I've always wanted to get some breadboards and build some circuits, but have never learned anything past basic house type wiring. Are there any kits that you would recommned, preferablly cheap? I'd like to learn the principles of capacitors and transistors and fm/am radios and such. I see that occilloscopes are now under $100. Any suggestions?
any electronics geeks here?
by John Doe 28 Replies latest jw friends
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SacrificialLoon
Radio shack used to have electronics kits, not sure if they still do.
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SacrificialLoon
Here's one
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102913
I built one of these a few months ago.
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kurtbethel
Back in the day, Heathkit was the thing to get to learn that sort of stuff. There was consumer electronics and ham radio kits. There was even computers during the early days they were available to consumers and hobbyists.
They are gone, but there are still places where you can get kits with detailed manuals like Heathkit provided. Ramsey makes all kinds of kits, from simple to complex. http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/
A couple others I have not gotten anything from:
http://www.rainbowkits.com/
http://www.hobbytron.com/electronickits.html
It is a fascinating hobby. I have built many things over the years, and can even build stuff from scratch by looking at a schematic. I also have a ham radio license, but that is another story. :-) -
mustang
50 years of electronics here, this year. Made Sr. Engineer [also Assoc. Principle & Principle] on the practical basis, despite WTS blowing away my going to college in the formative years.
I was going to mention Ramsey, but somebody already did. There are more, I have a list; but Ramsey is at the top.
My particular favorite is Douglas: they do a modular thing, with card cages and connectors for common PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assemblies) form factors such as DEC, IBM PC, STD Bus and the Generic 22/44. They will take your design and fab bare boards for you. So you can migrate from prototype wired in point-point or wirewrap and go to production boards if you have the requirement. This is good for doing small "in house control systems".
Most people don't do their own PCB's any more, but my old partner/roommate etched some in the kitchen once. I've done homemade "tape up" style artwork from a program with something called "pads" in MS Paint. I did these in MS VISIO and printed it, then xeroxed that out to a "foil" transparency. You have to be real careful, as xerox machines may "dither" the dimensions. But I got a useable positive transparency that can be applied to photo-resist copperclad board for etching.
This is fun, but few people will do this any more.
If you were serious about this, lots of companies will do small runs for prototypers. The best deal i've seen is 33$/board, minimum order of 100$. There are restrictions (single sided, undrilled, no panel boards etc.) and the quality is not MIL spec.
But you can usually find a house that will take a schematic, not requiring artwork or Gerber files.
Overloaded you tech-wise, but need any help, PM;I have time: I'm somewhere between retiring, going at it myself, going contracting or doing one more gig, TBD :)
Mustang
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mustang
Update: OK, you want to do breadboards, not "roll your own" PCB's,.
OK: that's easier. Look for the Heathkit ET-3300-B Breadboarding Chassis on EBay. Several pro's that I know have always kept one of these around, on the desk or lab workbench. You can lash up circuits quick with these.
I used to do Component Engineering and run the Manufacturers suggested Test Circuit at my desk with this for evaluation. Once we found a problem and the Manufacturer confirmed it; but the "good" chip would not be available for six weeks. I hand screened 500 chips for Production on my Breadboard.
Then you need to find the old [out of print] Forrest Mims "Engineers Notebook". This has almost all the small circuits you could dream of in one place.
That Heathkit Breadboard, the "Engineers Notebook" and an Engineering kit (mechanical pencil, red and yellow pens/pencils; pocket protector optional; never used one, you can afford shirts) and you have the secrets of the non-degreed, "do it with the rest" Engineers
Mustang
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Honesty
It is a fascinating hobby. I have built many things over the years, and can even build stuff from scratch by looking at a schematic. I also have a ham radio license, but that is another story. :-) kurtbethel
Same here.
An Extra class license and also these FCC issued licenses that are active but obsolete for the most part except for the Ship Radar Endorsement:
PG0219819
PG0513969
Here are some kits that might interest you:
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John Doe
Do you still have to learn morse code for ham?
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mustang
Your GROL is still useful; in fact the bit that you had a 1st Phone is still coveted in parts of the Broadcast industry. I have a converted 2nd Phone. When I went to take the Element IV, they had quit giving it
BTW, giving your call sign is the same as giving out your name, via the ULS Database.
Mustang
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Honesty
Do you still have to learn morse code for ham?
The FCC did away with the code requirement about 2 years ago. About 20 years ago the licenses consisted of: NOVICE - 5 words per minute (WPM) code and succesful completion of a theory test. Privileges - 10, 15, 40, 80 meter CW (morse code) 10 meter phone 28.300-28.500 MHz 220 MHz - 25 watt limit TECHNICIAN - Theory test Privileges- all of the above plus 2 meter (144-147.999 MHz) GENERAL - Theory test and a 13WPM code test Privileges - all of the above plus limited access to all High Frequency (1.6 - 30 MHz) world-wide bands ADVANCED - Theory test Privileges - All of the above plus access to more spectrum within the HF bands EXTRA - 20 WPM code tset ( a real bugger) plus a theory test that was easier than the asdvanced theory test Privileges - Full spectrum access to all HF bands plus authorization to operate space-based transponders Now it's a piece of cake: TECHNICIAN - Theory test (extremely basic electronic theory) Privileges - Access to CW (Morse Code) portions of 10, 15, 40 and 80 meters Access to all frequencies in the ham bands above 30 MHz 10 meter phone privileges from 28.300 - 28.500 MHz GENERAL - Theory test (basic electronic theory) Access to all HF bands with limited operations on 20, 15, 40 and 80 meters EXTRA - Theory test (Questions that I had on my general test in the early 1970's) Full access to all HF bands It's great. I have friends all over the world that I talk with at least once a week. One friend in Quebec and I spend several hours at a time conversing in either French or English, depending on our mood and if we want to discuss realatively private stuff we do it in French. Have talked with the old Russian MIR space station and with countries that have less than 50 radio operators like Vietnam, Laos, Mongolia, etc,. Build most of my antennae out of coaxial cable and/or 17 guage electric fence wire. Have a dynamite 2 meter antenna that is made out of 4 pieces of rigid 14 guage copper wire 19 inches long and assembled on a SO-239 chassis mount connector mounted on a 6 inch piece of Schedule 40 PVC pipe with the coax running through the pipe. Bob WX4QN