I first became interested in Radio and Electronics at about the age of 6 when David, a neighbour and 2 years older than me, taught me the finer details of crystal set manufacture from scratch.
First, scrounge an old transformer to strip the copper wire from…..
After I joined the school science club I had my first exposure to miniaturisation, a crystal set in a matchbox.
A 1 valve superregen Receiver I built as an 11 year old still mostly exists, and 55 years later I built the same radio again. It is fun to compare the two side by side.
I went to England in 1962, attended Merseyside College of Radio in Liverpool, Lancs, for 2 years but never did go to sea as a ship’s “Spark’s”.
Oh the shame of it, failed Morse Code sending at 20 words a minute.
Instead I became an Airborne Radio Fitter (the radios were airborne mostly, not me) at RAF Woodvale, an RAF training airfield. Back then we had De Havilland Chipmunk T10’s as the basic piston engined trainer and a couple of Gloster Meteor jets, an F8 and a T7.
I have a few hours logged in both types but never aspired to a Private Pilots Licence.
Back to OZ in 1971 where, apart from a couple of short detours, I spent the next 25 years as a Field Service Technician working for Motorola Communications, firstly in Victoria for nearly 10 years then 15 years in Queensland.
Everything from H.F. to Microwaves gives me a broad knowledge of most aspects of the science, but antennae hold a special fascination as the key to the systems success or otherwise.
I left Motorola in 2004 and spent the next 13 years running my own one man business making custom radio wiring harnesses for Recreational and Sports Aircraft, for use in Australia and overseas.
That came to an end 2018 when the business I sub-contracted to closed down.
I am still involved in Electronics, working casually in a friend’s business, assembling PCB’s.
I always have a project or two on the bench, a couple more brewing in the grey cells and even getting on air now and then. QRZ.com can tell the latter story.
I got my Novice Licence VK3NCP in 1977, Limited VK3XBT in 1980 and combined VK3KCS in March 1981. I held this callsign until 1989 when I relocated to Queensland and obtained VK4KCS.
I worked for many years with those new fangled Hertzian thingummies, but when it comes to a call sign, good old Kilo Cycles/Second are fast enough for me.
I am usually involved in the Committee associated with any of the clubs or organisations I chose to join. 10 Years carrying out most roles with the local Neighbourhood Watch in Jimboomba is one of many.
I joined Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club in 1978 and am honoured to be a made a Life Member for services rendered.
The more I can contribute, the more satisfaction I derive from being involved, rather than sitting back and watching the usual 5% of the membership doing 95% of what is necessary to ensure the growth of the organisation.