LZ2KAL – amateur radio club village of Alekovo

Someone once /before 1960/ created an amateur club in the village and put into operation an amateur radio station with the initials LZ2KAL. This probably happened with the help of the district radio club in Veliko Tarnovo. According to the memories of Kiril Iliev LZ2JA, in 1968/69 he was a radio training instructor – he helped move the old LZ2KSQ transmitter and a concert receiver to the school in the village of Alekovo in order to revive the activities of LZ2KAL. The initiative probably failed for unknown reasons.

Материалът LZ2KAL – self-made radio club in the village of Alekovo е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

The organization of the radio club at the youth center in the village of Polikraishte was the work of Rumen Sarnov LZ2DD, who also became the head of the radio station, and Stefan Getsov LZ2PS – who led the educational activities for the preparation of children from the primary grades of the local school. The radio club has two premises – one is a small radio hall with 10 workstations, and the other is equipped with a radio station. The material part was donated by the V. Tarnovo district radio club. Initially, the transmitter was an old factory Czech „KUF“ for CW operation, and later they purchased a UW3DI-I transceiver and a final stage of a GU74. Good radio operators were prepared from the Morse code classes held. Of these, Iliyan Kushev LZ4AR and Ivan Angelov LZ2IAA remain in the amateur radio hobby.

Материалът LZ2KAB – radio club at a youth center е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

In the same year, 1965, I participated together with two other radio amateurs, Nik Pisarov (LZ2JF) and Angel Lichev (LZ2UG), in a republican championship for establishing radio contacts by radiotelegraphy. At this championship we won first place in Bulgaria with LZ2KBA and according to the competition regulations, the three of us received the title of „MASTER OF RADIO AMATEUR SPORT“.

After completing my high school education in 1962, like everyone else at the time, I had to go to the barracks. I was assigned to the city of Kardzhali in a communications platoon. From the very beginning, the platoon commander, after checking me as a radio operator, assigned me the task of training young and old soldiers in radio telegraphy, in addition, I had to start working at the radio station and maintain radio contact with the division in Haskovo. After I returned from the barracks in 1964, I started working at the radio factory in Veliko Tarnovo and it was completely clear to me that radio engineering would be my profession in life. A year later, I enrolled to study radio engineering at the V. Lomonosov Technical School in G. Oryahovitsa. After completing my radio engineering education in 1968, I was entrusted with training future workers for the radio factory in Veliko Tarnovo in the radio club. In the meantime, I received a permit to build a radio station and in 1971 I started building a transceiver in my spare time at the radio club, which lasted until 1972. At this point I must say that I was given a small financial assistance from the radio club for the construction of my transceiver. At the same time I married a German citizen and had to leave to live permanently in Germany (at that time it was the GDR). In the summer of 1972 my transceiver was exhibited at TNTM in Plovdiv where it was awarded and I received a Soviet watch and a diploma as a prize. This was the third transceiver made in Bulgaria. The first transceiver in Bulgaria was made at that time by Kiril Drundarov (LZ2ZK) also from the radio club in Veliko Tarnovo. The second transceiver was made at the same time in Kazanlak by Nikolay S. Pasturmov (LZ1YI) and was also presented at TNTM.

In 1972, we built a small house in the „Kartala“ area to „move“ the radio station during competitions. Later, I left in early December with my transceiver for the GDR and after great difficulties and detention at the border for Romania, which is why I arrived one day late in Leipzig, much to the disappointment and worries of my wife in Germany. Later I received in the GDR, then my first German initial DM9BJM, and after the official change of all initials I received the second initial Y29JM with which I worked until 1988 from Leipzig. In 1973 I presented my transceiver at the radio amateur meeting of all radio amateurs from the GDR in Leipzig and then my transceiver was awarded a diploma for the second time and printed in the German magazine Funkamateur 1974.

In Germany, this transceiver was ranked fourth out of all German exhibits, for me it was a big award. Of course I also received a German diploma (GDR) which unfortunately I no longer have. In the summer of 1988, I moved with my whole family to West Germany – Bavaria, and my transceiver had to stay in Leipzig. A move out of the GDR was absolutely impossible. And so I parted with my transceiver, which I had been building for almost a year in Veliko Tarnovo. After we settled in Nuremberg later, I received a new initial DJ0GB, which I still use today. All this was very difficult at that time, given the political conditions at that time. In the GDR I worked as an electrical engineer at the Karl Marx University in Leipzig and later as a tour guide-translator in Russian with Soviet groups who came to the GDR on excursions. This job was very interesting and I worked there for exactly 10 years until „perestroika“ came, and then I started working in the computer industry as a maintenance technician for a computing station in a company in Leipzig until 1988.

My Facebook-site is https://www.facebook.com/NikoAwramow

Материалът NIKO AVRAMOV – DJ0GB (ex. LZ2DJ) е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

There is no information or anyone’s memories about the initial organization of an amateur club in the town of Svishtov. This probably happened before 1960, and initially a transmitter made in the Tarnovo radio club + a concert receiver was used, which in 1968 were moved to the school in the village of Alekovo to revive the activity of LZ2KAL. Shortly before that, a 3-story transmitter with GU50 was built for LZ2KSQ and a communication receiver was obtained. The educational activity – training of primary school students was handled by Todor Kolev (sk) – a teacher by profession. The work of the radio station was handled by Todor Kolchev LZ2TK (sk) – a professional radio operator in the Bulgarian Radio and Television Service, who used a semi-automatic mechanical key „vibroplex“.

In early 1970, the public radio club in the town of Svishtov was established as a full-time club. The year was used to recruit personnel – people engaged in and willing to engage in amateur radio activities, equipping a hall and a cabinet for design activities, a radio station and materials. In the fall of 1970, the first school year was opened. Groups were trained in radiotelegraphy, radio construction and training of conscripts-communications officers. Subsequently, over the years, the volume of students increased many times. The radio station with the call sign LZ2KSQ conducted the first communications since the opening of the club. In 1970-72, two radio transmitters were built – 50 and 250w and one transceiver for SSB. The same participated in a TNTM review and won 2nd place. In 1974, a communications center was built, from where HF and VHF competitions were held. In the same year, the first VHF communications were also conducted by reflection from meteor trails and via amateur radio satellites. In 1975, amateur clubs were opened in the village of Tsarevets LZ2KCT and in the village of Gorna Studena. Groups are being trained in radiotelegraphy, radio construction, and work is underway to train radio station operators. The leaders are Dimitar Blazhev and Iliya Zhelev, respectively.

SPORTS
In the first years of the club’s establishment, teams were formed in high-speed radiotelegraphy, radio all-around, and radio detection. It participates in district and republican competitions every year. The student team in high-speed radiotelegraphy and radio all-around is a two-time republican champion. The pioneer teams in radiotelegraphy are multiple district champions. Leader Todor Kolev (sk).

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY

During its existence as a state club, this activity developed at a serious pace.

• 1970 – HF transmitter 50w – Nikola Stoyanov
• 1971 – HF transmitter 250w – Stefan Hristov
• 1972 – HF transceiver SSB – Stefan Hristov
• 1973 – HF transceiver SSB – Bozhidar Atanasov
• 1974 – VHF transmitter + converter – Stefan Hristov
• 1975 – HF transceiver SSB – Petar Angelov /LZ4PA/
• 1975 – HF transmitter – Dimitar Blazhev
• 1976 – VHF antennas 4x 10 elements /45 m above the ground/
• VHF amplifier 250 watts
• HF antenna double square + antennas for low ranges
• HF transmitter – Zdravko Petkov /LZ2BZ/
• HF transceiver SSB – Nikola Stoyanov
• VHF converter 432 MHz
• 1978 – Amateur television SSTV – Petar Angelov /LZ4PA/
• 1 KW HF amplifier – Krasimir Lazarov /LZ4SU/
• Mounted 5m diameter parabolic antenna /432/ with tracking system
• 1979 – VHF radio station 144/432 MHz – Stefan Hristov – 1st prize in the rep. review of TNTM
• 1982 – HF transceiver SSB – Petar Angelov – 1st prize in the rep. TNTM review
• VHF antenna 16×32 elements /432/ for EME
• 1984 – 1 KW VHF amplifier for 432 MHz for EME QSO

During the period 1977 – 2000, various measuring and auxiliary equipment were made, which helped the overall activity of the club. After the launch of the VHF repeaters, many VHF transceivers were built and modified – Krasimir Kunev, Petar Sashev, Kiril Stefanov, Atanas Slavev.

HF AND VHF ACTIVITY

Undoubtedly, in this activity the club has achieved the greatest success. It must pay tribute to Iliya Kirilov /LZ1IKY/, Ivan Pavlov, to the students Zlatko, Lyubcho, Stefan, to Petar Angelov, Krasimir Lazarov and many others.

• The VHF radio station is a leader in its participation in Republican competitions. VHF Marathon – Dimitar Blazhev.
• The first EME connection on 432 MHz in 1984 was a great success = LZ2KSQ-DL9KR. Subsequently YU, F, G, SM, PA.
• The title of “Master of Sports” was awarded to 7 club activists.
• 2 club radio stations and 9 personal ones were opened and operated.
• From participation in Republican and International competitions, TNTM reviews, National radio design exhibitions, the Municipal Radio Club of Svishtov has won 134 gold, silver and bronze medals. 22 diplomas and international plaques.

Stefan Hristov was the head of the Svishtov radio club at that time.

Personal radio stations in Svishtov:

LZ2AKW Krasimir Vassilev Kiselov

LZ2DS Atanas Ivanov Slavev

LZ2SSB Petar Sashev Petrov

LZ2TK (sk) Todor Kolev

LZ2BZ Zdravko Todorov Petkov

LZ4PA Petar Nikolov Angelov

LZ4SU Krasimir Lazarov Lazarov (sk)

LZ2AGA Andrey Georgiev Andreev

Материалът LZ2KSQ – amateur club in the town of Svishtov е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

There is no information about the time of the club’s establishment (1956? ) and its members. The only thing is that one of the transmitters was built by Gergi Zahariev Karailiev LZ2GZ (sk). A small RX Cushcraft was used as a receiver. The radio station was located in a large building at the station. Memories from Mikhail Borisov Trifonov LZ1MBT /ex LZ2MB/, who in the summer of 1967 was on an internship installing the ATC equipment at the new PTT station in the city, and made almost daily CW radio contacts from LZ2KKP.

Georgi Zahariev LZ2GZ(sk) is a talented self-taught radio technician. He was the first to put SSTV into operation.

Материалът LZ2KKP – amateur city radio club Polski Trambesh е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

On 10.10.1966, several people, enthusiastic young people, set the beginning of an organized amateur radio movement in the village of Polikraishte.

In a room, in a private house, on the village square – Boncho Vassilev /LZ2AS-sk/, Boyan Adzharov (sk) – activist of the radio club in G. Oryahovitsa and Milko Pendov /LZ2UC/, placed on a table /taken from the community center/ a converted concert receiver “Orpheus”, a Morse code manipulator and a buzzer and “the wheel turns”. It starts with listening activities and a radiotelegraphy circle with students from local elementary schools /3/. During this time, the transmitter of the future radio station was built with 100% materials provided by the District Radio Club LZ2KBA with head Ivan Popov /LZ2SA/ and on a cold winter day, on 15.01.1968 LZ2KPK went on the air with about 50 watts on a GU50 and Ant VS1AA.

The receiver is the same „Orpheus“, but it was later replaced with the Russian KV-M and then with the Bulgarian „Signal“.

As a result of the positive impact among the youth, the amateur radio club received the support of the mayor’s office, the school administration, the public in the village and the most effective was the financial assistance from the local APC/TKZS/.

Thanks to this assistance, a 10m steel pole was erected on the building of the Agricultural Complex where the radio station is located, on which a 4-element antenna was built cubic square for 14/21 MHz with a boom length of 9m. For 3.5 MHz a Delta was made, materials were prepared for the manufacture of 3 elements of a beam for 7 MHz and 5 elements of a square of 28 – but unfortunately the latter were not realized.

The educational activity continues at a good pace – every year there are three circles – two in telegraphy – for beginners and for advanced and one in radio detection „fox hunting“. The latter is going poorly due to problems with the material base – an insufficient number of receivers and only one transmitter.

It only reaches participation in district competitions. The number of operators is constantly changing, but there are periods when their number reaches 15-20 and this leads to the organization and opening of a second radio club in the village at the Youth Center with the initials LZ2KAB.

Radio amateur operators regularly take part in internal republican and international HF competitions with varying success, but there are also prize places. In the 90s of the last century, the activity of the clubs gradually died out and after 2000 they officially ceased to exist, but they remain the most ardent on the air. One statistic: as of 2010 in Polikraishte there were 9 personal amateur radio stations with 22 initials for about 2000 inhabitants.

On the occasion of the club’s 20th anniversary in 1986, Polikraishte hosted the IV National Meeting of Amateur Radio Families.

Initials in Polikraishte:
LZ2KPK, LZ2KAB – Ceased to exist 2000 – officially.
LZ2AS (sk), LZ4WJ
LZ2UC, LZ2CU, LZ4UC,
LZ2PS, LZ4UU, LZ2YVV, LZ2CWW
LZ2UR, LZ2OR, LZ2HW, LZ2HU
LZ2DD, LZ2IAA, LZ4ZZ, LZ4AR
LZ2DB (sk), LZ2TB, LZ4BW, LZ4BD, LZ2UAA
LZ2CRA

Материалът LZ2KPK – Amateur Radio Club, Village of Polikraishte е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

On March 11 of this year, the reporting and election conference of the radio clubs from the district was held in Veliko Tarnovo. Representatives of the District and City Committees of the Komsomol and many radio amateurs were present.

In his report, the secretary of the district radio club, Ivan Popov, took stock of the clubs’ activities during the reporting period, emphasizing their increased activity in the military-patriotic education of youth.

Currently, 650 young men and women are being trained in the various training units of the radio clubs, with over 200 of them regularly participating in district and city competitions. The quality of the training work is being improved, the material base is being enriched, and the qualifications of the leaders of the training groups, coaches and judges are being raised. Over the past year, the number of young radio designers has increased significantly, which is due not only to their natural interest in this discipline, but also to the good material base of the radio clubs.

To improve the educational work among the pioneers, a pioneer camp-school in radio training was organized last year, in which 53 pioneers from different settlements of the district participated. During the camp, they conducted classes in radiotelegraphy, radio design, radio detection and radio communications. The first pioneer camp of its kind in the country unequivocally showed that the path to training and promoting the educational forms is effective and correct.

During the reporting period, the highest successes were achieved in the competitive activities of the operator team of the district radio club, which ranked 1st in the republican VHF championship, and m. s. Ivan Popov, m. s. Nikolay Pisarov and c. m. s. Dimitar Raykov were included in the list of the best athletes in the country for 1970.

The Veliko Tarnovo designers performed excellently at the III and IV TNTM review in Plovdiv. Ivan Popov and Kiril Drundarov received gold badges and a diploma for their transceivers, and the design team was ranked 1st for the SSB radio station they developed. The activity of the design section does not stop there. As a result of systematic and persistent work, a 3.5 MHz radio detection transmitter with automatic control was developed and constructed; a 144 MHz receiver and transmitter for mass repetition by the district radio clubs, etc. are in the process of being developed.

Along with these positive results, the conference noted a number of weaknesses and still unresolved problems in the activities of the radio clubs. The ideological and educational work is still poor in form and content; individual events and activities do not meet the requirements set by the XI Congress of the DCMS on the military-patriotic education of youth; radio disciplines are still not sufficiently promoted and do not always reach the Komsomol organizations and societies in schools and enterprises, which is why the organizational assistance that the Komsomol committees provide for the preparation of the school year in the radio clubs is also insufficient; there is a high turnover in the study groups, which hinders and degrades the quality of the study work; High sporting achievements are still rare in competitive sports, which speaks of unsatisfactory coaching work.

The amateur radio stations in the district also deserve attention. For the majority of young people, they are the attractive force that leads them to the radio club, connects them with its life and tasks. Unfortunately, some committees clearly underestimated this role of theirs. Over the past year, the radio stations in the district did not work actively, and some of them were almost in QRT. This led to schematic and „dry“ classes in radiotelegraphy and reduced the interest of young people in this otherwise interesting discipline. And yet this is only one side of the issue. We cannot ignore the fact that many stations do not have the necessary number of QLS cards, modern equipment and good operators.

An important problem in the activities of radio clubs is also radio all-round competition, which practically unites almost all academic disciplines. It should not be forgotten that high-speed reception and transmission, the exchange of radiograms and movement in azimuth lie at the heart of the future military radio operator. Therefore, it is necessary to fully utilize the material base of the clubs and to seek the assistance of the local military units.

The educational work of the district radio club will be significantly improved after the construction of the new building and the sports complex for radio disciplines.

The conference adopted decisions on ideological and educational work, military-patriotic education, educational and sports-competitive activities and on improving propaganda and agitation. The participants in the conference elected by an absolute majority a new club council and delegates for the republican conference in Sofia.

Yordan M. Gaydarov

Материалът Radio clubs – a place for patriotic education of youth е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

On 10.10.1966, several enthusiastic young people initiated an organized amateur radio movement in the village of Polikraishte.

In a room, in a private house, on the village square – Boncho Vassilev /LZ2AS-sk/,

Boyan Adzharov/SK/ – an activist of the radio club in G. Oryahovitsa and Milko Pendov /LZ2UC/, placed on a table /taken from the community center/ a converted concert receiver „Orpheus“, a Morse code manipulator and a buzzer and „the wheel turns“. It began with listening activities and a radiotelegraphy club with students from local elementary schools /3/. During this time, the transmitter of the future radio station was built with 100% materials provided by the District Radio Club LZ2KBA with head Ivan Popov/LZ2SA/ and on a cold winter day, on 15.01.1968 LZ2KPK went on the air with about 50 watts on one GU50 and Ant VS1AA.

The receiver was the same „Orpheus“, but was later replaced with the Russian KV-M and then with the Bulgarian „Signal“. As a result of the positive impact among the youth, the amateur radio club received the support of the mayor’s office, the school administrations, the public in the village and the most effective was the financial assistance from the local Agricultural and Rural Development Committee/TKZS/.

Thanks to this assistance, a 10m iron pole was erected on the building of the Agricultural and Rural Development Committee where the radio station is housed, on which a 4-element square antenna with a boom length of 9m was built. A Delta was made for 3.5 MHz, materials were prepared for making 3 elements of a beam for 7 MHz and 5 elements of a square of 28 – but unfortunately the latter were not implemented.

The educational activity continues at a good pace – every year there are three circles – two on telegraphy – for beginners and for advanced and one on radio detection „fox hunting“. The latter is going poorly due to problems with the material base – an insufficient number of receivers and only one transmitter.

It only reaches participation in district competitions. The number of operators is constantly changing, but there are periods when their number reaches 15-20 and this leads to the organization and opening of a second radio club in the village at the Youth Center with the initials LZ2KAB.

The radio amateur operators regularly take part in internal republican and international HF competitions with varying success, but there are also prize places. In the 90s of the last century, the activity of the clubs gradually died out and after 2000 they officially ceased to exist, but they remained the most active on the air. One statistic: as of 2010, in Polikraishte there were 9 personal amateur radio stations with 22 initials and about 2000 inhabitants.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the club in 1986, Polikraishte hosted the 4th national meeting of amateur radio families.

Milko Pendov /LZ2UC/

Материалът The Amateur Radio Village е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

YORDAN GAYDAROV: I was in eighth grade when a girl came to enroll in a radiotelegraphy course. I had heard about Morse code and had even listened to telegraph signals when I was „walking“ on the short waves of our home radio. They enrolled me almost by force and I went to the first meeting, driven more by curiosity. The radio room was located in the center of G. Oryahovitsa, in a former store and was equipped with 4 long tables, a dozen Morse keys and a buzzer. Our instructor was Petko Nikolov – a radio operator in the then TABSO. I was not particularly impressed by the first lesson, but gradually I got carried away and began to quickly master the material. I was the youngest in the course, but I progressed the fastest. This impressed Nikolov and he praised me for being very musical. Everyone laughed out loud because they knew I played the violin. Nikolov encouraged me and sometimes took extra care of me. Later he started taking me to the club radio station and showing me how to make radio connections.
Of course, I was far from being able to work the radio station myself. I remember that it was located in the attic of the DOSO building. The transmitter was 25 watts and a „Windom“ antenna. I can’t remember what the receiver was like, but I remember that it only received telegraphy.
We were terribly jealous of LZ2KBA, because he broadcasts with a „whole“ 50 watts.

I put on my headphones and immersed myself in the vast air. Petko, on the other hand, explained to me in detail what he was receiving and what he was transmitting. He also began to introduce me to the codes and abbreviations. When I finished the course and could already receive and transmit about 80 characters per minute, he suggested that I make occasional radio connections on telegraphy. At that time, we were not working on AM. And since I did not yet have a „C“ class, and the rules were very strict, I made radio connections using his name, in his presence, of course.
In the tenth grade, I was accepted into the motor flying course and I left amateur radio behind, which I regret. I did not become a pilot, but I fell seriously behind in amateur radio activities. That is why, when my family moved to Dimitrovgrad, I immediately looked for a radio club. Its head turned out to be a young and very nice man Mladen LZ2MC /sk/ and he welcomed me into the team.

Luckily for me, the club had an automatic machine and I started to train hard. After a few months, I was receiving 100 characters per minute.

During that time, I worked on the club radio station LZ1KRA. I took the „C“ class exam and after passing it successfully, I started working completely legally.

When I entered the barracks, it turned out that I was the best radio operator in the unit and they immediately included me in the duty calculations.

Here I will open a parenthesis and admit that from time to time I allowed myself to make a connection on 3.5 megahertz under the initials LZ1KDG, the last letters of which corresponded to my name.

After my family moved to live in Lyaskovets, I was happy to find out that a radio club had been founded there, which I quickly opened and started working on LZ2KLC. My appearance was warmly received, since the station was left without operators. Before me, Dimitar Staykov LZ1FO, who at that time was a soldier in G. Oryahovitsa, had worked there from time to time.

The transmitter was the work of radio technician Stoyan Zlatev and worked with a GU-50 end lamp. We used a „Long Wire“ antenna with a length of about 80 meters, attached at one end to the dome of the church. And I still can’t explain how the priest allowed this to happen. With this antenna we could hear each other quite well around the country and the world. Another question is what harmonics we „sowed“ around, and who had heard of KSR back then?
The receiver was Russian /I don’t remember which one/ with a second oscillator grafted to it so that we could receive telegraphy. We worked actively in this type and even allowed ourselves to participate in domestic and international competitions.

At the republican championship held in 1966, we first moved to the plateau above Lyaskovets and positioned ourselves next to the then television repeater from which we got electricity. We stretched out a G5RV antenna and started the tests. It turned out that we could hear each other perfectly all over the country. And after the competition it became clear that we had placed third, which was a great success for us.

I was sitting on a box instead of a chair and I remember that at the end of the competition I realized that I could not get up from my seat.

The head of the radio club in G. Oryahovitsa was a former military man, who with his inadequate orders managed to drive away the best operators of LZ2KAF. As a result, Stefan Krastev LZ2DB, Todor Papazov LZ1WR, Pavlina Dzhipova joined LZ2KLC. Three girls from Lyaskovets also came: Pepa, Dora and Elena and this is how the new team was formed, and I was appointed as the manager. I can definitely say that in this composition we were one of the most active amateur radio stations in the country.

In the meantime, I was accepted as a student at the University of Veliko Tarnovo and since I lived mainly in Veliko Tarnovo, I joined the LZ2KBA team. At that time, the head of the radio club was Hristo Devdzhiev, and later Ivan Popov LZ2SA.

The material base of LZ2KBA was significantly better, and there was also a good operator team. More active sports and competitive activities were taking place. The more powerful 1-kilowatt transmitter also contributed to this. But even there we used a mediocre „Windom“ antenna and it created a lot of interference to the television and the People’s Army House.

During contests, I always worked on LZ2KLC, and the operators Nikolay Pisarov LZ2JF and Angel Lichev LZ2UG remained on LZ2KBA. During the rest of the time, I also worked actively on LZ2KLC. In 1971 I started working at Radio Stara Zagora and joined the team of LZ1KSZ, and later LZ1KWT. In 1988 I received permission to work on my own radio station with the initials LZ1UC.

Материалът A true Radio-Ham е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.

Despite the fact that I was born in Sofia in 1943, my family moved to Tarnovo at that time.

After 1965, Tarnovo received its real name Veliko Tarnovo, due to its greatness as the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

My family lived in my grandfather’s house, which was on the site of the northern wing of the Interhotel Veliko Tarnovo.

My first steps in amateur radio were in this house.

My father, Stoyan Zayakov, despite being a high school teacher, was very interested in radio and constantly subscribed to the magazine „Radio“. Thinking back on those years, I think what I read in the magazine made me start to become more and more interested in radio. It’s not about amateur radio at all, but about radio. Seeing my interest in radio, one of my aunts gave me a radio tube (6K7) with which I was able to make my first receiver.

At that time, my same aunt had started working at the Palace of Pioneers, which was located on Tsarevets.

In 1956, the first group for training telegraphers and, of course, radio amateurs was formed at the Palace.

When my aunt told me, I signed up without thinking. Siika Yancheva taught us, who managed to prepare us for the first radio connection. We knew Morse code, code abbreviations, how the initials and prefixes of many European countries are formed.

Nikolay Pisarov and I graduated as the top students in the group. We were allowed to make our first contacts on the air, which happened on 07.01.1957.

In order to progress faster with the study of the Morse code, and also to learn to transmit with a manual key, I had initially made myself a 50Hz buzzer with an electromagnet and a metal plate, and later a Morse code generator from a telephone receiver, microphone and battery.

While our training was going on, we often passed by the radio club of Tarnovo, but I personally did not dare to enter.

It seemed to me that there were only great radio amateurs inside, whose capabilities I wanted to reach as soon as possible.

To our joy with Nikolay Pisarov, at that time he had met Boncho Vassilev, then an instructor in the radio club.

After a few days, Boncho Vassilev introduced us to the District Radio Club of Tarnovo District.

It was as if heaven had come to the world for both of us, although now that I think about it, at that time there was an English military receiver of the BC type and a separate transmitter with a 35-watt RL6P35 tube and an AM modulator on the table. At that time, there was still no SSB.
The antenna then, and for a long time after that, was a Windom VS1AA.

Our instructor as operators was Kiril Nestorov, and Boncho Vassilev dealt with technical issues. At that time, we were only allowed to listen and orient ourselves in the sequence of operator activity, get used to the initials, study the ranges and other tasks of that kind.

I admit, at that time many and different countries could be heard with only one windom, which prompted us to be able to sit down and work as operators as quickly as possible.

To our joy, this happened in two or three months, and with the arrival of warm weather and the opening of the bands, we received a work permit. And now I remember with a smile our great passion for as many connections with Americans as possible. Strange as it may seem, during that time we worked with all continents on AM and CW. Other types of work did not yet exist.

In the following years, we formed a team with Nikolay and participated in almost all the contests. What sketches we had, working with a manual key and trying to win republican competitions. We liked it and started changing the transmitter of LZ2KBA. In about two years, the final stage was already with GU81 and our signal was heard better and better. They also changed the receiver with a better one. Perhaps because of my greater desire for design work, during that time I dealt with the power amplifier and various other designs and failures.

During those years, we met a number of other members of the Tarnovo Radio Club, such as Hristo Tsenov – who at first did not have a call sign, but after completing his transceiver he received LZ2AA, Miro Bozgunov – LZ2BK, Zdravko Gabrovski – LZ2ZJ, Lazarov, Lyubo – LZ2FW and several other boys and women – who did not have initials, but were quite active in the women’s competitions at the club station.

In addition to making connections and participating in competitions, which took up most of our time, we helped build the transmitters for the city radio clubs in the district (at that time Gabrovo was also part of the Tarnovo district). I will never forget how we had joined some international competition that continued into the night. Somewhere around midnight we heard a stone hit the window. It was my uncle who had come with a log to take me home.

When we learned to work well, Father Kiro (that’s what we called him) would call us early in the morning to go fishing and after we returned to the club we would make a page of the diary with Americans and other DX. Why it was like that I appreciated later, when I began to understand the 11-year activity of the sun. In 1958 there was a maximum of solar activity and with one 50 watt station we could hear each other all over the world.

In the following years I met Ivan Popov – LZ2SA, Lyubo Grigorov – LZ2FW, Dimitar Raykov – LZ2LY, Parvan – LZ2SW and Veliko – LZ2WS Velikovi, Kiril Drandarov – LZ2ZK, Angel Lichev – LZ2UG, Dimitar Komitov – LZ2XW and others, but please forgive me, I don’t remember them well.

This is how my life in the District Radio Club went, until 1960. In 1961, I reduced my activity, because I was preparing to apply to a higher educational institution. I really wanted to apply to the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering University (now TU-Sofia), but our father had passed away, and after me there were two more well-educated sisters, and in order to have more funds left for them, I enrolled in the Air Force Pilot School. In the following years, until 1966, when I graduated, I had reduced my activity as a radio amateur. However, in one of the following years, I participated with Nikolay – LZ2JF in the republican championship and we won it. We had already made many participations in the championships with good results and were made masters of sports. Until my graduation, I was not an active radio amateur.

Immediately after graduating, I hurried to open my own radio station, for which Zdravko Gabrovski helped me by lending me his transmitter. Initially, I had written as the desired initial LZ2WZ (later LZ2VZ, etc., something from Vesselin Zaiakov), but I received LZ2WC. On my first visit to the Central Radio Station, I asked Uncle Stancho why he hadn’t given me any of the desired ones, and he replied that he hadn’t looked at them. When he saw that WZ was reserved, he put his finger on WA, started moving it along the next initials, and gave me the first free one. At first, I felt bad, but I started working from Pleven until the fall of 1966, when I was sent to fly from Tolbukhin (now Dobrich).

My stay in Tolbukhin was a year during which quite interesting things happened to me. At that time, Dimitar Galmadiev was the head of the radio club and he called me to participate in shortwave competitions. At the republican HF competition in 1967, which was in the spring, we decided to participate with two keys, two receivers, and one transmitter. To our great surprise, we won 3rd place with a single G807 end lamp. When I think about what powers are used now…

When it got warmer, Dimitar – LZ2FA started to persuade me to join the radio detection team. I wasn’t sure if the bosses would let me, but maybe with the help of the DOSO at that time, they agreed to participate. We held a training camp with a few people and set off for the republican championship. I was very surprised when Galmadiev decided to run with him on Tolbukhin’s team. Maybe the others felt bad, but we weren’t embarrassed. Galmadiev was first, I was third and we won first place as a team. After that, I was called up to the national radio detection team, and after I participated in Czechoslovakia, I realized that this sport was not for me. Maybe because of the exceptionally good food for pilots and the fact that I had already entered into a civil marriage, I had started to gain weight and it was becoming more and more difficult for me to run. Thus ended my career as a radio detection competitor.

In the fall of 1967, I was transferred to the Military Air School as a lecturer. For about a year, I reduced my activity to a minimum in order to prepare for my lectures and become a good lecturer. I became especially active after in 1968 I managed to complete my first transceiver, my own development. At that time, maximum solar activity was beginning, the transceiver worked on all bands and it gave me great pleasure to work on 10 meters. The transceiver had two PL500s and they could hear me well. As a lecturer, I would get home from work at around three o’clock and during the summer I made an exceptionally large number of DX on 10 meters. I even remember my initials had appeared as an interesting and regular DX in QST. In the following years, I managed to make an amplifier with three GU50s.

During the 1968/1969 academic year, I was sent to a 10-month retraining course in Sofia. I can’t say why, but I started visiting LZ1KVV, where Ivanchev was the head. We didn’t know each other, but he probably studied me and started asking me to make an SSB transmitter, not a transceiver yet. At that time, Kotseto Chobanov – LZ1WD had already launched such an SSB transmitter.

I agreed and together with Petar Genov we started to compile the circuits from the experience we had. Later, Dimitar Zvezdev – LZ1CZ, who was studying and had started working at the club, joined us. And so little by little we managed to launch an SSB transmitter.

We also had to make a step with GU50, but I wasn’t able to participate until its completion because the course was over and I had to go home to Pleven. The step was completed by Dimitar Zvezdev.

During my stay in Sofia, I regularly participated in the contests in the LZ1KVV team. At that time we became good friends with Yanko Bogdanov – LZ1VL, Spas Spasov – LZ1HW, Nikolay Radoslavov, batko Vancho, Pero, Margarita Petkova – LZ1YL, Hari – LZ1GU, Chavdar Levkov – LZ1AQ, Veselin Iliev and many more, who will hardly get angry if I don’t mention them.

Until 1972, I can’t say that anything else happened to me except lectures, flying and radio communications. In 1971, I prepared for graduate school and won the competition. When I started to deal with my scientific growth in 1972, I temporarily closed LZ2WC, and I gave my equipment to Nikolay LZ2JF, during which time I think he made many interesting connections. After I graduated from graduate school at the end of 1975, I had prepared myself with a full set of parts, elements and chassis for the hybrid UW3DI.

In addition, I started buying tubes for high jump and not long after I had a new transceiver, a three-stage GU50 and a three-element monobander on 20 m, W3DZZ, dipoles for 80 m and 40 m. I started working with a new initial – LZ2CQ.

Why did I start working with a new initial. While I was working with LZ2WC I had told in the TRC how some hams giggled when they gave me the initial. In the following years, Sotir Kolarov – LZ1SS always thought of this when he saw me and although with good feeling he recalled it. In 1976 I was in the TRC with the intention of activating my closed initial. We were talking with Kliment Kozhuharov – LZ1CQ and at that time Sotir passed by us, smiled and hinted at my initial. Clement got angry, took my documents and changed my old initial to LZ2CQ, telling me that he would be pleased if we were namesakes. Before that, they had already started giving initials with the same suffixes and different numbers. That’s how this story ended.
In 1976 I started working quite actively. I had antennas for 80m and 40m and I participated regularly in various Bulgarian competitions.

On 20m I had the opportunity to work with a relatively good antenna and make many DX contacts. For several years I had more than 270 parties on 20m, working in the evenings and on Saturdays early in the morning.

In the following years Nikolay – LZ2JF was finishing his UW3DI transceiver and asked me for help. He arrived at our place and we started finishing the transceiver together. He was very surprised when he turned on my transceiver and with the first turn of the frequency knob, he heard some station from the Pacific, which he had never heard before. In the evening we discussed what he would do the next day while I was at work. Just like me, he worked DX in the morning and late evening, after finishing work. As far as I remember, working with DX-s at my station prevented him from doing anything to build his own station, but he was pleased with the new countries he had made.

Despite my desire, I still didn’t have time to get down to business with VHF. I won’t be working at VHF from Pleven anyway, due to my busy schedule. In 1982, I became an associate professor and deputy head of the department where I worked.

In 1984, I became head of the department. Until 1987, nothing interesting happened in my amateur radio life.

In the fall of 1987, I moved to Sofia, where after 1989, after buying a house, I began to actively engage in amateur radio. Especially after my eldest son brought me a factory transceiver from Germany.

My greatest activity as a radio amateur began after 1998. I already had a lot of measuring equipment, a mechanical workshop and a desire to work. Together with my colleagues LZ2HM and LZ1VDR, we started building powerful amplifiers for 50MHz and 144MHz. For 432MHz and 1296MHz, we bought ready-made amplifiers. At first, we tried to make antennas for these ranges, but we decided that, except for 50MHz, for the other ranges it would take a lot of time and we bought ready-made ones.

Our first participations started from Vitosha, then we went to the peaks of the Stara Planina. We made a lot of connections with neighboring countries, and we started to increase our most distant connections. It gave us a lot of pleasure if during a competition a sporadic appearance appeared.

Until 2006, we did not have our own permanent HF station and we went to work from LZ9W, which with each passing year became better equipped and more powerful.

In 2006, Andrey – LZ2HM had contacted 5B4AIF – Norman, who was an active radio operator and was taking his first steps in HF.

When we arrived in Cyprus, on shortwave there was one tri-band Italian Eco antenna and one vertical on 80 meters.
Norman had taken the contest initial C4I. Nevertheless, we started the contest and made about 3 million points, while the Russian group on the island was making 25 to 30 million depending on the contest.

We talked and in the following years we brought 8 and 12 element logperiodic antennas from AKOM, a shorty-forty antenna for 40m, which we modified to Moxon and it started working better. On 80m we had a delta loop, and on 160m an inverted v.

We started to get a little under 10 million points. We were still not satisfied.

Norman and I bought a piece of property next to each other and started building the new C4I radio station, which later became quite famous. Contest after contest one group was making connections and another group was building a new antenna. In 2010 everything was ready and we started not only making 25 to 28 million points but also won two of the big international competitions. Just when we thought we were at the top, a lawsuit was filed against us and the judge decided that we had to take down all the antennas. At the end of 2010, we took them down and C4I went silent.

Now I only have fun with VHF.

This is my amateur radio activity. I still dream of building a radio station in Bulgaria like in Cyprus, but at 70 it is not easy.

Veselin Zayakov, LZ3CQ (ex LZ2WC, LZ2CQ), 5B4AIV, LZ3A
2012

Материалът The hobby I loved for life е публикуван за пръв път на Галя и Тони - Галанто.