Member Bio

At the age of 12, I meet a new friend and he was into radio and TV repair and a SWL ! I Don’t recall how he started into radios but that caught my eye since he was making money repairing radios and televison sets.. He owned at the time a Hallicrafter S120 shortwave radio and that intrigued me even more on what I was listening to. Joe was his name and he started teaching me basic repairs on radios. Hum was the easiest repair ( filter capacitor ) and testing the tubes for weak audio etc. Went to the library and read a bit more on radios and TV , “ How To Service “. I knew enough to repair the easy ones and made some money. I got into building Heathkit and Allied shortwave radios and audio equipment. About 16 yrs. old I started to work at a machine shop ( OJT ) through the state of Connecticut. I was working on being a tool and die maker and using all the various machines, lathes, Bridgeport milling machines and measuring tools but after a few years I entered the service. Spent 4 years in the U.S. Air Force as an Aircraft Mechanic. Took the GI bill and went to school for electronics and at the time in the 70’s, electronic techs was very big. Graduated and took a course through Motorola Training Institute for servicing mobile radios. Spent time in various jobs servicing radio and audio equipment at the shops I was working at. 1980 I started working at Yale University as a Senior Electronic Technician and a mechanical engineer. At home I took a course in VCR repair and got into repairing them and TV’s as well. Spent the next 34 years at Yale University servicing, repairing, building electronic and mechanical equipment for researchers. I wore many hats, Jack of all trades and a master of none so to speak. Welding, silver soldering, machining, electronic servicing and designing. It may have been work but for me it was still like a hobby at Yale. I had full use of shop equipment after hours to use for my hobby. Retirement came quickly, 34 yrs but a few months later I was called back for part time help. I said only four hours a day and don’t work Fridays ! Did that until Covid hit in March of 2020 and a year later I told Yale University due to Covid, and transportation issues by train that I was hanging up my solder iron. I miss the challenges, the people etc but with no more stress in my life it was a great relief for me. NOW, I still am a hobbyist for amateur radio and still design little projects for the shack. I now have my radios and outside yard work, and grandkids to occupy my time.  I’m now thinking of playing drums again (when I was a teen) and also guitar. Not done with life YET!! So far, it’s been a nice ride, still healthy and fit. Seventy Thirds to all that read this.  de…  KA1RJQ RADIO