I continued to work only on CW until 1992.  But every year with my own constructed transmitter I had more than 2000 QSOs with the USA.  I easily got acquainted with many good friends from the states.  But at that time there was the communist regime.   I was under special observation by the security services.  They started to open my air mail letters.  One day I was called by the authorities in the local police that were dealing with people who had connections abroad.  They were very annoyed that I had friends in the U.S.  Even they told me: “When you hear a foreigner on the radio you should not reply to him.”  I wrote a few hours of testimony for my radio amateur activity.  I gave a promise that I wouldn’t bring colorful post cards to my working place.  Showing those cards was interpreted as an advertisement of the west.

2009:  Ivan helps his brother Petar harvest grapes from the vineyard.  This is a yearly task for Ivan and his brother.  Wine is made from the grapes.		2009:  Ivan in Peter's vineyard.  It is hard work harvesting the many bushels of grapes his brother grows each year.

During my second visit at the investigator I kindly invited him to my home to show him how a radio connection was made.  He came to my home and he became very excited.  On the wall in my radio shack he saw two framed certificates and he asked me what is that?   I was a member of two USA clubs in California and Texas.  I also had a diploma WAS for working on 20 meter CW all USA states.  In order to get it K4QHN - Bill helped me.  “What good did you do for America to get those things?” he asked.  I think he wasn’t quite aware of our activity.

At that period when the special services called me, I was mainly interested in the space projects of NASA.  I was collecting post cards from the start of the space projects.  I had many cards with Armstrong, the first man on the moon in 1969.  I also explored Gemini up to the space shuttle.  A few knew the truth about the technical data of the Saturn 5 rocket.  They even didn’t know how many teams went to the moon.  Still I am interested with my brother to receive post cards on this theme for our collections.

Ivan with is XYL Ivanichka after her return from a stay in Greece in 2010.		Ivan and Ivanichka with their grandsons (l-r) Antonio, Ivelin and Leonardo.

Leonardo visiting with his grandparents Ivan and Ivanichka during Christmas 2003.		Ivan with his brother Peter.  Peter is a master wine producer.  He has a 100 square meter vineyard which Ivan helps harvest.

Rumi (Peter's XYL), Peter and Ivan.  Photo was taken at Peter's home in 2005.		Ivan at Peter's home near Lovetch (2006).

Ivan's younger son Stan in his apartment with one of Ivan's oil paintings on the wall.		Ivan's second grandson Ivelin, son of Stan, with his grandparents and mother during Christmas 2003.

Unfortunately during the communist period there was “reformatory” camp stone pit.  It was for punishing people who weren’t convenient for the authorities.  But time flies quickly, only memories remain.

What a great happiness I felt when I was visited by my first guest from the States in 1992 - N3BNA - Dale Long from Pennsylvania.  I got a great gift from him, a Ten Tec radio.  My first factory made radio that I dreamt to have for years.  Then I just completed 50 years.

1992 Dale - N3BNA during his first visit with the city of Lovetch in the background.		Ivan at work with a friend and co-worker.  They spent two weeks in Italy attending a company training course (circa 1980's)

Ivan - LZ2LP and Dale - N3BNA in front of Ivan's home during Dale's first visit in  the summer of 1992		Ivan - LZ2LP and Dale - N3BNA in Ivan's back yard during Dale's second visit in the summer of 2000

In 1992 N3BNA and LZ2LP visit  Donko-LZ1II's ranch where he has a homemade antenna system.		N3BNA and LZ2LP's visit to LZ2II's ranch in Troyan.  Troyan is 34 miles from Lovetch.  That's Dale - N3BNA at the top of the tower.

Half a year later I had a second visit by KA2MGI - Christopher from NY.  The same year together with his father they made me an incredible gift for Christmas.  By mail I received a new TS-820 transceiver with an electronic keyer.  Now I had a really good technical level plus my PA.  It’s really a great pleasure to work on the air having such conditions.  During the next 2 years I also received two great gifts by mail.  The first a TR-2500 plus PA for 2M VHF from N9OZW - Pat from Indiana.  Then a IC-2B from DL3JH - Mr. Jurgen from Germany.

Chris - KA2MGI with Ivan's brother Peter.  Peter spent some time working in the U.S.A. in the early 1990s.		Chris - KA2MGI with Ivan's family during his visit in 1992

In Bulgaria we have 10 main repeaters for 2 meters.   They cover the whole country with small power.  Most radio amateurs in my QTH are on 2 meters VHF.

The best club station in our region is LZ9A near Troyan - 30 miles from my QTH.  This club was established in 1969 just when I had my license for class C.  The club is situated in a wonderful forest very high in the mountains.  There are modern antennas for all bands.  This club wins many awards in contests - Bulgarian and international.

In Bulgaria the radio amateur activity has developed a lot.  When I was first licensed, the amateur stations were around 850, now they are more than 6000.  The recent ones have callsigns with figures 3, 4, and 5 with a combination of 3 letters after the figures.

More info about me.  I work as a quality controller in a big factory for bicycles.  I make control of the components with a US computer.  In connection with my work I visited Italy 7 years ago.

I am married with two sons.  My new house is 2 miles away from town in a nice place with good conditions for antennas.   I have a small farm with animals and a garden for vegetables.

In addition to growing fruits and vegetables, Ivan raises chickens and turkeys on his farm.		Ivan in his apple orchard - October 2003		Ivan in his tomato garden - September 2008

Ivan and his xyl preserve all of their produce from the garden.  This is the winter store room where the food is stored		Along with his other interests, Ivan likes to listen to country music in his spare time.  Unfortunately he does not have much spare time for music

During my free time I do my other hobby - painting with oil paints.  I have more than 80 pictures.   I participated in a few regional exhibitions and ones in the company where I work.  It was my pleasure to send my pictures to radio amateurs from Italy, Germany, England, Japan, and the USA.  I also like to play chess.

Ivan's oil paintings have been on public display at the local art gallery and his place of work.  I have one of them hanging on the wall in my radio room.		More of Ivan's oil paintings.

Ivan has painted over 100 oil paintings, some have been on public display at the local art gallery and his place of work.  I have one of them on the wall in my radio room.		More of Ivan's art work.

Ivelin is Ivan's second grandson.  Ivelin is the son of Stan, Ivan's youngest son who lives near Ivan's home.		Ivelin (May 2009) playing in a very old hollowed out tree near Ivan's home.		2010: Ivan's new dog - Dancho.

2011: Antonio is Ivan's third grandson.  He is 4 years old.		2011: Ivan age 69.

My XYL has been working in Agrinyo, Greece since May 2010.  In December 2011 I visited Agrinyo for a week to visit my XYL and her employer Mr. Taki.  Agrinyo is located about 260 km northwest of Athens, Greece.  It is a very nice place.

Dec 2011: Home of Mr. Taki in Agrinyo, Greece where Ivanichka works.		Dec 2011: Ivanichka working in the kitchen.
Dec 2011: Ivan and Ivanichka in the village of Agrinyo.		Dec 2011: Ivanichka at the lake near Mr. Taki's home.

Dec 2011: Ivan and Ivanichka shopping in Agrinyo, Greece.		Dec 2011: Ivan standing in front of one the many orange trees in Agrinyo.

Unfortunately the postal services in Bulgaria are too expensive and very slow.  With one day salary I can send just a few letters to the USA - 5 grams each.  The post offices accept the international reply coupons - IRC with 40%, i.e. they give stamps for letters only for 60% of their cost.

In conclusion, I thank God for his mercy.  He gave me good health and dark hairs still.  I don’t smoke or drink alcohol.   I expect with pleasure new acquaintances on the air and to hear my old friends.

My favorite frequency is 14.182 MHz +/- QRM during the whole summer season every year from 0300 UTC.  After that 14.182 MHz SSB +/- QRM from 1100 - 1300 UTC.  It’s typical for my work that I never participate in short wave contests.  I’m on the air just for friendship.

God bless you and your families!
For direct contact my address is very easy:
Box 25 - 5500 Lovetch - Bulgaria

73, IVAN

Ivan has requested that I put a picture of myself on his web page.  The two photos below of myself and my antennas were taken during the summer of 2005.

Since June 1998, Ivan and I have had over 1300 QSOs.

The OM in the shack		The W3DF antenna farm

Friendship through Amateur Radio