This is the homepage of VK7BEN.
My interest in Amateur Radio started when I was introduced to the hobby by my electronics teacher at college in 1996. Between 1996 and 1998 I was one of the operators of VK7ACR, Rosny College.
Ham Radio went on the back burner for a few years while I went through university, but my interest was again raised with changes to the licensing, resulting in Foundation, Standard and Advanced license model, of which the foundation license made it relatively easy to get started. I became the first foundation license holder in Tasmania on 2 December 2005 as VK7FBCS.
I passed my standard exam and became VK7HAH in July 2006 before finally passing the advanced exam and obtaining my current callsign of VK7BEN in March 2007.
After some 5-8 years of hiatus from the hobby, I am again finding myself drawn into hobby once more, spurred on by all the new and exciting technological advances occurring such as digital modes (FreeDV, JT65) and miniaturisation allowing things like high altitude balloons.
As with most of my hobbies, I like to write about these experiences, so here they are!