Hey there! I’m Gabriel Marais, callsign ZS6GJM. I was born in the Free State (South Africa) back in October ’76, and I’m now based in Pretoria. I’m a member of the Pretoria Amateur Radio Club and also part of the South African Radio League (SARL).

I got into amateur radio in 2014 and was instantly hooked—I wanted to try out everything this hobby had to offer! After making my last QSOs in 2019, life took a turn (thanks to a divorce), and I went quiet for a bit. Fast-forward to 2023: I bought a new place and had a friend help me put up a little 3m mast for antennas, but it wasn’t until 2025 that I finally decided to dig out my old gear and get back on the air. Luckily, I’d kept most of my equipment! Got married in 2024 to Adel, my loving wife. She is a big supporter of the hobby and frequently gets on the roof to help with putting up antennas.

Here’s how my journey’s unfolded…