Anyone from Tamworth area? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Bendba
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2017, 10:05:19 am
content: Hi,Just wondering if there are any other electronics enthusiasts around Tamworth NSW.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2017, 11:54:07 pm
content: It sucks doesn't it. When there seems to be no one with similar interests anywhere near where you live. Or at least no one who turns up on the appropriate forum.I have the same problem. My last friend with electronics enthusiasm moved to Nth Manly a few years ago, and was in poor health so we rarely saw each other. And then he died, so now I don't have _any_ old friends who care for electronics.There must be some, or the Bankstown Jaycar store couldn't survive.I wonder if Jaycar will ever think to put up a public notice board in their stores? Could be a useful way to meet others with similar interests.

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 07:07:34 am
content: We are rare beasties, I'm in SE Qld, so you're halfway between me and TerraHertz. Not sure if that will make you feel better or not.My grandmother lived in Tamworth, used to love visiting the Tandy there in the 70s/80s as a distraction to 'family duties'

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 07:19:44 am
content: I've started doing a search for oldies in SE Melbourne. Same situation. We had dozens of friends into electronics during the 70-90s. Most are gone.I was thinking of a communal meeting place / factory, even gathering. I remember in the late 70s+, there were 5,000-10,000 electronic assemblers in the greater E area.It's a good idea to try to resurrect some of the e-community. I found 1-2 already :-)

author: gregariz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 08:45:41 am
content: Quote from: Bendba on August 12, 2017, 10:05:19 amOnce upon a time UNE in Armidale ran a BEng in Electronics and later a BEngTech for a short period. The programs keep getting cancelled due to low numbers and poor job outlook in the region. At the moment there is a BSc you could do a few subjects in.There are a number of surviving academics from these programs but they mostly concentrate their electronics knowledge into other areas ie materials testing etc. But given the numbers that must have dabbled over the years there must be somewhat of a small community there. An hour away though.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 09:57:53 am
content: I think you're in luckTamworth Technology Group was founded in June 2017 and has monthly meetings and projects.Web:http://ttg.org.au/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/529455910454755/?ref=nf_target&fref=nf(Tell Scott that I sent you there)

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 10:05:45 am
content: Quote from: digsys on August 14, 2017, 07:19:44 amThere's quite a few radio clubs around the SE suburbs - eg Moorabbin, Eastern & Mountain Districts, Cranbourne, Frankston, Rosebud etc. These have meetings and junk sales (which attract several hundred).There are also vintage radio clubs. And the MESH Hackerspace.plus casual events where people can just rock up and bring a project, eg

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 12:19:12 pm
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcomActually, I used to go to those, forgot all about them. Donated a lot of old equipment. Meetings were long time apart though, so I forgot about them.I think the main reason I didn't continue was, most were ONLY old radio / vintage / narrow fields. Worth a look again.

author: Bendba
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 12:53:04 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on August 13, 2017, 11:54:07 pmThat's called life...Quote from: vk3yedotcom on August 14, 2017, 09:57:53 amAnd then, there is that.Thanks a lot for that info. I thought about getting into the Tamworth radio amateur club too.I guess Armidale would be alright to go to every now and then.As for Jaycar, I wouldn't get my hopes too high. When you see what there is left of it, electronics are not popular anymore. And eBay doesn't help that sort of stores. In Tamworth, even something as simple as an atmel processor or a 74 series logic IC is a special order.I know of one man that used to have an electronic shop in town, now working in a little shed (I actually dropped of an old frequency counter today for him to have a look at) but I wouldn't want to bother him too much, he seems to be pretty busy.As always, thank a lot. That'll be good meeting some people with the same interests.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2017, 12:50:39 am
content: Quote from: Bendba on August 14, 2017, 12:53:04 pmFind out what he drinks and pop around on a Friday arvo. No matter how busy, most guys I know will make time for a drink with a like-minded person on a Friday afternoon, moreso if you are buying.