НИКО АВРАМОВ - DJ0GB (ex. LZ2DJ) - Галя и Тони

Personal Memoirs of Nikola Avramov (DJ0GB / ex DM9BJM, Y29JM) — From Veliko Tarnovo to Nuremberg

My journey into amateur radio began early in 1958, when as a young student I enrolled in a Morse telegraphy course at the Pioneer Center in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. During training, we visited pioneer club station LZ2KBS. Although HF operations back then were low-power (25W CW) and restricted primarily to domestic contacts, the magic of radio hooked me for life.

I joined the Veliko Tarnovo Regional Radio Club under manager Kiril Nestorov. After passing my Class „C“ license exam, I began operating from LZ2KAC, spending entire nights logging contacts and competing in HF contests. I achieved my Class „B“ license in 1965 and advanced to Class „A“ (top tier) in 1972.

Class B Operator Certificate Nikola Avramov

Class „B“ Amateur Radio Operator Certificate (1965)

1. National Champion Title and Master of Sports (1965)

In 1965, alongside team members Nik Pisarov (LZ2JF) and Angel Lichev (LZ2UG), we competed in the Bulgarian National High-Speed Telegraphy Championship. Operating club station LZ2KBA, our team claimed 1st Place in Bulgaria, earning all three of us the prestigious title „Master of Sports in Amateur Radio“.

„Master of Sports“ title awarded following the national championship victory with LZ2KBA

2. Homebrewing Bulgaria’s Third HF Transceiver

Following military service (where I trained radio operators in Kardzhali) and completing electrical engineering studies, I was tasked with training new radio technicians at the Veliko Tarnovo radio club.

In 1971, I began constructing my custom homebrew HF transceiver. Displayed at the 1972 National TNTM Technical Expo in Plovdiv, it won top honors. This marked only the third custom homebrew HF transceiver ever built in Bulgaria (following Kiril Drandarov’s LZ2ZK in Veliko Tarnovo and Nikolai Pastarmov’s LZ1YI in Kazanlak).

Custom homebrew HF transceiver built in 1971

The custom homebrew HF transceiver built by Nikola Avramov (1971–1972)

3. Operating in East Germany (GDR) and „Funkamateur“ Feature

In late 1972, after marrying a German citizen, I relocated to Leipzig, East Germany (GDR), bringing my homebrew transceiver with me. In the GDR, I was issued my first German callsign DM9BJM (later updated to Y29JM under callsign restructuring).

In 1973, I exhibited my transceiver at the National GDR Ham Convention in Leipzig. It earned 4th place nationwide among all German technical exhibits and was published in detail in the official German amateur radio magazine „Funkamateur“ (Issue 4 / 1974).

Funkamateur magazine issue 4/1974 feature page

Feature article on the homebrew transceiver in „Funkamateur“ magazine (Issue 4 / 1974)

4. Move to West Germany and Present Operations as DJ0GB

In mid-1988, my family relocated to Bavaria, West Germany. Settling in Nuremberg, I was issued my current callsign DJ0GB, which I actively operate to this day.