T
Tony
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
Lets See. Now we all know what the dumbest thing you ever did with electronics
was. Some of those responses were quite interesting if not hilarious. Maybe we
should have a vote for the dumbest.
And we also know now how most of you got into electronics in the first place.
Most it seems, like myself had a genuine interest or love at an early age.
Back then there was this certain magic to electronics. Just the glow from a
tube radio sitting in the corner playing distorted humming music seemed
magical. Simple construction projects like a neon lamp relaxation oscillator
were entertaining. More "advanced" projects, be it a one tube radio or one
transistor radio, a simple amplifier, maybe even a multi tube or multi
transistor radio or for those daring enough maybe even a tranceiver were highly
rewarding. And with all the electronics magazines there was always something
new and interesting to try. One like 101 Electronic Project For Under $10 (or
was it $15) could give you ideas for months.
Now we take a MCU chip, containing upwards of a million of transistors,
connect a few things to it, write some code and we are done. Theres no magic in
that. The code does most of it. Once you have done it several times, especially
if its part of your job, its boring.
Now I have a work bench in my basement filled with scopes, meters, power
supplies, signal generators, soldering equipment, parts drawers overflowing
with parts. Looks real nice. All the things I never had in the early days. On
one wall I have a 7ft X 15 Ft shelf unit filled with all kinds of radios (they
actually have those prehistoric dials on them), old test equipment (even a tube
tester) and you name it I probably got one on there.
I find though that unless I'm using the bench to fix something, I have nothing
to do. Sometimes I'll just sit there for an hour trying to think of something
interesting to do. With all the equipment and all my knowledge of electronics
one would think I could come up with something. Cant do it. It seems pointless
to make something like a radio. Been there, done that, too many times. Even if
I had not I have at least 50 radios on my shelf - Am only, AM/FM, AM/FM/SW,
AM/FM/UHF AM/FM/URANUS etc. Programming a MCU to turn my lights on or control
my heating system or flush my toilet for me does not turn me on.
I'm bored. Need some magic. Lets hear it. What excites you now. (Related to
electronics PLEASE)
Tony
was. Some of those responses were quite interesting if not hilarious. Maybe we
should have a vote for the dumbest.
And we also know now how most of you got into electronics in the first place.
Most it seems, like myself had a genuine interest or love at an early age.
Back then there was this certain magic to electronics. Just the glow from a
tube radio sitting in the corner playing distorted humming music seemed
magical. Simple construction projects like a neon lamp relaxation oscillator
were entertaining. More "advanced" projects, be it a one tube radio or one
transistor radio, a simple amplifier, maybe even a multi tube or multi
transistor radio or for those daring enough maybe even a tranceiver were highly
rewarding. And with all the electronics magazines there was always something
new and interesting to try. One like 101 Electronic Project For Under $10 (or
was it $15) could give you ideas for months.
Now we take a MCU chip, containing upwards of a million of transistors,
connect a few things to it, write some code and we are done. Theres no magic in
that. The code does most of it. Once you have done it several times, especially
if its part of your job, its boring.
Now I have a work bench in my basement filled with scopes, meters, power
supplies, signal generators, soldering equipment, parts drawers overflowing
with parts. Looks real nice. All the things I never had in the early days. On
one wall I have a 7ft X 15 Ft shelf unit filled with all kinds of radios (they
actually have those prehistoric dials on them), old test equipment (even a tube
tester) and you name it I probably got one on there.
I find though that unless I'm using the bench to fix something, I have nothing
to do. Sometimes I'll just sit there for an hour trying to think of something
interesting to do. With all the equipment and all my knowledge of electronics
one would think I could come up with something. Cant do it. It seems pointless
to make something like a radio. Been there, done that, too many times. Even if
I had not I have at least 50 radios on my shelf - Am only, AM/FM, AM/FM/SW,
AM/FM/UHF AM/FM/URANUS etc. Programming a MCU to turn my lights on or control
my heating system or flush my toilet for me does not turn me on.
I'm bored. Need some magic. Lets hear it. What excites you now. (Related to
electronics PLEASE)
Tony