Short history

I am a member of Estonian Radio Amateur Union (ERAÜ).  National qualification class “A”, CEPT License class “1”.
The prefix ES in Estonia was introduced since January 1st, 1929. On March 1st 1935 the Estonian Radio Amateurs’ Union (ERAU) was officially registered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as an organization uniting amateur radio activity of the country. This fact marks the “official birth” of the organized amateur radio in Estonia. On January 1st 1938 ERAU became a member of IARU. In radio amateur sense the territory of Estonia is divided on 9 districts: ES0, ES1-ES8. The ERAU HQ using special callsigns ES9A, ES9C. Much more useful  information, including ES-Callbook, awards, CEPT e.t.c. in Estonia you can find on official ERAU site on English or Estonian language.

The QSL-cards, I am using at the present moment:

 
As far, as I am more often using call sign ES3RF, but still have a big stock of ES1RF’s QSL cards, on the back side of these cards I always paste a sticker or printing  “ES3RF”  to confirm, which call sign was used in QSO.

Below is “a short history in the pictures”…
I was started my way in a HAM radio on the club station UA2KAP in 1959. At that time club used only old military equipment, separate TX and RX.  Look at this picture.   Sure, picture shows full set of equipment, but  it was not exactly installed on our club station at that time. Name of this equipment was RAF-KW-5. Band range 1.5 – 9.5 MHz, mode CW and AM. My first ever QSO was on 40m band, AM mode.

In 1961 I’ve got my first own callsign UA2ACS. And my first station was also old military radio, type A-7-A. It was only for 10 m band and 1 watt output, but it was enough, because my license was only for that band. In the beginning of 60-th was very good propagation on 10 m band. Another picture shows my next step: I build up a 50 watt transmitter for 10 m band (AM and CW). But receiver was the same,  A-7-A.

In 1966 I’ve got callsign UA2CS. With this license I can work on all HF bands (excluded  15m).  So, my station looked more “professional”. Old military receiver, type “Krot-M”, transmitter RFT  and home made converter + TX  for 10m band.

My first home made transceiver I build up somewhere in 1970, than moved to Estonia and got callsign UR2RGM. I was legendary for all formed USSR’s radio amateurs UW3DI, which we are called “The Russian Kenwood” (LOL!).

In 1977  I  opened for myself the surprising world of VHF! My RIG was very simple: home made HF transceiver UW3DI, very simple VCXO-transmitter (5-7w output), converter for 144 mhz and 7 el QUAD antenna (GW4CQT) . On the next year I was invited by Toomas (UR2RRJ, later ES2RJ, SK now) to participate in a Field Day competition. He was much more experienced in VHF! My first VHF/UHF Field Day in 1978. Pictures below shows our simple installation in the tent.  We have two sets of RIG for 2m and one set for 70 cm. All antennas were from Toomas side. Since that time I simply fall in love to the world of VHF!  Next year we constructed more perfect equipment and had already 23 cm band. Certainly, it is impossible to remember all events of those far years. Just look at the pictures…