3B7C Operators: FM5CD

About Michel

Michel was introduced to amateur radio in 1965 when he was in Germany doing his military service. He was able to listen to the old Siemens receiver of the radio club DL5SQ.

He passed his licence in 1967 and received his first callsign F6AGM. As an active member of F6KAW radio club near Paris, he became involved in DXing and contesting.

He participated in the 25th French Polar Expedition in Adelie Land, staying the whole winter in Dumont d'Urville base, and operated with his callsign FB8YC from December 1974 to March 1976.

Just before the 1978 expedition in Clipperton, (FO0XA-FO0XH) he went to Saudi Arabia, did not participate to the expedition and due to restriction, could not get a 7Z licence.

In 1979, after two years in the desert, he went to Martinique for his job in construction. He obtained two different callsigns (FM0FJE and FM7CD) until 1985 when new prefixes were assigned to the extra-class licencees. He got the call FM5CD that he's still using today. He also participated in many contests, in French Guyana and Martinique with specials callsigns (TX0A, TX2B, TO5A, TO5M, TO2DX) and won several awards and plaques during this time.

In February 2006, he participated in the 3Y0X expedition in Peter One Island co-lead by Ralph K0IR and Bob K4UEE. During ten days, the team operated from the glacier and made over 87.000 Q's.

On his return trip, the team stopped at King George Island, South Shetlands group. Michel and few other team members operated the Russian base station and made thousands of QSOs using the callsign XR9A.

Now, Michel is proud and excited to be a team member of this new major expedition – he is sure that 3B7C will be a rich and fun experience.