Getting started...

[rube the noob]

Great forum, I'm glad I found it!

I have wanted to pursue electronics as a hobby for a long while, and I think it's time to quit procrastinating. If some of you could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. This is my background...

I got a degree in physics around 20 years ago. I took some basic electronics courses, ac/dc circuit theory, digital electronics, etc. I remember a lot of the basics, (what a transistor, resistor, capacitor, inductor are, etc) but I don't have an intuitive feel for how to work with circuits, and some of the jargon is unfamiliar. I don't have "practical" knowlege either, (ie how to not blow up a transistor while soldering, how to tell if you have blown up a transistor, etc)

Any good websites, forums, or books in general electronics that you would recommend? Google brings up an overwhelming assortment. I was hoping someone would be able to separate the wheat from the chaff for me.

What about equipment? I have a multitester, a 100w soldering gun, and a 30w soldering gun. What additional stuff will I 1. Absolutely need 2. Really wish I had?

Thanks!

[Carl-NC]

Find a local Radio Shack that is going out of business... buy the following:

Solderless breadboard
Pack of misc resistors (they have a 100 & 500 pack... the 500 is the better deal)
Packs of 2N3904/2222 (NPN) & 2N3906 (PNP) transistors... 15-packs are the deal.
Pack of 100 asst ceramic disc capacitors
A few general purpose opamps and 555 timers
A couple of 6v leaded AA/AAA battery holders
Some LEDs, speaker, solid hookup wire, microphone, switches, etc.

Parts are currently running 70% off, maybe more. With this list, you can build a LOT of basic circuits. Solderless breadboard is the key... just plug in the parts, rearrange, pull 'em out, next project. Bookstores usually have some good electronic project books, look for Forrest Mims or Rudolf Graf.

You will quickly wish you had a power supply... you can build one for dirt... get a couple of 25.2-volt /2-amp transformers while you're at R/S, 60% off I think... with a few more parts they'll make a nice bench power supply. Or, cheaper yet, get a DC-output wall wart.

Also you'll wish you had an oscilloscope, to view waveforms. Ebay has brought the price of used scopes down to about the price of dinner... a good 50MHz scope for under $100... just make sure the seller shows that it works*.

Third wish... signal generator. If R/S has an "8038" chip, get one. Makes a decent home-brew signal generator.

Be glad to help with more specifics.

- Carl

*Avoid any ebay test equipment auction that says "I don't know how to test this" or "I have no idea how this works"... oh, they usually know... Caveat Emptor.

[rube the noob]

Thanks for the advice, Carl.

Sadly I must have just missed the Radio Shack sale where I live, because it was newly remodeled and stuff (what was left of it) was definitely NOT on sale. There is a mom and pop store in town that is pretty cool, but they don't have prices on most of their small items so it would have made filling a big order inefficient and VERY expensive. So I opted for futurlec in spite of some bad things I read on google news about slow service. I got my assortment of stuff today, which only took 8 days from when I ordered. Not too bad. I might have gone overboard with all the junk I bought, but the fun of opening it all up was worth it.

The bad news: I discovered I need glasses How did that happen??

I have an e-bay oscilloscope coming in a couple days, and I will be outfitted like a yuppie moutain-biker. All the cool gear and no clue how to use it! I am trying to figure out how to keep track of the different kinds of components. I somehow think I will regret it if I throw a couple thousand resistors of different values in a paper sack.

I am going to try the Hammerhead for my first attempt. Your instructions are very clear and descriptive. Thanks for your efforts. Hopefully it will go better than my last project. I blew up a giant capacitor in college by accidentally hooking it up backwards. It sounded like an m-80 and confetti filled the air...

[wyndham]

Some of the R/S stores have the old stuff in back. Ask the Mgr if he/she still has it in boxes in back, might make a great deal. At least give it a try. Wyndham

[Carl-NC]

The stores in Greensboro closed last weekend... they had a "bag" sale on Saturday... basically, you fill up a bag with whatever you want, and pay $25. The stores were completely empty by the end of the day.

I had already bought all the parts cabinets, so I picked them up Monday. When I did, they had a Bounty Hunter 2200 sitting in the store room, no box. Paid $29 for it... at one time it sold for $199.

- Carl

[wyndham]

Carl, the R/S at Asheboro was boxing up old stuff 2 wks ago and maybe they were shipping it to a larger store for sale .
BTW I just posted a followup on a coil question you might help me with. Thanks Wyndham