My first and best Hobby, way back in 1975.

My first Hobby, I remember, involved building various electronic projects (kits etc.)

and experimenting a lot, in the field of electronics. I used to experiment in Radio Control

and try and build simple / basic designs of Helicopters - unfortunately most or

almost all of these experiments ended up in failures. But it was in the

experimenting and doing part which never seemed to fail me, as I kept on

going from one project to the next, never really giving up.

The first thing I remember building successfully, was a Power Supply, which I used

pieces of wood to make the case and base with. The various discrete electronic components,

I mounted on a wooden base for this first project. My second project

from here, was to redo my first project by placing all the components

in a metal case, and try and make this Power Supply, variable

(both for voltage and current). The basis or Circuits for all my

projects, usually came from the then "Electronics Australia" magazine

which I used to buy quite often.

Through the 1970''s 80's and 90's, I build and tested and experimented

with many different electrical and circuit designs. Some of these projects

and kits included Power Supplies, Battery Chargers, one basic Oscilloscope

(the kit for which my Dad discovered and sent away for in the U.K).

This Oscilloscope was successfully built and tested by my younger brother,

Christopher and myself. If I remember rightly, it took the two of us

about a year to complete, following all the instructions and doing all the

soldering that was required.

Other projects or kits I put together, included a Ultrasonic Car Alarm with

IR Remote Control, a Digital Logic Trainer & Analyser, a 300W Inverter

and one of my favourites - a 2m Amateur Radio (HAM Transciever ).

I also remember, building different versions of some circuit designs,

and testing them, to see what results I would get. This I did, for example,

in quite a few of my Power Supply projects.

Out of all my Hobby with experimenting with different electrical and

electronic circuit diagrams, a noticed I was getting more and more

interest in one particular area, and this was in Ameteur (HAM) Radio.

Back in those days (this is now in the late 1990's) I could not afford

a full base station Amateur Radio Transciever, the best I could do is

build the 2m Amateur Radio I mentioned above. This particular

HAM Radio I built, was the most complex kit I had put together,

up to that point, it was even more complex than the Oscilloscope.

All I could do was try and prepare myself for the then, Novice License exam

in Amateur Radio, if I was to even get to use the 2m HAM Transiever

I had built.

This now brings me to the present time (19 July) where, I find myself

getting back to my days in HAM Radio, trying to learn as much about

the Hobby as I can. I have already started preparing myself for the now

Foundation License in Amateur Radio - this will allow me a max. power

output of 10w on any HAM Transiever I use, on the restricted HAM Bands

which I am allowed to use.

Today (23 Oct 2018) I managed to get my Amateur Radio Foundation license.

I did very well on the Theory and Regulations, on the first go. However,

I didn't do so well on the Practical assessment, on the first go. So on 23 Oct

I had to re-do the Practical assessment, and this time I did fine.

My new call-sign is VK2FHLP.

Kind regards,

Howard Pew.

19 July & 23 Oct 2018.