I am located in the far West part of the country and live in Geneva city very close to the French border. The Swiss capital is Bern at about 200 kms North-East. The country is made of 26 Cantons (each is a distinct region with its own laws and government). In Switzerland we have 4 official national languages: Swiss-Deutch (very close to German and spoken in abt 70 % of the country), French (in abt 27 %), Italian (in abt 2 %) and Romanche (in abt 1%). The 2009 population count, reports 7’700’200 inhabitants in Switzerland and you have had just contacted, or heard, one of the 4'627 ham radio licensed (in 2009) of this beautiful mountainous country.

Very young fascinated at home by voices and sounds from the old radio, I spent quite some time listening to foreign broadcasts.I carried on later for many years with increasing excitement short waves monitoring as SWL. Often in contact with amateur radio friends and with their help, I’ve got my CEPT-1 radio licence.

I've done few jobs , but for more than 10 years I have worked as reporter-photographer mainly based in Asia for one of the biggest international press photo agency. In the early 90's I have then been back to my educational training and worked as technician installing professional radio systems, maintaining communication sites, training radio operators and managing these HF, VHF, UHF and satellite voice and data networks in different countries on several continents. A new assignment in that field made work on rapid response communication systems and deployment in disaster and emergency situations. I've then been in charge to coordinate and implement telecom strategy and preparedness to ensure safety of staff working in countries in or facing critical situations. Then, after having been more involved in radio communication consulting and support I am now back to (digital) photography.

In my amateur radio activity, I’m mainly operating CW but also work time to time in PHONE. I’m QRV from 160m to 70cm in nearly all automatic Data modes. I specially enjoy DX’ing with QRP and low power equipment.

My antenna system is limited due to my location. I have home made monoband dipoles for 40m, 30m, 20and 17m, home made multiband HF dipole (HB9DNGprototype),an ECO Vertical 7 Plus (multi-band ½ wave antenna for 7 HF bands) for most of my HF traffic, one 4 el. beam and one vertical ½ wave for 50 MHz, one QUAGI 4 el.VHF and QUAGI 6 el. UHF, few verticals for packet cluster and local VHF-UHF traffic and some wire HF antennas for Rx or testing purposes.

I like to confirm contacts with a QSL card exchange because I also find it the final courtesy of a QSO. I’m collecting received cards in albums and each time I open them, it is for me a nice trip back in a recent past, remembering these contacts . Even if the QSO was short, . our QSL cards last for ever !

I do not e-QSL. Sorry for the inconvenience this might cause to SOME but up to now I do NOT plan yet to QSL electronically.

Regarding my QSL policy, I QSL 100% to all the cards I receive and reply by the same way. I will always answer a card even if no postage or SAE is enclosed because I am from the old school of Amateur Radio where gentlemen are gentlemen and should not have to BUY a QSL.

My updated DXCC score on January 31st, 2012 - - - - - -

Mode / Worked / Confirmed

CW & SSB (mixed) - - - - -   311 / 310

CW - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -  292 / 269

SSB- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 283 / 265

1977 member of REF Nb.34288, 1978 life member of CDXC Nb.277, 1994 life member of ITU IARC, 1996 member of 4U1UN UNSRC, 1996 member of UFT Nb.832, 1998 member of USKA Nb.9158,2007 member of HTC Nb.225, 2008 member of 30MDG Nb.283 member of EPC Nb.3093 (EU area SZ08), member of DMC Nb.1031,member of the IRESC,2010 member of CFT Nb.145 and 2011 member of the GEM.

I occasionally might be active on D-STAR digital voice system,sometime can be found on EchoLink: Node # 274630 and might also be QRV on eQSO.

Beside this radio hobby, I also like several kind of music but I'm fond of Rock 'n Roll and love motorbikes. My latest one is an another powerful 1200cc which still make me enjoyed a "more and MORE restricted" freedom on roads to feel engine vibrations. I also do have fun in customizing my bike performance .

Looking for to contacting you soon and, if it is not already done, writing your callsign in my log, best 73.

I specially enjoy CW at night (my local time)

Output PWR 1 Watt to 5 Watts . funny isn't it ?

We are not strangers, just friends who have never met, 73 de Ray (Raymond)