Chip with simple program for Toy

[Ecnerwal]

In article
<dadb5398-6838-4895-9cf6-970c7de09c79@g16g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
sodaant@gmail.com wrote:

I'm setting up a hobbyist electronics lab. What kind of equipment
should I buy to equip this lab? My budget is $3000.

"What you need" depends a huge amount on what you plan to do. Radio,
microprocessors, audio, ...

One approach is to buy stuff as your hobby project of the moment
requires - that will tend to match up your equipment to what you are
actually doing, or have done, rather than tying up bunches of money in
things you never use for your particular projects. If you are somewhat
vague about projects, start in with things you need - you can build
power supplies, buy kits to build meters, etc.

Oscilloscope (but there's a huge range, depending on what you plan to
do.) Big differences are Analog .vs. Digital, number of channels, and
speed.

Function generator

Frequency counter (perhaps, depending...)

Spectrum analyzer (perhaps, depending, but even old ones will probably
blow your budget, so perhaps not)

Soldering tools - a combined iron/hot air system is one approach.

Anti-static (not essential for some things, but cheap enough to just do
right once - get a good rubber bench mat and wrist-band)

meter(s) - multimeter, perhaps more than one or some dedicated less
capable meters (advantage being that you can look at two parameters at
once if you have more than one meter). Simpler meters have the advantage
of being dirt cheap. One that does L/C (inductance/capacitance) is
invaluable, especially if getting used parts by scrapping old equipment,
as the markings are often obscure - or if winding your own inductors.

Power supplies

Parts to play with - resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes,
op-amps, ...

cables, wires, breadboards etc.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

 

[David L. Jones]

<sodaant@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:dadb5398-6838-4895-9cf6-970c7de09c79@g16g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

I'm setting up a hobbyist electronics lab. What kind of equipment
should I buy to equip this lab? My budget is $3000.

That is a huge budget for a hobbyist setup!

If you can seriously afford that sort of cash, then spend $1000 to maybe
$1500 on a decent digital oscilloscope, this will be by far your best
investment. For that price you can get one with decent memory, bandwidth,
and a digital logic analyser as well.

Then all the other basics like function generator (say a 20MHz one),
multimeter (nice accurate autoranging Fluke or Meterman), lab power supplies
(plural, you need more than one), and a decent SMD soldering system. Plus
all the usual cables and hand tools etc.

As other have said, you need to know what sort of stuff you will be working
on before you can know what to get in the more exotic line of test gear.

Save a good chunk of that cash for specific development boards, parts etc
for specific projects you are interesting in.

Dave.

 

[Bob Masta]

On Sat, 31 May 2008 13:03:50 GMT, Ecnerwal
<LawrenceSMITH@SOuthernVERmont.NyET> wrote:

In article
dadb5398-6838-4895-9cf6-970c7de09c79@g16g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
sodaant@gmail.com wrote:

I'm setting up a hobbyist electronics lab. What kind of equipment
should I buy to equip this lab? My budget is $3000.

"What you need" depends a huge amount on what you plan to do. Radio,
microprocessors, audio, ...

One approach is to buy stuff as your hobby project of the moment
requires - that will tend to match up your equipment to what you are
actually doing, or have done, rather than tying up bunches of money in
things you never use for your particular projects. If you are somewhat
vague about projects, start in with things you need - you can build
power supplies, buy kits to build meters, etc.

Oscilloscope (but there's a huge range, depending on what you plan to
do.) Big differences are Analog .vs. Digital, number of channels, and
speed.

Function generator

Frequency counter (perhaps, depending...)

Spectrum analyzer (perhaps, depending, but even old ones will probably
blow your budget, so perhaps not)

SHAMELESS PLUG:
If you are going to be working at audio frequencies, you might want to
consider my Daqarta sound-card software. It does all of the above
(and a whole lot more) for US$29 (personal/hobby license). You can
try it for free, and even if you decide not to buy, the function
generator features keep on working after the trial period. You are
welcome to use Daqarta forever like this.

The function generator does *way* more than any benchtop unit.
You get 2 independent output channels, with up to 4 separate "streams"
per channel. Each stream can have its own waveform (all the standards
plus Arb and file Play and different kinds of noise, including
Band-limited) and can be modulated: Burst, AM, FM, Phase or PWM, and
Sweep. You can add the streams to get a combined output, or use a
stream as the modulation source for another stream.

The Frequency Counter has a much better resolution/response tradeoff
then most benchtop units because it actually measures the period and
takes the reciprocal. So you can read 440.001 Hz without waiting 1000
seconds. It also can show msec, or event Total.

Spectrum mode offers a range of windowing functions, log or linear
X and/or Y axes, automatic peak tracking (for cursor readouts) and
the ability to apply weighting or calibration curves. (You can, for
example, read SPL directly with a calibrated microphone.)

Besides Spectrum, you can view a 256-color Spectrogram to see time,
energy, and frequency on the same plot.

The standard waveform (scope) mode offers several trigger modes,
including internal sync to the signal generator. You can use positive
or negative trigger delay (negative allows you to see what happened
*before* the trigger), calibrated hold-off, the usual level and slope
controls, and a special hysteresis control.

Best regards,




Bob Masta

DAQARTA v3.50
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com
Scope, Spectrum, Spectrogram, FREE Signal Generator
Science with your sound card!

 

[Joel Koltner]

"John Larkin" <jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote in message
news:90v244t4cef5sosegskm1i12pt3nr7mer9@4ax.com...

Most digital scopes nowadays, even the sub-$1000 ones, will measure
frequency and do basic spectral analysis.

John knows this, but for others: The dynamic range of a scope is usually
little better than ~50dB. If you find yourself liking what you're seeing on a
scope's spectral display, but want to dig out weaker signals, any old
purpose-built spectrum analyzer (read: something cheap you can buy used) will
generally give at least 90dB dynamic range -- much more useful for, e.g., low
level RF work or sniffing around boards for EMC checks.

 

[Joel Koltner]

"John Larkin" <jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote in message
news:90v244t4cef5sosegskm1i12pt3nr7mer9@4ax.com...

Most digital scopes nowadays, even the sub-$1000 ones, will measure
frequency and do basic spectral analysis.

John knows this, but for others: The dynamic range of a scope is usually
little better than ~50dB. If you find yourself liking what you're seeing on a
scope's spectral display, but want to dig out weaker signals, any old
purpose-built spectrum analyzer (read: something cheap you can buy used) will
generally give at least 90dB dynamic range -- much more useful for, e.g., low
level RF work or sniffing around boards for EMC checks.

 

[BobW]

"John Larkin" <jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote in message
newshd6449dlf22uqd3nos7chlpuiefvb5qsq@4ax.com...

On Sun, 1 Jun 2008 16:09:24 -0700, "Joel Koltner"
zapwireDASHgroups@yahoo.com> wrote:

"John Larkin" <jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote in
message
news:90v244t4cef5sosegskm1i12pt3nr7mer9@4ax.com...
Most digital scopes nowadays, even the sub-$1000 ones, will measure
frequency and do basic spectral analysis.

John knows this, but for others: The dynamic range of a scope is usually
little better than ~50dB. If you find yourself liking what you're seeing
on a
scope's spectral display, but want to dig out weaker signals, any old
purpose-built spectrum analyzer (read: something cheap you can buy used)
will
generally give at least 90dB dynamic range -- much more useful for, e.g.,
low
level RF work or sniffing around boards for EMC checks.


Yeah, the fft's are mediocre. I found one of my guys complaining about
some huge odd harmonic distortion on a sine wave. Turns out he'd
cranked up the volts/div knob to better resolve the distortion, and
overloaded the front end, turning the signal into a square wave.

John

Jheez! He must be a young guy.

Why can't they be like we were? Perfect, in every way. What's the matter
with kids today?

Bob
--
== NOTE: I automatically delete all Google Group posts due to uncontrolled
SPAM ==

 

[Phil Allison]

"searcher" <utente@esempio.net> wrote in message
news:4843a73d$0$29982$5fc30a8@news.tiscali.it...

Hi,

i'm searching infomations about linearization techniques for power
amplifiers.
In particullary i'm searching pratical applications of these :

feed back
feed forward
digital predistortion
EER

and if these techniques are applicated at frequencies over 10 GHz

Thank for your help !

** Oh shiiiit - we have another, genuine " live one " .

Hang on, its gonna be bumpy ride.



....... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"searcher" <utente@esempio.net> wrote in message
news:4843a73d$0$29982$5fc30a8@news.tiscali.it...

Hi,

i'm searching infomations about linearization techniques for power
amplifiers.
In particullary i'm searching pratical applications of these :

feed back
feed forward
digital predistortion
EER

and if these techniques are applicated at frequencies over 10 GHz

Thank for your help !

** Oh shiiiit - we have another, genuine " live one " .

Hang on, its gonna be bumpy ride.



....... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"searcher" <utente@esempio.net>


** Oh shiiiit - we have another, genuine " live one " .

Hang on, its gonna be bumpy ride.

And so ??

Dear Phil do u know something about my question ? ..

** FUUUCK OFFFFF -


you *insane* pile of dago excrement !!!.




...... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"searcher" <utente@esempio.net>


** Oh shiiiit - we have another, genuine " live one " .

Hang on, its gonna be bumpy ride.

And so ??

Dear Phil do u know something about my question ? ..

** FUUUCK OFFFFF -


you *insane* pile of dago excrement !!!.




...... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"John Fields" <jfields@austistic-instruments.com>

Some stupid dago cunt = searcher:


i'm searching infomations about linearization techniques for power
amplifiers.
In particullary i'm searching pratical applications of these :

feed back
feed forward
digital predistortion
EER

and if these techniques are applicated at frequencies over 10 GHz

---
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=microwave+levelling

** Levelling does not = linearizsation.

Or were you having fun with this dago " live one " ?



...... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"John Fields" <jfields@austistic-instruments.com>

Some stupid dago cunt = searcher:


i'm searching infomations about linearization techniques for power
amplifiers.
In particullary i'm searching pratical applications of these :

feed back
feed forward
digital predistortion
EER

and if these techniques are applicated at frequencies over 10 GHz

---
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=microwave+levelling

** Levelling does not = linearizsation.

Or were you having fun with this dago " live one " ?



...... Phil

 

[christofire]

"John Fields" <jfields@austininstruments.com> wrote in message
news:eu284455bkhr4ou447a1h5s20v35m3iigc@4ax.com...

On Tue, 3 Jun 2008 00:35:40 +1000, "Phil Allison"
philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote:


"John Fields" <jfields@austistic-instruments.com

Some stupid dago cunt = searcher:


i'm searching infomations about linearization techniques for power
amplifiers.
In particullary i'm searching pratical applications of these :

feed back
feed forward
digital predistortion
EER

and if these techniques are applicated at frequencies over 10 GHz

---
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=microwave+levelling



** Levelling does not = linearizsation.

---
That's true, but it does equal "linearization".

For example, let's say you've got an amplifier with an unleveled gain
variation of 10dB from 10 to 20 GHz and that after leveling the
variation, input to output, is flat over the dynamic range of the
amplifier.

Now, since:

Eout
------ = k
Ein

over the frequency range in question, the gain of the amplifier has
been linearized, yes?

JF

'Linearisation' is usually taken to apply to small-signal (i.e. incremental)
characteristics - to reduce generation of IPs for example.

Chris

 

[Kris Krieger]

danikar@gmail.com wrote in news:217a24f3-3235-4c06-a004-
bc7b6d847b1b@q27g2000prf.googlegroups.com:

I am looking to learn more about electronics and what not. I have
looked at a few books and purchased one. However, I didn't like it
that much.

I got Electronic Projects for Dummies. The book started off like I was
going to understand it, then I got to chapter 5 and it asked me to buy
a bunch of components to put together this project. Some of the items
on the list I couldn't find even in the online stores that they
suggested in the book. The project was a little above me anyway.

What I am looking for is a book that will explain a concept to me,
like capacitors. Then give a few circuits that demonstrate what they
just explained to me. Is there anything like that? Or, do you
generally have to read through a book that is all explanation then get
another book that has circuits you can play with?

Thanks in advanced!

I'm just beginning also, although I did take 2 semesters of physics,
albeit about 30 yrs ago

I also bought the "Electronics for Dummies" book, but the "introductory
explanations" left out a lot of important info, which I had to scribble
in from another reference.

I'm still at he stage of figuring out how to trace current flow, and how
to translate schematic into actual assemled components. SO I
unfortunatley can't help you a whole lot. But, since i empathize with a
fellow beginner , just in case these might be of some help to you,
here are some things I was either referred to, or found, on-line (the
brief descriptions are my own, intended to help you decide whther the
link might useful for your needs):

- This page describes itself as "Really Basic Electronics" - but it does
not show the relationship to the circuit schmeatics, and actual
assemblies:
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/guide/electronics.html

- This site shows a simple circuit WITH it's assembled end-product! It
is the *only* such side-by-side tutorial I've found so far:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Battery-Charging/
But it makes a lot more sense if you get more information ergarding
what the itmes are, so the following is a really good site:

- which seems to be a whole electronics text/course, but in on-line
format - it loads fast and is easy to navigate (no cumbersome Flash or
other annoying plugins required to access it, no dancing baloney or
flashy doodads - just good, solid information) - it has a lot of great
explanations of how things work - but again, from what i've seen so far,
no side-by-side comparison/explanation of circuit schematics and finished
assemblies:
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/l_sitemap.html


- this page explains what those colored bands on resistors mean:
http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/Resistor_Codes

- Related to the above, two different types of capacitor codes:
http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/Capacitor_Color_Codes
http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/Capacitor_codes

HTH and Good luck - if you find any side-by-side schematics:assemblies
references, either on-line or in print, it'd be great if you could post
the links (or references); I'm stuill looking, but I'll do teh same, post
and references I come across.

- K.

 

[Richard Seriani]

danikar@gmail.com wrote:
I am looking to learn more about electronics and what not. I have
looked at a few books and purchased one. However, I didn't like it
that much.

I got Electronic Projects for Dummies. The book started off like I was
going to understand it, then I got to chapter 5 and it asked me to buy
a bunch of components to put together this project. Some of the items
on the list I couldn't find even in the online stores that they
suggested in the book. The project was a little above me anyway.

What I am looking for is a book that will explain a concept to me,
like capacitors. Then give a few circuits that demonstrate what they
just explained to me. Is there anything like that? Or, do you
generally have to read through a book that is all explanation then get
another book that has circuits you can play with?

Thanks in advanced!

Here is another link you may want to look at:
http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/

 

[Joel Koltner]

"Jamie" <jamie_ka1lpa_not_valid_after_ka1lpa_@charter.net> wrote in message
news:lrZ0k.1227$E22.719@newsfe02.lga...

Go to radio shaft, and get one of those 101 Kits. it has all the components
with in, that are reusable.. it's a great tool for
getting started..

The main drawback of those kits is that they generally don't teach design
techniques, and even the explanations of how the circuits work often lack
details that, to a beginner, are quite significant. Additionally, since the
older kits usually only had, e.g., 3 transistors, some of the circuits had to
be rather clever in making use of a single transistor to simultaneously be,
say, an RF oscillator as well as an audio amplifier. Describing how a circuit
like that works is not at all trivial -- I suspect that even most college
professors who teach electronics would be stumped. The schematics also suffer
from the usual problem that often they've been "compressed" to fit into a
particular frame within the page, and thus things like, say, differential
pairs don't *look* like differential pairs unless you re-draw the schematic
(or do so mentally), something that many a beginner won't know to do.

Still, they're a lot of fun to play with, and usually cheap.

 

[Kris Krieger]

Rich Webb <bbew.ar@mapson.nozirev.ten> wrote in
news:8cl844pqg0fndlk0464dr4fij3cd9cosfm@4ax.com:

On Mon, 2 Jun 2008 11:31:19 -0700 (PDT), danikar@gmail.com wrote:

I am looking to learn more about electronics and what not. I have
looked at a few books and purchased one. However, I didn't like it
that much.

I got Electronic Projects for Dummies. The book started off like I was
going to understand it, then I got to chapter 5 and it asked me to buy
a bunch of components to put together this project. Some of the items
on the list I couldn't find even in the online stores that they
suggested in the book. The project was a little above me anyway.

What I am looking for is a book that will explain a concept to me,
like capacitors. Then give a few circuits that demonstrate what they
just explained to me. Is there anything like that? Or, do you
generally have to read through a book that is all explanation then get
another book that has circuits you can play with?

The NEETS modules start from the basics and work up. They're probably
not all relevant (you may not need info on radars right away) and
somewhat dated but good info.

http://www.hnsa.org/index.htm has copies of these and other manuals;
drill down from the "Documents" link.

Cool website, thanks

 

[Kris Krieger]

Rich Webb <bbew.ar@mapson.nozirev.ten> wrote in
news:8cl844pqg0fndlk0464dr4fij3cd9cosfm@4ax.com:

On Mon, 2 Jun 2008 11:31:19 -0700 (PDT), danikar@gmail.com wrote:

I am looking to learn more about electronics and what not. I have
looked at a few books and purchased one. However, I didn't like it
that much.

I got Electronic Projects for Dummies. The book started off like I was
going to understand it, then I got to chapter 5 and it asked me to buy
a bunch of components to put together this project. Some of the items
on the list I couldn't find even in the online stores that they
suggested in the book. The project was a little above me anyway.

What I am looking for is a book that will explain a concept to me,
like capacitors. Then give a few circuits that demonstrate what they
just explained to me. Is there anything like that? Or, do you
generally have to read through a book that is all explanation then get
another book that has circuits you can play with?

The NEETS modules start from the basics and work up. They're probably
not all relevant (you may not need info on radars right away) and
somewhat dated but good info.

http://www.hnsa.org/index.htm has copies of these and other manuals;
drill down from the "Documents" link.

Cool website, thanks

 

[Phil Allison]

"John Fields" <jfields@austistic-instruments.com>

Some stupid dago cunt = searcher:


i'm searching infomations about linearization techniques for power
amplifiers.
In particullary i'm searching pratical applications of these :

feed back
feed forward
digital predistortion
EER

and if these techniques are applicated at frequencies over 10 GHz

---
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=microwave+levelling



** Levelling does not = linearizsation.

---
That's true, but it does equal "linearization".

** Not what the OP is very clearly asking about.

Since he mentions pre-distortion of the wave shape etc.




....... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"John Fields" <jfields@austistic-instruments.com>

Some stupid dago cunt = searcher:


i'm searching infomations about linearization techniques for power
amplifiers.
In particullary i'm searching pratical applications of these :

feed back
feed forward
digital predistortion
EER

and if these techniques are applicated at frequencies over 10 GHz

---
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=microwave+levelling



** Levelling does not = linearizsation.

---
That's true, but it does equal "linearization".

** Not what the OP is very clearly asking about.

Since he mentions pre-distortion of the wave shape etc.




....... Phil