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Fixing Stuff I've Never Fixed Before, Ham Radio Edition

Monday May 4, 2020

I fixed a ham radio this weekend. It’s been sitting on my desk for about 2 years now, needing repair.

I’ve never done this before, and the older I get, the more I realize that means something, no matter how easy my intuition says it will be.

30 Seconds on Youtube

I knew the problem was a common one, so it took me about 30 seconds to find a Youtube video showing how the fix could be done.

20 Seconds Fixing the Thing

Once I had the radio open, it took me about 20 seconds to do the soldering work that fixed the problem.

2 Hours Completing Various Annoying Sensory Tasks

In total, it took me almost 2 hours to get the radio open, fixed, and closed up again. TWO HOURS. I would number everything that happened, but the list would be really long.

But to give one example: I had to re-fit the main board TEN TIMES before getting it just right, so that all the buttons on the radio would work again.

GrrrraaaagghhhghhghghhghhghhhHHHHHHH!!!!

…And the result is a radio that works great.

Hooray!

Applying the Pain Forward

Finally: I’m maybe a bit more prepared for this next time, because my notes tell me:

Get ready for this to take literal hours longer than you thought it would
That’s OK though, it’ll feel good to fix it
Put on a movie you REALLY like (I chose The Quiet Earth)
Get a drink you enjoy
Talk your way through the process. Talk out loud.
Take little breaks to regroup.
SHOVE A MOTHERF*CKING FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER IN THERE JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE G*DDAMN MAIN BOARD OR YOU’LL NEVER GET IT OUT, NO MATTER WHAT THE YOUTUBE VIDEO SHOWS.