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Hobbyist electronics courses... extinct?

After asking several dumb questions on this newsgroup, I realized I was
going to need some extra help if I was ever going to learn this stuff.
So I searched for an electronics course in my community. I couldn't
find one. I found a million yoga classes, but no basic electronics
courses. My only options seem to be an electricians' ticket or an
engineering degree, and I'm not ready for either of those. I live in a
city with ~75 000 people.

Do you think my problems are due to the community's size, or is this a
problem in most areas?
 
C

Charles Schuler

Jan 1, 1970
0
After asking several dumb questions on this newsgroup, I realized I was
going to need some extra help if I was ever going to learn this stuff.
So I searched for an electronics course in my community. I couldn't
find one. I found a million yoga classes, but no basic electronics
courses. My only options seem to be an electricians' ticket or an
engineering degree, and I'm not ready for either of those. I live in a
city with ~75 000 people.

Do you think my problems are due to the community's size, or is this a
problem in most areas?

It is becoming more difficult to find community college courses in
electronics in most areas. These courses were typically offered for
"technicians" and this area of employment is shrinking.

You might get some good books and have a go at it on your own. This works
for some folks. Good luck.
 
P

Pooh Bear

Jan 1, 1970
0
After asking several dumb questions on this newsgroup, I realized I was
going to need some extra help if I was ever going to learn this stuff.
So I searched for an electronics course in my community. I couldn't
find one. I found a million yoga classes, but no basic electronics
courses. My only options seem to be an electricians' ticket or an
engineering degree, and I'm not ready for either of those. I live in a
city with ~75 000 people.

Do you think my problems are due to the community's size, or is this a
problem in most areas?

How many ppl even have 'hobbies' any more ?

Graham
 
P

Pooh Bear

Jan 1, 1970
0
Charles said:
It is becoming more difficult to find community college courses in
electronics in most areas. These courses were typically offered for
"technicians" and this area of employment is shrinking.

In terminal decline would be more accurate.

Graham
 
R

Roger Dewhurst

Jan 1, 1970
0
Pooh Bear said:
In terminal decline would be more accurate.

Graham

Surely someone has design and repair electronic devices. People must get
some training somewhere. Industry, in a general sense, cannot function
without technicians. Engineers may design things but technicians are
necessary to build them and fix them when they go wrong. A society with too
many graduates and not enough technicians supporting them does not function
very well. Too many chiefs and not enough indians!

R
 
R

Rich Grise

Jan 1, 1970
0
After asking several dumb questions on this newsgroup, I realized I was
going to need some extra help if I was ever going to learn this stuff.
So I searched for an electronics course in my community. I couldn't
find one. I found a million yoga classes, but no basic electronics
courses. My only options seem to be an electricians' ticket or an
engineering degree, and I'm not ready for either of those. I live in a
city with ~75 000 people.

Do you think my problems are due to the community's size, or is this a
problem in most areas?

Do you have public libraries there? Go to Dewey 621.384.

Have Fun!
Rich
 
B

Brian

Jan 1, 1970
0
After asking several dumb questions on this newsgroup, I realized I was
going to need some extra help if I was ever going to learn this stuff.
So I searched for an electronics course in my community. I couldn't
find one. I found a million yoga classes, but no basic electronics
courses. My only options seem to be an electricians' ticket or an
engineering degree, and I'm not ready for either of those. I live in a
city with ~75 000 people.

Do you think my problems are due to the community's size, or is this a
problem in most areas?

You might try an electronics correspondence course.

Brian
 
K

kell

Jan 1, 1970
0
After asking several dumb questions on this newsgroup, I realized I was
going to need some extra help if I was ever going to learn this stuff.
So I searched for an electronics course in my community. I couldn't
find one. I found a million yoga classes, but no basic electronics
courses. My only options seem to be an electricians' ticket or an
engineering degree, and I'm not ready for either of those. I live in a
city with ~75 000 people.

Do you think my problems are due to the community's size, or is this a
problem in most areas?

American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national "ham" or amateur
radio organization, and has the kind of materials you're looking for.
They have instructional materials in the form of paperback books for
learning all the electronics necessary to pass the exams for the
various levels of ham licenses.
ARRL also publishes the Amateur Radio Handbook. This is a fat
hardcover with tons of stuff in it. Many professional engineers keep
this book on their shelf as a reference.
ARRL exists largely to guide and encourage people like you who want to
get into electronics. Of course it's a "hobby," but if you get into it
deep enough it's engineering.
 
D

Dr. Anton T. Squeegee

Jan 1, 1970
0
After asking several dumb questions on this newsgroup, I realized I was
going to need some extra help if I was ever going to learn this stuff.
So I searched for an electronics course in my community. I couldn't
find one. I found a million yoga classes, but no basic electronics
courses. My only options seem to be an electricians' ticket or an
engineering degree, and I'm not ready for either of those. I live in a
city with ~75 000 people.

Do you think my problems are due to the community's size, or is this a
problem in most areas?

Electronics tinkering has, unfortunately, shrunk as a hobby. There
are a number of factors to blame, not the least of which is the instant-
gratification mindset brought on by the PC, and the seemingly constant
offshoring of electronic design and manufacturing.

HOWEVER -- I would suggest that you visit this link:

http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html

There are still a goodly number of people in amateur radio who are
very active in terms of tinkering and experimentation. I've been active
in the field since 1977, and I can tell you from personal experience
that it makes a great hobby.

Happy tweaking.


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute.
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR,
kyrrin (a/t) bluefeathertech[d=o=t]calm -- www.bluefeathertech.com
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped
with surreal ports?"
 
P

Pooh Bear

Jan 1, 1970
0
Roger said:
Surely someone has design and repair electronic devices.

Even the design is going abroad.

Repair isn't required (or even economic ) with today's equipment prices.
People must get
some training somewhere. Industry, in a general sense, cannot function
without technicians.

What industry ? It's gone to Asia.
Engineers may design things but technicians are
necessary to build them and fix them when they go wrong.

Not for consumer appliances any more. They get thrown out when they're bust
mainly.
A society with too
many graduates and not enough technicians supporting them does not function
very well. Too many chiefs and not enough indians!

We won't need the graduates either soon.

I know a number of 'kids' who have graduated in recent times Not *one* has ended
up in a job that they trained for.

Graham
 
L

larry moe 'n curly

Jan 1, 1970
0
Do you have public libraries there? Go to Dewey 621.384.

Unfortunately I live in Phoenix, where the people in charge of our
libraries hate any books that aren't about pop psychology or idiot
sociology.
 
R

Rodney

Jan 1, 1970
0
After asking several dumb questions on this newsgroup, I realized I was
going to need some extra help if I was ever going to learn this stuff.
So I searched for an electronics course in my community. I couldn't
find one. I found a million yoga classes, but no basic electronics
courses. My only options seem to be an electricians' ticket or an
engineering degree, and I'm not ready for either of those. I live in a
city with ~75 000 people.

Do you think my problems are due to the community's size, or is this a
problem in most areas?

You will find a very good electronics course free here:
http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/electricCircuits/index.htm
 
B

Bill Gray

Jan 1, 1970
0
Roger said:
Surely someone has design and repair electronic devices. People must get
some training somewhere. Industry, in a general sense, cannot function
without technicians. Engineers may design things but technicians are
necessary to build them and fix them when they go wrong. A society with too
many graduates and not enough technicians supporting them does not function
very well. Too many chiefs and not enough indians!

R

American industry will just outsource it to China or India. There're
plenty of technicians there.

Bill,
Phoenix
 
P

Pooh Bear

Jan 1, 1970
0
Bill said:
American industry will just outsource it to China or India. There're
plenty of technicians there.

Bill,
Phoenix

Yup. The 'suits' don't give a shit about ppl who spent their lives honing their
skills when they can get a better bonus by improving tomorrow's bottom line.

Until there's fundamental culture change in how western businesses are run, don't
expect any job to be even remotely secure.

I wouldn't advise *anyone* to get into engineering in the west these days.

Graham
 
P

PeteS

Jan 1, 1970
0
Pooh said:
Yup. The 'suits' don't give a shit about ppl who spent their lives honing their
skills when they can get a better bonus by improving tomorrow's bottom line.

And ignoring next year's (after all, they probably won't be there then)
Until there's fundamental culture change in how western businesses are run, don't
expect any job to be even remotely secure.

Gotta agree.
I wouldn't advise *anyone* to get into engineering in the west these days.

Graham

On another note, though, technicians need to be close to the actual
design. For the design work that does occur in the west, we need techs
near it. I will admit I have had a very hard time (both here in the UK
and in the states when I was there) getting good techs.

Cheers

PeteS
 
B

BobG

Jan 1, 1970
0
Just buy a copy of 'The Art of Electronics'. Also, you can dl all the
Navy Electronics School books.
 
B

Byron A Jeff

Jan 1, 1970
0
Surely someone has design

Electical Engineers.
and repair electronic devices.

It's more a diagnose and replace activity now. It doesn't require a lot
of training to do that.
People must get
some training somewhere. Industry, in a general sense, cannot function
without technicians. Engineers may design things but technicians are
necessary to build them and fix them when they go wrong.

As I said it's become a replacement activity.

BAJ
 
R

Roger Dewhurst

Jan 1, 1970
0
Bill Gray said:
American industry will just outsource it to China or India. There're
plenty of technicians there.

In that case it will go the way that Britain is headed.


"When does the bubble burst? Britain's industry and agriculture are
diminishing by the day, service industries are being exported to India and
Kenya. What will Britain export to pay for those things that were produced
in Britain? The jobs described in this article contribute nothing in goods
and services, they do however take people out of productive jobs and absorb
money that can only be paid for through the production of real goods and
services. Just how long can this Ponzi scheme carry on? Then of course
there is the immigration Ponzi scheme adding to Britain's long term
problems."

R
 
R

Roger Dewhurst

Jan 1, 1970
0
Byron A Jeff said:
Electical Engineers.


It's more a diagnose and replace activity now. It doesn't require a lot
of training to do that.


As I said it's become a replacement activity.

Somebody has to do the design and manufacture. If it is all done in China,
or wherever, what will be exported to pay for the manufactured goods and/or
services? Countries cannot survive in the long term by simply taking in
their own washing. The average standard of living must depend solely on the
total value of goods and services produced.

R
 
R

Roger Dewhurst

Jan 1, 1970
0
BobG said:
Just buy a copy of 'The Art of Electronics'. Also, you can dl all the
Navy Electronics School books.

Add 'Practical Electronics Handbook' by Ian Sinclair, 'The Forrest Mims
Engineer's Notebook and 'CMOS Cookbook' by Don Lancaster.

R
 
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