3B7C Operators: SM5GMZ

Name:
Pete Arninge

Call:
SM5GMZ

Nationality:
Swedish

3B7 Responsibilities:
Still photographer
Team member

DXpedition Experience:
OH0 during the 70's
XU7ADI (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
9M6/SM5GMZ (2006, 2007)
6V7F (2007)

Significant Operations:
HS0ZFI  (CQWW SOSB 2006 + activity between 2004 and 2007)
9M6DXX (WPX Phone 2006)

Other Calls:
SM5X (contest call)

Club Memberships:
SSA

About Pete:

Ham radio wasn't the first choice for Pete. After reading a magazine article about shortwave listening in 1969, Pete became one of the youngest BC listeners in Sweden at the age of nine. In 1973, at the tender age of 14, Pete managed to get his C-class license, giving him the right to use a 10 Watt input crystal controlled radio on 80 and 40M.  By that time, the license tests were tough and the CW had to be 100 percent correct. Otherwise - no license.  Today he is grateful though, as CW is his main operating mode.

His callsign - SM5GMZ - is an original since first issued in 1974.  Between 1974 and 1981 Pete was one of the most active hams in Sweden, operating a large number of contests. He was also the Contest Manager for SSA (eq. to RSGB) during many years and took great part in managing the SAC contests.

In 1982, Pete was granted to study mass communications at the Berghs School of Communications. To get the life as a student running, he therefore sold his beloved Drake C-line, the linear and all the antennas and went QRT

After exams in journalism at the University of Stockholm and at the Swedish Institute of Film, Pete worked as a reporter and columnist for a variety of newspapers and magazines for many years. After a short period within the commercial radio, he decided to change path totally, and  started his own publishing company. This was also the time when he switched the pen for a camera.

Today Pete works as a full-time photojournalist, affiliated with AP, Reuters, AFP and WpN.  During the last ten years, Pete's pictures have been published regularly in most major newspapers world-wide.