Getting into Hardware, Recommendations?

[Tobias O'Leary]

Kurt presentation really bought up this fascination I have with
electronic hardware, the boards, chips, resistors, and soldering guns.
I always want to buy this stuff for Radio Shack, but force myself not
to because I have no idea what to do with it.

Does anybody have suggestions for good resources for a noob to learn
how to solder and build their own boards? I would prefer a resource
that also explains the WHY not just the HOW-TO.

-Tobias

[Kurt Fattig]

Tobias-

I mentioned a young woman who has a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT (Limor Fried - a.k.a. "Ladyada").

She created a company called Adafruit Industries. They make DIY electronics kits for beginners. All the instructions are online - they've got videos and tutorials with pictures.

Here's the company website:   http://www.adafruit.com/

Here's her own personal web site:  http://www.ladyada.net/

The Arduino project is here: http://arduino.cc/

Here's a link to lots of stores that carry the Arduino microcontrollers (and others, too):  http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Buy

Oh - that "Illuminato X Machina" device - the code update video - is at: http://www.liquidware.com/

Try these sites for beginner info - they've got lots of electronics theory (your "why") - and some "how", too.

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/

http://www.ikalogic.com/beg_1_res_v_c.php

http://www.electronics2000.co.uk/beginners-guide/


I'd also suggest that you get your hands on "Make" magazine. It's chock full of wonderful electronic goodie goodness. I'll be glad to loan you some of my back issues.

http://makezine.com/

Also, I've got some soldering irons and other tools I'll be glad to let you have to get you started. Over the years, I've upgraded to some pro or industrial level soldering irons - but I've got a number of old ones that will get you started. I've been soldering for years and years, and I can show you the right techniques. But, of course, you have to practice and eventually you'll wire something up wrong and release the magic smoke from the inside of some kind of components. You just haven't lived until you've smelled burning silicon from a device you fried by your own wiring mistake.

Right now, I've got my kitchen table set up as my workbench - you're welcome to come by and check it out. That offer is extended to anybody in the JUG who's interested in this stuff.


Kurt

--
Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before. -Steven Wright, comedian


Pablo Picasso  - "Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."

[Mark Thomas]

heh, i know that smell.  came from my botched xbox hw mod!  BRICK!

Regards,

Mark Thomas
spatialguru.net@gmail.com
205.529.9013

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
   and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3

[Mykel Alvis]

Old-style xbox? Ugh.  The software mod works better for me.  YMMV.