VE7ZO

Jim Roberts
Victoria, BC

Licensed: 1967 My father Bill VE3ARN was my mentor and despite growing up in a radio household, it wasn't until I was 15 that I showed any interest in amateur radio. First QSO was on CW with a HA5 station while my father supervised. First licensed QSO was with ZS1XR using my new call 3C3EDC(CDN centennial pfx) -- I couldn't wait to find a suitable DX station with whom to have my first QSO. I enjoy geography as well as history and of course, it didn't take long to appreciate the benefits of DX in this regard and DX contests in increasing one's DXCC totals.

Until 1993, my home station was in Thunder Bay Ontario, north east of Minnesota. Not sure how many MN stations you are familiar within the CQ WW top ten but that QTH isn't the most globally competitive. However with perserverance I was able to set a few Canadian records in the WW contests,the best year being 1990 when I won both modes all band, one with a new Canadian record using VE3IY.

In the mid 70's I began to travel to the Toronto area to participate in M/M operations and had the chance to operate some excellent equipment in a competitive geographic location.It was during these operations that I met John VE3EJ and we have been friends since. Due to John's skill and dedication, our two man team has had the opportunity to represent Canada in four WRTC's. Team Canada1 now has the longest tenure of any team. Our results have been K6P San Francisco 1996 - #4, S581I, Bled Slovenia 2000 - #11, OJ5A Helsinki Finland 2002 - # 6 and PT5M Florianopolis Brazil 2006 - #1.

I graduated as a chemical engineer and have always worked in the pulp and paper industry. In 1993 I moved to British Columbia and left as the director of operations at a paper mill in 2000 to the US southeast. Currently I am working in a technical/sales position for Metso Paper, a Finnish Pulp and Paperequipment manufacturer with a regional office in Atlanta.

Radio contesting has provided me with the opportunity to operate from a number of top notch M/M stations including VE3EJ, K3LR, HC8N and most recently with the team at NQ4I. Rick NQ4I has been kind in allowing me to be the regular 40M operator (my favorite band) and to operate the station as a single operator outside of the major contests. My favorite contest is the CQ WW, especially the CW event and this is serious business. My favorite fun contest has become the Florida QSO party as George K5KG and I team up each April to drive around the back roads of the Sunshine State. My history with George goes back to when he operated at ET3USA in the late 60's/early 70's.

It has been terrific to be a member of and watching the growth of the NQ4I station. Rick has unbounded energy and enthusiasm to make the station competitive from a somewhat geographically disadvantaged location. As the 40M operator, I spend my thoughts trying to develop a plan to overcome the extra hour of darkness and the shorter haul advantage the M/M's have in the Northeast.