My Journey Through Electronics and Amateur Radio

Jim — AA7CL

My passion for electronics began when I was a young boy, spending time with my father in our basement as he built and assembled electronic projects. Dad had recently left the Navy and attended a local college to further his education in electronics. Those hours we spent together sparked a curiosity that would stay with me for the rest of my life.

He introduced me to the world of vacuum tubes, capacitors, resistors, and inductors. He taught me how electronic components worked together and, just as importantly, how to solder properly. The magic of taking a handful of individual components and turning them into something that worked fascinated me. I was hooked!

My father continued his education and eventually joined the federal Civil Service, working at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah. There, he was responsible for diagnosing and repairing guidance systems for the Minuteman III and other systems. During those years, I cherished the time we spent working on projects together and the long conversations about electronics around the dinner table. Looking back, those experiences were much more than a hobby shared between father and son. They helped shape my interests and laid the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

My own career took a different path than I had originally imagined. I had hoped to fly aircraft off Navy carriers, but that dream never came to fruition. Instead, I began my working life in the automotive industry as a mechanic. I learned a great deal about the mechanical side of vehicle repair, but my real passion was always the electronics.

Over the years, I had several opportunities to attend Ford Motor Company-sponsored training programs, where I studied automotive electronics and the increasingly sophisticated systems found in modern vehicles. I put that knowledge to work at a Ford dealership, diagnosing and repairing cars and trucks. As my experience grew, I became shop foreman, helping train and educate new technicians. Eventually, I moved into management, where I spent more than 20 years learning to work with people, solve problems, and navigate the many challenges of a constantly changing industry.

Even as my career evolved, electronics never let go of me—and I never wanted it to! I continued spending countless hours in the shop diagnosing electronic failures and helping my staff tackle the challenges brought on by the computer age and the complex electronic systems embedded in modern vehicles. Technology was changing rapidly, and there was always something new to learn.

It was also during this time that I discovered amateur radio.

Several of my coworkers were licensed amateur radio operators. I discovered that ham radio offered much more than CB radio, and my curiosity grew immediately. I wanted to know how to get licensed, so I asked them where to begin. They suggested attending classes or studying on my own and handed me a book.

That was on a Monday. My buddy told me there was a licensing exam was Wednesday evening at 7:00 and to be ready!

I took the book home and started reading. I couldn’t put it down! By Wednesday evening, I was ready to take the test. I passed and, a little later, received my Technician-class license in the mail. Just like that, a whole new world opened up to me.

Amateur radio has given me countless opportunities to continue learning about electronics, communications, antennas, radio equipment, and the science behind making it all work. But the technical side is only part of what makes this hobby so special. Ham radio has also introduced me to wonderful people, lifelong friendships, new adventures, and a community of fellow enthusiasts who share the same spirit of curiosity and discovery.

In many ways, amateur radio brings me right back to those early days in the basement with my father—experimenting, troubleshooting, learning, and enjoying the satisfaction of figuring out how something works.

Today, I’m still fascinated by electronics and still enjoy the challenge of solving a technical problem. There’s always something new to explore, another project to tackle, or another piece of technology to understand.

Looking back, I realize that the path from that basement workbench to my life as an amateur radio operator wasn’t really a series of separate chapters. It was one continuous journey, driven by curiosity and a desire to learn.

Ham radio has enriched my life in ways I never could have imagined, and to this day, I still love every minute of it.

Thanks for visiting!

73,

Jim — AA7CL