I grew up here in Southeast Florida (Northeast Fort Lauderdale, Florida.) So I'm a native. I'm not a transplant from another state. I'm what they call "A Native" of Southeast Florida. That's strange these days, or so they tell me. Anyone remember when Ocean World used to be on S.E. 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale?

I started my interests in communications and computing devices back in my teens (and childhood) in the late 1970's. My grandfather which had both an electrical (Edison Company - Chicago) and Radio-Electronic background (had his own radio shop, hand built radios), sparked and nurtured my interest in communications, radio, and electronics. My first long distance communications were using alligator clip lead wires to connect Radio Shack Walkie-Talkies to the Television 300 ohm and to the Roof TV Antenna. We could talk for a block or two that way!

 I worked in communications both visual (Morse Code, International Signaling Flags) and radio in the United States Navy initially qualified as Signalman (SM), and later studied to qualify as Radioman (RM) by official U.S. Navy Correspondence Course. I also stood Quartermaster of the Watch - Navigation Watches at Sea and was a Bearing Taker for Inland and Coastal Passages. I activated a dormant MARS (Military Affiliate Radion System) station and handled radio - telephone patches to improve crew morale and for health and welware traffic. I worked some with High Frequency (H.F.) Radio and Teletype over H.F. Radio. After leaving the Navy in 1981 I pursued a U.S. Radio Amateur Radio License of the Technician Class. My first Personal Computing device was a Texas Instruments TI-59 Programmable Calculator, and I have used a lot of the micro computers from Tandy/Radio Shack, Atari, Apple, and more in my thirst for computing and communications knowledge and power. In the 1990's I got interested in Networking along with Systems Administration from a BBS Sysop background which led me directly into the Internet as soon as we (ordinary) humans could access it. I worked remotely making user Tech Support Pages for several South Florida ISP's and eventually went to work full time for one of them. This increased my wanting for knowledge about both networking and Unix Systems Administration. I have been doing combinations of both ever since then. I have worked for Internet providers large and small (and broadband). I keep myself updated with current technologies and ways to put them to use to your benefit.

I have also worked in Alarm Central Station Monitoring, Equipment, and Communications; and Radio Vehicle Location as a Miami Metro Area Staff Operator on duty for the Communications Systems. I've also built and tested handheld radios for Motorola, as well as worked in Installation and Repair of Two Way Radio and Cellular Mobile Systems.

I have held several certifications in Information Technology, including 2 from Lucent Technologies Bell Labs Innovations, Cisco Certified Network Associate, 8 from Brain Bench Certified. I've written a book review for Cisco Press (CCNP BSCI Exam Certification Guide Third Edition) , and I am active in online Technical Forums.

Amatuer Radio Operator and Station: KA4UDX (Expires 06/02/2014)
Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit: RR00022962 (Valid Lifetime)
International Engineering Consortium Member (WWW.IEC.ORG)
Member Internet Society (ISOC.ORG)
Member: Society of Industry Leaders (http://www.societyofindustryleaders.com)

• 03-25-2005 Alan Spicer - Alan Spicer Telecom - requalifies for Master Telecommunications Industry Knowledge (Brainbench.com Certifications)

• 03-25-2005 Alan Spicer - Alan Spicer Telecom - qualifies for Cellular Technology Certification (Brainbench.com Certifications)