Electronics, basic stuff that it.

[ed731pdh]

After quite a bit of searching around, research, and just general pottering I've come to the conclusion that the world has gone mad, for reasons given below.

When I did electronics at school, we did the bare bottom basics, learnt it from the floor upward. I still have some of the classic books on the shelf, John Murray's "Success In Electronics" was one of the needed books for coursework.

Fast forward to now and I have a son who's getting into that age of discovery, has shown some interest and is the proud owner of an electronics lab kit that gives a basic start. Sadly, that's as far as it goes, as nowadays if you have a problem you just throw a number of modules at it until you get what you want.  Nobody appears to practice basic electronics these days, even the once vaulted magazines that could do wonders with a quids worth of parts are just orientated around shoving a PIC into it and job finished.  One offender is EE, I've picked up the odd copy recently and it's all modules and PICs, and very little UK based projects as 90% of the projects are from the Australian publication.  As for Elektor, well least said on that as it's best years are well beyond.

Oh look, a new teach in series........  nope, all bloody processors and modules again.

Doesn't anybody do electronics, even the basic stuff in this country anymore?

[Murphyv310]

You are so right.
Today's electronics courses, engineers, technicians etcetera would struggle with a simple valve or transistor radio.
I personally believe courses should be from the ground up with a little bit on the developments done over the years.

[ed731pdh]

It's the mentality I suppose. Why should I design something from the ground up when I can order a module that does what I want from a far east sweatshop for a minimal cost. The only ball breaker being the time to get the part over and through customs.

If we are not training up electronics designers now, things are not looking too good for the UK.

[Murphyv310]

Well you know whose to blame...... I'll leave you to guess as it's a political answer and not for vintage radio fora. I'm sure you'll mull it over like I have for a good few years now

[Nick]

Disagree completely. Just because you can order a module doesn't mean you have to - most of these modules' schematics seem to be stuff simply lifted from the app notes anyway. It's a convenience and cost saving, nothing more.

There's definitely not so much analogue around these days, but why should an ee be taught about valves in university or wherever? It's scarcely relevant today. If they need that, it's hardly tricky to teach themselves (it's what I did).

The world has moved on. Pretty much everything is digital, even a lot of audio amplification and radio (think SDR) with only a minimal amount of analogue, but analogue is still taught. Remember, digital is still electronics, it's just not what you're used to - the balance has just swung away from pure analogue, and justifyably IMHO.

Anyway, I was always taught that university was about how to learn, not an end in itself.

Any decent engineer will spend the rest of their lives learning, keeping up with what is a fast moving and exciting industry. University or college is just the start - if you want to learn, stop grumbling, get to work with a copy of Art of Electronics and do your research.

Edit: I should add that IMHO Everyday Electronics had been poor for many years. e.g. Some time ago they printed an article about a small spectrum analyser that was so full of basic design errors and innacuracies that I wrote them a detailed letter explaining why they'd got the basics of FFTs wrong and explaining about antialiasing. The author wrote back that they didn't understand that it was all too complex for them.

Elektor is aimed at a different market, obviously not you. However, if you want analogue audio, look at Linear Audio, published a few times a year. Intensely technical and all analogue with some of the best designers out there. Similar journals for RF etc.

Why do you need a commercial kit to teach the basics of analogue electronics? Just buy a plug board and a bag of bits. Probably can do the whole thing for 15 quid.

[Craig]

if you want analogue audio, look at Linear Audio, published a few times a year.

Now discontinued. April 2017 was the last issue. Jan Didden, the founder, has simply decided to do other things with his life.

All back issues are still available (14 issues).

Craig

[Nick]

if you want analogue audio, look at Linear Audio, published a few times a year.

Now discontinued. April 2017 was the last issue. Jan Didden, the founder, has simply decided to do other things with his life.

Been a subscriber since issue 0... Sad if he's stopping - nothing on the web site - do you have a reference?

[Craig]

if you want analogue audio, look at Linear Audio, published a few times a year.

Now discontinued. April 2017 was the last issue. Jan Didden, the founder, has simply decided to do other things with his life.

Been a subscriber since issue 0... Sad if he's stopping - nothing on the web site - do you have a reference?

From The Editor's Desk, vol 13, April 2017. Page 4.

[Murphyv310]

In my post I didn't mention valves at all. What I did say was that a little bit of the developments should be mentioned and possibly a little bit of familiarsation would be helpful.
We may use Digital but this is very much an analogue existence.

[Nick]

if you want analogue audio, look at Linear Audio, published a few times a year.

Now discontinued. April 2017 was the last issue. Jan Didden, the founder, has simply decided to do other things with his life.

Been a subscriber since issue 0... Sad if he's stopping - nothing on the web site - do you have a reference?

From The Editor's Desk, vol 13, April 2017. Page 4.

Just got back and read the editorial (I never normally bother).

Is it really 7 years? Crikey! Sad to see it go, but he retired a while back and it must be a lot of work putting something of that quality together twice a year.

Glad I've got all 14 - incredible resource - learnt a lot from them.