I studied electronics engineering in college long ago. Next, I spent some time with the USAF during the Viet Nam era. After my time in the air force was completed, I was hired by IBM and stayed there for almost 30 years; I retired as an Advisory Systems Engineer. I was taught how computers worked from their basic electronic circuits, machine language, BAL (basic assembler language), to higher level application programs and operating systems. After I retired from IBM, I was hired by a large bank as a Consulting Network Engineer. I was responsible for designing parts of their intranet (an internal internet). Every large business has an intranet today. I was based in a large data center with more than 1000 computers, from small PC’s to large mainframes. They were connected by routers, switches, and servers, with large capacity communication links to the outside world.

I’m semi-retired now from a regular job, but busy. I’m still quite curious about how everyday things work. I’m building this website to show others how ordinary devices we use everyday work and function, and how to repair them when they break down or malfunction. Recently I passed my General FCC amateur radio license. Right now I am on 2 meters and 70 cm. My call sign is: KM6PMK

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Me

I grew up in Northern California, traveled to all 50 states, and moved several times within California. I now reside in the Central Coast of California.

What We Can Do

Previous Life

Advisory Systems Engineer

Computers are nothing but a combination of electrical circuits that have been around for many years. They manlipulate bits of data by moving and shifting them in various ways. The instruction sets today are much more sophisiticated that those early computers in the 1950’s.

Consulting Network Engineer

I was located in a large data center with several acres of computers and networking equipment. A group of us were responsible for keeping the equipment in the data center functioning on the bank’s network, as well as designing and maintaining networks for a number of other locations across the USA. Our electrical bill for the data center was in the mid five figures every month. It took a lot of electricity just to power and cool all of those large and small computers.

Landlord and Property Manager

In my spare time, which there was little, I purchased rental properties close to where I lived and taught myself how to repair many household appliances, mostly out of necessity. I took many things apart to understand how they worked. I taught myself how A/C systems work. I still have a lot of R-22 (refrigerant) that I will never use. Along the way I learned building code, wiring, plumbing, carpentry, as well as some real estate law. I’m out of the landlord business now, but it was a learning experience.