| Author |
Message |
    
Barakuda318
Intermediate Member
Username: Barakuda318
Post Number: 140
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 1:17 am: | 
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What got you started working on electronics?
I am not a tech on the copper sight but am sort of my own private tech, I guess you could say I've worked on a few of my friends and families electronics but mostly mine(so far luckily without mishap..lol) The reason I ask is because i'm wondering if the way I got started is common or unusual.. The first thing I ever worked on was one of the old GI Joe Walkie Talkie's. I had wanted a set of walkie talkie's for a long time but coming from a poor family that was an extra expense that could not be afforded, and I had to find other alternitives. A friend of mine had a couple of these things sittin in his toy box and I traded him a couple baseball cards for them, only to find when I got them home and put a battery in them that one did not work. I borrowed some of dads tools and went to work. Even though these are simply made and not much too them when I saw the insides I was facinated at how something like this worked and quickly found a broken solder, I used a Lighter (wich I'm sure if mom or dad knew I had at the time being only seven I would have gotten a spankin)and a Piece of coathanger I resoldered the connection and bingo I had a working pair of Walkie Talkie's at last, every since then when I wanted something that couldn't be afforded I waited till one of My friends tore there's up or found it at an ever popular garage sale and fixed them up so then I had what I wanted. lol Guess I learned the value of working hard for what you wanted when I was seven haha, funny how some people get started in the hobbies they are in.... |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 978
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 10:04 am: |
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I'm sure there others that have started out in a similar way as you did./ ME, when i was younger
i tore em apart, but, could never put them back together again...LOL...
Keep up the good work!
JIM/PA/CEF 375 |
Barakuda318
Intermediate Member
Username: Barakuda318
Post Number: 141
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 5:18 pm: |
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Yeah I've been on here for about five years or so now, but have had limmited access to internet untill now, (I love my Laptop) just thought I'd lay out there and see how some of us got started teching, lol |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 8481
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 5:50 pm: |
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Our School Radio Club Teacher who ran the Radio Club back in 1962 got me started. 
We had to build a Single Crystal Radio to become a Full Fledged Member of the School Radio Club.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Coyote
Advanced Member
Username: Coyote
Post Number: 597
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 2:57 pm: |
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Porkchop, that is one great story not to mention a bit funny! (especially the DC motor hooked to AC current)
I think when it comes right down to it, how many of us didn't have a set of walkie talkies at some point in our childhood that triggered that little switch that brings us to where we are today. I had many many sets and when I started in CB thats what I used, a 3 channel, crystal controled RS walkie talkie bought at a flea market when I was about 11. Built my first "Globe Patrol" short wave when I was 13, then somewhere along the line just didn't continue with the hobby. Makes me wish I had now and even bought up a bunch of radios after the CB craze was gone when they could be had for very little money. If I knew then what I know now there would have been LOTS of things I would have bought up while they were much less expensive than they are today. (like 55 & 57 Chevy's, Fender, Gibson and other guitars that could be had for little back then, Radios - CB, Shortwave, Ham... this list could go on and on.. y'all know what I mean) I often wished I had gone in the direction of electronics way back when instead of diesel/auto mechanics which I no longer have a desire to do. (got tired of working in the cold, wet and mud and being filthy all the time not to mention busted knuckles) I like the smell of hot solder better than a burnt transmission. 
CEF-443
Done ratchet jaw'n...... |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 482
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 11:24 pm: |
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Well, sometimes you never learn. Like me for instance...I'm still driven to try to plug DC stuff into AC outlets...I just like the smoke I guess.
I had this guy that kept bothering me all the time, coming over to my shack and wanting me to crank up some ole wore out radio he had. He brought a 29LTD over one night. Well, I couldn't resist hooking it into the wall socket, only I used a old radio I had, not his. I wouldn't do anyone like, but it was fun to watch him freak out.
Another guy whose stuff I work on, I am alway messing with him. You know how you can lay your hand on top of the solder side of the PCB and touch the audio circuits and it'll hum through the speaker, I love doing him like that. He freaks...hahaha...oh man I hope he comes back soon... |
Coyote
Advanced Member
Username: Coyote
Post Number: 603
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 - 8:38 am: |
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Porkchop, ever hook a speaker directly to AC current? Kinda funny to watch the voice coil shoot out and slam into the wall on the other side of the room. |
Barakuda318
Intermediate Member
Username: Barakuda318
Post Number: 144
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 4:17 am: |
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Yeah or take a Speaker out of one of those radio's and hook it too a Kenwood 1000 watt audio amp with bass all the way up and Bass boost on, Man Thats alot of smoke, Filled up my entire shack, lol took forever to get rid of that unforgetable smell.....lol |
Troublemaker
Intermediate Member
Username: Troublemaker
Post Number: 241
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 7:38 pm: |
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ITS MY BROTHERS FAULT,,HE GETS 100% OF THE BLAME!! |
Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 312
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 8:05 pm: |
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Hmm......I havnt made anything smoke in a loooooooooong time!
tech291
cef#291
kc8zpj
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Troublemaker
Intermediate Member
Username: Troublemaker
Post Number: 242
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 10:30 pm: |
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The first question was what/who got you started
in electronics,,,I watched you take things apart,,,I don't remember you burnin anything up though,,,U R STILL GUILTY!!! |
