VK4FIX

Always a tinkerer, I became interested in CB radio during the late 1970’s, which, after obtaining qualifications, resulted in a career in electronics. First in domestic and commercial security as a field technician, then high security working with banks, the military, embassies - even repairing panic systems in the Prime Minister’s bedroom! Deciding I’d had enough of security, I opened an electronic workshop, primarily repairing Tv and video systems, however the variety of equipment that came through the door including sound and stage gear for bands, domestic appliances and computers, made the job interesting. By the late 1990's, it was clear to me that the electronic industry was changing, products became cheap and people were throwing away rather than repairing so I sold the business.

I next moved into industrial electronics repairing CNC control systems, which saw me back in the field, travelling to factories throughout the Country, which I didn’t like and didn’t last long. I then went back to a workshop position repairing a large variety of electronic equipment for Australia’s leading electronic retailer, where I was quickly promoted to the position of State Service Manager. After a few years, the pressure of budgets, performance reports and meeting targets saw me walk away from the industry and at the age of 40, go back to university doing a full-time, four year degree in a completely different career - photojournalism - but that’s another (very successful) story.

Fast forward 20 years, Kerry and I are still happily married after nearly 40 years and have three sons. In 2020 at the age of 60, I officially retired from full time work, purchased a house on six acres of land in a quiet coastal hinterland area near Hervey Bay, Queensland Australia, put up a bloody big shed and started tinkering in electronics.

I have been a full call (advanced) ham operator since my early days in electronics. My main interests as well as electronic repair of equipment, included propagation and antenna design. During the 1990's I help build and install the VK4RDB 2m repeater in Brisbane and held the position of President of the Bayside Amateur Radio Club. Unfortunately work and raising a family got in the way, other than buy and storing away faulty radios to fix "one day when I retire" I did very little in radio for many years. Now in my retirement - “I’m Back” Same call sign - VK4FIX, with a keen interest in repairing and restoring older electronic equipment.

One of my favourite pastimes is buying faulty radios, repairing them, using them for a while then selling them off to fund more radios. As a result, there’s always a few dozen radios in the shack, the bench is a revolving door of equipment, I could be transmitting on anything from 70 year old vale transmitters to modern day transceivers.

I do have a few radios on the bench that I have had trouble parting with, a Yaesu FT1000 for HF and an Icom IC970 for VHF / UHF. I also have a variety of SDR radios and software, scanners and always lots home-brew projects I’m tinkering with.

My antenna farm consists of home made wire variations including 80m full wave loop, end fed dipoles as well as yagis, quads and experimental contraptions. I’m sure I’ll settle on one design eventually, probably when I’m too old and frail to climb a ladder, until them I’ll keep experimenting.

Other interests include relic hunting with metal detectors. I never did get gold fever but have a passion for digging up history. The hobby usually involves lots of research followed by trips away to remote areas including early settlements and ghost towns and also combines my love of camping, fishing and hunting.