Hi my name is Vinny Hopkins,

Grid co - oords Long (-1° 26' 52'' W) L52.3957 N (52° 26' 19'' N)

QTH locator : IO92GK

Skype address is vinnyhopkins2e0cov,

My mobile 07947330700

I live in the villageof Old Arley,i was born in the early 60`s, started fishing at 4 years old,still doin that one. First time on the radio 1978,Since then i have been all around the world operating one. Generally on 11m in them days,i decided to take my ham call after much persuasion from Tim M0URX, (A person who i had travelled with a lot in the early days chasing dx around the uk). When i started a new job as a roadie for a cabaret show band called SMACKEE, the radio went all around europe and the uk. From leaving this job, I started in the year 2000 as a Technician/(DJ) Disc jockey on board a cruise ship called TSS THE TOPAZ, Panamanian registered at the time, sub contracted to Thompsons Holidays. I only worked 10 pm till 2 am every evening so I was on the radio, Maritime mobile & worked dx on every island & every country the ship visited,I. still have many QSL cards left over from those days,so if you collect cards e - mail me The 2 main sea`s we sailed were the medditerainean & atlantic, only on tender ports i did not operate. Since returning back to the U.K in 2003,i started work again in the construction industry & of couse DJ`ing at the weekends I got married for the first time in 2004 to a Thai girl, built a bungalow in the HS 3 area about 90 Km from thecity of Surin. My thai QTH is only a few Kilometres from the Cambodian border.grid coo-ords are 14`12`07.48 degrees north and 103`35`47.24 degrees east,most of my radio equipment is in my house over there and i use it whenever possible.I have the callsign HS0ZJD .My equipment in the UK is a Yaesu FT847and 6 band boomless quad on a p40 strumtech tower,i also work on 2m/70cms , generally on 2m 145.550 & GB3CF repeater.

I am not into electronics in any shape or form nor data modes morse etc. you will only find me on SSB HF or VHF fm ssb and on Echolink from time to time,

When on VHF generally on 145.550 a sense of humour is required if you are listening we are not conventional operators,if you dont like what you hear, turn the dial dont moan, there are a lot of people listening to us, and too many moaning, stuck in their old ways.Operators without a sense of humour are far out weighed by the operators with a sense of humour.

I enjoy antennae Parties, so if you are not to far away from Coventry and need a hand with erecting such things then e mail me ,only too happy to help fellow ops.

Also i do Vhf Contesting UKAC 2m/70cm /6mSsb for H.a.r.e.s

For those interested in these contests, then please go to R.S.G.B.website,Click on Radiosport, then Vhf Contests, there are many contests, not just Vhf, join in whatever takes your fancy, its a lot of fun, the Vhf contests i am in, are usually on Tuesday evenings 20:00 hours till 22:30.

I am an active member of H.A.R.E.S. Hinckley Amateur Radio Society Attending every Wednesday.

Remember what life`s about, Enjoying yourself, in your own way, Not somebody else`s.

73`s