Author Topic: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?  (Read 5725 times)

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Offline VK3DRBTopic starter

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #25 on: September 19, 2020, 11:38:23 am »
I'm a certified HVAC technician. I've never done it for a living but I took the online course and got certified so I could buy R-22 refrigerant and (legally) install and service A/C and heat pump systems. Funny thing is that nobody has ever asked me to show proof of certification when I've bought it, even though they all have a sign that says you have to have it. I also hold a technician class ham radio license.

Over here, no-one ever asked me for my ham license whenever I bought equipment, and I have been licensed since 1982. Retailers in Australia like Dick Smith Electronics would sell stuff to anyone, no proof of license required. Only in medical electronics has anyone asked for proof of my degree. Absolutely no-one has ever asked me for evidence that I am a trained children's shoes fitter, not even the wife, and that really hurts  :'(.
 
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Offline Quarlo Klobrigney

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #26 on: September 19, 2020, 12:58:46 pm »
A bachelors degree in Gender Studies and Drama :-DD
Voltage does not flow, nor does voltage go.
 
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Offline Howardlong

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #27 on: September 19, 2020, 06:38:11 pm »
A bachelors degree in Gender Studies and Drama :-DD

In some places nowadays, you’d be overqualified.
 

Offline GlennSprigg

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #28 on: September 20, 2020, 11:21:55 am »
I had my own photographic business, many years ago. (As a break between elect/electronic work. Lifelong hobby).
This was the days still of real film! Had my own dark-rooms at home, and a 'studio'. Most of my work was 'commercial', receiving
pallets of china-ware and the like, to make catalogues & posters etc for sales companies. Though I also eventually included doing
weddings, and football teams etc, including making large frames. I also loved making 'old-world' Black & White/Sepia Toning photos
for a lot of people. Loved the old 'hands-on' B&W creations in my dark-room!!   ;D

It's a bit of a 'crass' industry, something like the 'jewelery' business!  Some people/companies 'expect' to pay a lot, and if/when I
under-charged/quoted, they thought it was too cheap. But I had no overheads, and no 'big-head'. Once, a company I was talking
to just wanted 4 photos/posters of some goods. (2 hours to set up, and a few hundred total costs).  I said... "$1000..." and he then
immediately said "do it!"... so with split second thinking I continued... "deposit, and another $800 on delivery!"  8)
He said... "Oh yea, no worries. Will deliver the goods tomorrow. Must have the results in 3 days! Thanks".
Just because he answered so quick.  ^-^
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Diagonal of 1x1x1 cube = Root-3 !!!  Beautiful !!
 

Offline Ground_Loop

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #29 on: September 20, 2020, 12:19:58 pm »
Before settling into EE I was a restaurant chef, car valet at a country club, and built landscape retaining walls.  Moving to the military, I ran nuclear reactors on an aircraft carrier and maintained instrumentation. Since the military, got EE and MBA and have spent many years developing industrial control and process systems.
There's no point getting old if you don't have stories.
 

Offline james_s

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #30 on: September 20, 2020, 06:09:59 pm »
Over here, no-one ever asked me for my ham license whenever I bought equipment, and I have been licensed since 1982. Retailers in Australia like Dick Smith Electronics would sell stuff to anyone, no proof of license required. Only in medical electronics has anyone asked for proof of my degree. Absolutely no-one has ever asked me for evidence that I am a trained children's shoes fitter, not even the wife, and that really hurts  :'(.

Would they have reason to? Over here you don't need a license to buy or posses radio gear, you only need to be licensed in order to operate it. It's only certain things deemed to be hazardous such as CFC or HCFC refrigerants, explosives and that sort of stuff that requires a license to procure.
 

Offline VK3DRBTopic starter

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #31 on: September 23, 2020, 12:53:00 am »
Over here, no-one ever asked me for my ham license whenever I bought equipment, and I have been licensed since 1982. Retailers in Australia like Dick Smith Electronics would sell stuff to anyone, no proof of license required. Only in medical electronics has anyone asked for proof of my degree. Absolutely no-one has ever asked me for evidence that I am a trained children's shoes fitter, not even the wife, and that really hurts  :'(.

Would they have reason to? Over here you don't need a license to buy or posses radio gear, you only need to be licensed in order to operate it. It's only certain things deemed to be hazardous such as CFC or HCFC refrigerants, explosives and that sort of stuff that requires a license to procure.

We had a big problem is the 1980's with pirates on 2 metres and even HF. Even in the 2000's I witnessed an unlicensed bloke buying a VX5R from Dick Smith Electronics to use it as a scanner. He admitted to me later that he had operated as a pirate because the temptation was too great. CB'ers operating 200W or higher on 27MHz out of band and 25W or higher on UHF was not uncommon. IMO, the govt made it all too easy because the cost of enforcement was too great. Today, no-one cares to be honest.

Quite a lot of CB'ers and ham radio operators from the 1970's and 1980's went on to fulfilling careers as electronics technicians and engineers. But most of the CB'ers just ended up as mobile phone junkies with minimal interest in technical matters. That being said, most new graduate electronics engineers have never heard of CB or ham radio. For the same reason why many would not know what Betamax or VHS is.
 

Offline tkamiya

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #32 on: September 23, 2020, 06:03:29 am »
I don't have any formal training, like degrees or certifications.  Everything I do in electronics, computer hardware, and software is self-taught.  I made some good living through it though, so I'm quite satisfied.  I do have an electrician's license but it's only valid in Japan.  Does ham radio counts as electronics?  I'm licensed in Japan and US.

I am certified in silver level on ballroom dancing.
I can cook some mean meals.
Trained in abacus (or is this considered vintage computing? :-DD)
I'm proficient in B&W film based photography and darkroom process.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2020, 06:07:08 am by tkamiya »
 

Offline Ice-Tea

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #33 on: September 23, 2020, 06:55:40 am »
I'm an electronics engineer but I could work as a lifeguard (have the certificate). I also work as a teacher. I have a C1 in french. That's about it..
 

Offline BravoV

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #34 on: September 23, 2020, 07:11:31 am »
Love electronics since young age, but didn't want to take it as my career path and I never regret it. Abandoned it totally during busy periods of early life in education after high school, and graduated majors in accounting (bean counter  >:D) and law, worked in finance industries and big tobacco company, and finally ended up starting my own business and running it till today.

Finally after the dust settled down, about 1 or 2 decades ago re-started again my passion and hobby in electronics, I guess I will be forever EEE (Electronics Engineering Enthusiast).  ::)

Offline VK3DRBTopic starter

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #35 on: September 24, 2020, 01:46:54 am »
Quote
author=tkamiya link=topic=253550.msg3245552#msg3245552 date=1600841009]
I don't have any formal training, like degrees or certifications.  Everything I do in electronics, computer hardware, and software is self-taught.  I made some good living through it though, so I'm quite satisfied.  I do have an electrician's license but it's only valid in Japan.  Does ham radio counts as electronics?  I'm licensed in Japan and US.

I am certified in silver level on ballroom dancing.
I can cook some mean meals.
Trained in abacus (or is this considered vintage computing? :-DD)
I'm proficient in B&W film based photography and darkroom process.

Ham radio definitely counts as electronics, particularly for those who build antennas, radios, experiment etc. Japan is held in highest esteem with ham radio and about 30 years ago half of all hams world wide were Japanese (I suspect one reason was NTT's exorbitant long distance phone call rates.)

Most electronics people like myself cannot dance without a state machine diagram or flowchart. I cannot dance, have below zero artistic ability, cannot play any musical instrument and am incompetent in cooking. I can draw stick figures and that is about it. I did know one really good electronics engineer who was a serious ballroom dancer. The only one I ever met who did not dance like a robot. He went on into project management, which was a shame because the lure of more money meant less job satisfaction and his skills were not properly utilised. I heard that people who are good at dancing or play musical instruments tend to are faster at learning Morse code.

Sounds like you are pretty happy doing what you do :-+.

 

Offline tkamiya

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #36 on: September 24, 2020, 02:48:21 am »
I surely had fun and sometimes too much of it.

I've learned a lesson and broke it again.  Money makes everything boring and "like work."  Been there, done that, and did it again.

I'm sure some of us can relate.
 
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Online aargee

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #37 on: September 24, 2020, 03:31:08 am »
CPR certificate https://www.stjohnqld.com.au/Training/First-Aid-Courses/Accredited-First-Aid-Training/Provide-CPR, it is actually a requirement for my job but anyone working in electrical should have one.
Not easy, not hard, just need to be incentivised.
 

Offline ChristofferB

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #38 on: September 24, 2020, 09:44:16 am »
I've done a lot of slimy, squishy science, aside from electronics.

Chromatography, (almost all kinds), microbiology, x-ray crystallography, organic and inorganic synthesis of a huge variety of molecules, usually big, low-band gap organic semiconductor-ish stuff. Quite a lot of ultrahigh vacuum stuff, UHV system cleaning, maintenance, etc.

Also a LOT of spectroscopy, NMR, MS, UV, VIS, IR, CD, fluorescence, gamma, x-ray

Really, electronics is the thing that's my 'side qualifications'  :P
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Check out my scientific instruments diy (GC, HPLC, NMR, etc) Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ8l6SdZuRuoSdze1dIpzAQ
 

Offline jkj1962

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #39 on: September 25, 2020, 01:51:38 am »
Electronics is my hobby, although I do have an Associate's Degree.  I work in IT Security and desktop support.  No certifications, just a lot of OJT.  Over the years I've been a theatre usher, heavy equipment oiler/mechanic's helper, bookkeeper and network cable installer.  I used to be a certified well-water system operator, but didn't renew.  Back in my teens I was in a couple of wannabe rock groups.
 

Offline fourfathom

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #40 on: September 25, 2020, 02:29:26 am »
cannot play any musical instrument [...] I heard that people who are good at dancing or play musical instruments tend to are faster at learning Morse code.

I can't dance, but still play a mean electric bass guitar.  I grew up with electronics as a hobby, but in my teens and early 20's put a lot of effort into becoming a rock star bassist.  Well, that didn't happen.  I finally looked at what was becoming of the musicians around me and realized that most of them weren't going to end well (drugs, alcohol, and stupidity), and I was neither good or lucky enough to be a big star.  So I got serious again about electronics and progressed from technician to engineer.  I have no degree, but I did have aptitude and experience, and still have a burning passion for it.

Looking back, I can see that I truly found my calling.  But I also feel that music and electronics use a lot of the same areas of my brain.  I am a strong "pattern and structure" thinker which (I believe) lets me easily re-use concepts from other fields.  I tend to be a bit of a dilettante, but can dig deep and stay immersed in a problem for days and weeks at a time when it interests me.  I feel the same way about music.

BTW, in my Junior High "electric shop" class the instructor saw that I already knew all about light bulbs and similar basics, so he let me learn Morse Code instead.  The goal was to get my ham license.  I didn't get it then, but by the end of the course I was able to receive code at 25 WPM so he gave me an "A" anyway.
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Offline SerieZ

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #41 on: September 25, 2020, 09:59:47 am »
cannot play any musical instrument [...] I heard that people who are good at dancing or play musical instruments tend to are faster at learning Morse code.

I can't dance, but still play a mean electric bass guitar.  I grew up with electronics as a hobby, but in my teens and early 20's put a lot of effort into becoming a rock star bassist.  Well, that didn't happen.  I finally looked at what was becoming of the musicians around me and realized that most of them weren't going to end well (drugs, alcohol, and stupidity), and I was neither good or lucky enough to be a big star.  So I got serious again about electronics and progressed from technician to engineer.  I have no degree, but I did have aptitude and experience, and still have a burning passion for it.

Looking back, I can see that I truly found my calling.  But I also feel that music and electronics use a lot of the same areas of my brain.  I am a strong "pattern and structure" thinker which (I believe) lets me easily re-use concepts from other fields.  I tend to be a bit of a dilettante, but can dig deep and stay immersed in a problem for days and weeks at a time when it interests me.  I feel the same way about music.

BTW, in my Junior High "electric shop" class the instructor saw that I already knew all about light bulbs and similar basics, so he let me learn Morse Code instead.  The goal was to get my ham license.  I didn't get it then, but by the end of the course I was able to receive code at 25 WPM so he gave me an "A" anyway.

That story sounds very similar to mine  :-DD unfortunately as my pals grow older I find myself playing Bass Guitar less and less...
As easy as paint by number.
 

Offline Zbig

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #42 on: September 25, 2020, 10:58:38 am »
I am the world's greatest procrastinator. I'll tell you more about it later.
 
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Offline Ice-Tea

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #43 on: September 25, 2020, 12:07:50 pm »
Most electronics people like myself cannot dance without a state machine diagram or flowchart. I cannot dance, have below zero artistic ability, cannot play any musical instrument and am incompetent in cooking. I can draw stick figures and that is about it. I did know one really good electronics engineer who was a serious ballroom dancer. The only one I ever met who did not dance like a robot. He went on into project management, which was a shame because the lure of more money meant less job satisfaction and his skills were not properly utilised. I heard that people who are good at dancing or play musical instruments tend to are faster at learning Morse code.

Sounds like you are pretty happy doing what you do :-+.

Actually, I'm a decent dancer, including ballroom. I'm the family cook. I'm a decent guitarist (say garage rock level). My only problem is I can't draw a straight line with a ruler a my daughters could draw better than me when they were six.
 

Offline Fox_Alex

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #44 on: September 26, 2020, 12:34:11 am »
I'm an electronics R&D engineer, but although a good welder and motorcycle mechanician.
 

Offline VK3DRBTopic starter

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #45 on: September 26, 2020, 05:44:07 am »
I surely had fun and sometimes too much of it.

I've learned a lesson and broke it again.  Money makes everything boring and "like work."  Been there, done that, and did it again.

I'm sure some of us can relate.

Your sushi looks awesome. My wife is Italian and my daughter-in-law who lives with us is Japanese (from Imari). Both are great cooks. My daughter-in-law was brought up to cook traditional Japanese food. I don't need to learn to cook! On the other hand neither of them can cook "chips" like I can ::). I once cooked a jelly (jello) and blew the antique crystal bowl up when I poured the boiling water in. At another time I tried to cook a custard tart. The custard chemically reacted with the pastry flan to create a green isolation barrier. It tasted vile.

But you are right. When you are a professional, you lose the enjoyment of being just an enthusiast because you have to make a living from it and you have to deal with the bad (commitments, fear, documentation, egos, etc) and the good (the satisfaction of getting something to work). There is definitely something that is a plus being a hobbyist over a professional.
 

Offline james_s

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Re: Outside electronics, what other qualifications/experience do you have?
« Reply #46 on: September 26, 2020, 05:31:27 pm »
But you are right. When you are a professional, you lose the enjoyment of being just an enthusiast because you have to make a living from it and you have to deal with the bad (commitments, fear, documentation, egos, etc) and the good (the satisfaction of getting something to work). There is definitely something that is a plus being a hobbyist over a professional.

That's why I only did hardware for a living briefly, after years in software I thought I'd be happier doing more traditional EE work, only took a couple of projects to say nope, enough of that! I could very quickly feel my interest dropping and given the hobby has been such a central part of my life I don't want to turn it into work. For some reason as soon as I'm getting paid to do something and am committed to finishing it I can think of so many other projects that I'd rather be working on.
 


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