now EY), OT6T('96) ,PA6WPX('96), XL3D('99), VE3EJ(98-00), ZF2NT('03), K3LR ('04), VE3RM ('11). etc.

Member: F.O.C.(#1740), CWOps (#21), Contest Club Ontario, Ukrainian Contest Club and Kiev Contest Group.

My interests include (but not limited to) travelling, soccer (football), ice hockey and Contesting / DXing (in HAM Radio).