Nick Hacko VK9DX is one of ham radio’s most colorful voices, an elite contester, watchmaker, refugee-turned-builder, and unapologetically opinionated character who somehow manages to be equal parts philosopher and entertainer. Broadcasting from Norfolk Island, a tiny speck in the South Pacific with a population of just 2,000, Nick joins me for a conversation that ranges from Cold War-era Yugoslavia to CQ WW strategy, remote island station building, and why contesting still matters in an increasingly automated world. Nick traces his ham radio roots back to the golden age of Yugoslav contesting, where domestic 80-meter battles were treated with the intensity of world championships. After fleeing the Balkan conflict in the early 1990s, he chose Australia over Canada for one simple reason: ham radio. Decades later, during the COVID lockdowns, he bought property on Norfolk Island sight unseen and moved there with little more than an IC-7300 and a wire antenna. What followed was a one-man effort to build a serious contest station under extreme logistical constraints, shipping delays, antenna height limits, and near-total self-sufficiency. But what makes Nick fascinating isn’t just the contest results. It’s the way he talks about radio. Contest weekends aren’t “all-you-can-eat buffets,” he says. They’re birthday parties with friends. He pushes back on hyper-optimized contesting culture, argues for more recognition of station builders, and makes the case that amateur radio’s future depends on keeping the hobby human, welcoming, and fun for operators at every level. One moment he’s discussing phased vertical arrays and propagation windows across the Pacific; the next he’s joking about hiding from his wife during SSB contests or revealing his CB radio alter ego. This was one of the most enjoyable and unexpectedly thoughtful conversations I’ve had about contesting culture, island life, and the personalities that make ham radio so compelling.

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Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators everywhere, from serious contesters and DXpeditioners to everyday hams chasing signals from parks, islands, and backyard shacks around the world. Their continued support helps keep the spirit of experimentation and adventure in amateur radio alive.