Michael N. Hill (VA7MN)

Michael's journey into the world of radio began in 1962 in Yorkshire, England, where he was captivated by the family's console multi-band radio and the international shortwave broadcasts it carried. In 1966, after relocating to Toronto, a scout leader named Tony (VE3GNT) introduced Michael and his peers to HF CW using a rebuilt #19 set. His high school electronics class brought further excitement as he helped construct a Heathkit HF radio and erected a rooftop dipole antenna.

Years passed with academic, work, and travel commitments. Eventually, Michael built more Heathkits, acquired a vintage CR-91A receiver, and began learning Morse code. In the fall of 1984, he sat for the Canadian government exams but narrowly missed passing the code test. In February 1985, he re-tested at the Toronto DOC offices and passed, receiving the call sign VE3OYM - though he found it less than ideal for CW operation.

With an old Yaesu FT-101B and G5RV antenna, Michael dove into HF CW. Over time, he earned endorsements for 80 and 10 meters and advanced certification, which led to the call sign VA3MH. Embracing a minimalist radio philosophy, he adopted a full-sized doublet antenna and favored CW - operating 95% in CW on both HF and 2m.

For more than 30 years, Michael has been both an instructor and an accredited examiner, sharing his knowledge and passion. Despite other interests limiting his radio activity today, his fascination with sending a simple on/off carrier signal and making global connections remains unchanged. CW, whether local or DX, remains a source of relaxation and inspiration.