Hello, my name is Andy Nielsen. I was born in 1966 in the city of Hull, East Yorkshire, and continue to reside there.

As a young boy, I always tinkered with radios of some sort. My uncle, who was a Captain for a large shipping company, often had an old shortwave radio at home, which I would eagerly listen to. We spent countless hours tuned in to the shipping radio, especially since Hull was a bustling fishing port back then. That’s where my fascination with radio began.

By the age of 21, I had found the right partner and got married. After a few years, I found myself searching for a hobby again. Radio came to mind, and I decided to become a Ham, especially since I had friends who were already involved in it.

In 1991, I enrolled in a radio course at a local college, and by 1992, I had earned my B class ticket and received the call sign G7LRR, which I still hold today. Joining a local ham radio club, I made numerous new friends and explored the VHF bands, making many contacts via SSB and FM.

The packet radio craze swept the UK, coinciding with my job building PCs and networks, which naturally drew me in. I found myself setting up packet systems for other hams in my area, running a private BBS and a node for four years. However, as the internet gained prominence, the enthusiasm for packet radio waned, and I transitioned to exploring the internet.

During this time, many of my ham friends were learning Morse code for their A class ticket, and I joined them, becoming proficient enough to help others at the local radio club. Interestingly, I never felt compelled to pursue the ticket myself, partly due to financial constraints with the arrival of my second son.

Despite primarily engaging in rag chewing on the VHF bands, the introduction of HF privileges for B class hams in the UK reignited my interest. With a stable income from my own PC company, I invested in a Kenwood TS 50s and began operating on the HF bands, rekindling my passion for DXing.

Today, I have friends worldwide and can often be found chatting on 14.240 group, exchanging words with hams like Walt K1QS, Tony WA2JUN, and others. Over the years, I’ve observed both proper and improper practices on HF bands and am saddened by the negativity surrounding the B class ticket expansion.

While Morse code remains relevant, I believe it’s just one mode among many, and proficiency doesn’t necessarily equate to better operating skills. The influx of new stations on HF signals a positive change for our hobby, and I welcome all newcomers with open arms.

For me, the highlight of this hobby is the opportunity to converse with people from diverse backgrounds worldwide and experiment with antennas. As a relatively young enthusiast, I relish the chance to scale my tower swiftly and fine-tune my antenna system.

73’s Andy. I hope you enjoy exploring the rest of the site, and please feel free to sign the guest book at www.g7lrr.com.