software to hardware - help

Neo said:

> Folks, How difficult it is for a software guy to learn working with 
> hardware. I've been working on embedded systems for about 4 years. Worked on 
> various platforms like TI DSP, Morotola, Intel x86 etc. Having sound 
> knowledge of C, Assembly, DD, RTOS and other system level stuff. I want to 
> learn some basic skill on hardware side (like soldering etc.) to prototype 
> some very simple circuits. My main focus is on Firmware designing and RTOS. 
> Do I need to take up some course in basic electronics?
> 
> What are the essential tools that I need to buy in order to get started 
> playing with hardware?
> 
> Books for a beginner like me (who dont have any background in electronics)?

Horowitz and Hill - 'The Art of Electronics' is a good, well written,
introduction to electronics.

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You have received some good advice here.  I'll add that picaxe chips are a 
lot of fun and there is wide range of internet sources for software, 
schematics and so on. 

"Neo" <timeless_illusionN0SPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4365e863@news.microsoft.com...
> Folks, How difficult it is for a software guy to learn working with
> hardware. I've been working on embedded systems for about 4 years. Worked
on
> various platforms like TI DSP, Morotola, Intel x86 etc. Having sound
> knowledge of C, Assembly, DD, RTOS and other system level stuff. I want to
> learn some basic skill on hardware side (like soldering etc.) to prototype
> some very simple circuits. My main focus is on Firmware designing and
RTOS.
> Do I need to take up some course in basic electronics?
>
> What are the essential tools that I need to buy in order to get started
> playing with hardware?
>
> Books for a beginner like me (who dont have any background in
electronics)?
>
> Some of you guy might have faced the same thing. It would be really
helpful
> for me to get advice and tips, and quickly get started.
>
> Thanks and Regards,
> -Neo


Its really not as difficult as some would make out ... tho i suppose it's
depends on your aptitude, perhaps just as important your 'determination' ...
and also the level of complexity you wish to move it. Much like yourself,
was a programmer, wishing to take up electronics as a hobby. Digital
electronics is actually fairly easy ... it's such connecting a bunch of
black-box chips together - I'd grab a quick an easy guide to analog
electronics ... to lend the fundamentals .. and a digital electronics book
... then start playing about with a few kits - its the best way to learn ..

As for how i got on ...5 years on ... well ... my last little project was a
dual wireless phone + base station ... connects to the PC and phone line ...
allows me to switch from voip, skype, landline and send sms's by gsm card
:-) ...

"Noway2" <no_spam_me2@hotmail.com> wrote in message 
news:1130766421.715018.222700@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> The answer depends on wether you take the blue pill or the red pill.
> Sorry, but I couldn't resist with you using the name Neo.
>
>>From you message, it sounds like you are interested in technician style
> work, as you mention soldering and basic prototying.  You may be able
> to find some classes at a community or technical college that would
> help you gain some hands on experience with the correct methods to use.
> Also look for certification trainging that may be offered in your
> area.  Personally, I took a class in SMT rework and have been very
> comfortable with soldering and desoldering ever since.  While I am
> certain that some may disagree with my suggestion I find that there
> really is no substitute for learning from someone who knows how to
> teach a subject properly.
>
> If you are interested in learning electronics theory, which will go a
> long ways towards your goal, I would recommend the book, The Art of
> Electronics and the corresponding lab work book by Horowitz and Hill.
> The book covers many of the fundemental aspects of analog and digital
> electronics from a "this is how you use and apply it" perspective.  The
> book covers how to analyze circuits and components from a practical -
> real work perspective.  Armed with this book, I would suggest getting
> some basic equipment, such as a bread board, digital multi meter and
> power supply.  You may wish to purchase some basic parts to perform the
> experiements in the book, but these should be available from any online
> electronics supplier, such as Digikey.
>
> Good Luck and enjoy your trip down the rabbit hole!

Thanks a lot.
A grabbed a copy of "The Art of Electronics" and basic tools - Multimeter, 
Soldering Iron, cutting pliers, Breadboard, General purpose PCB, a variable 
DC output adapter, 25-pin male D connector (for parallel port interfacing), 
555 Timer IC, a bunch of LEDs, registors, capcitors and transistors etc. 
from the local store. Its really exicting to play with these things. Things 
are up and running... :-)

But I didn't found the Lab Workbook. Is it necessary to have a copy?

-Neo

"Ian Bell" <ruffrecords@yahoo.com> wrote in message 
news:dk68gi$60n$1@slavica.ukpost.com...
> Neo wrote:
>
>> Folks, How difficult it is for a software guy to learn working with
>> hardware. I've been working on embedded systems for about 4 years. Worked
>> on various platforms like TI DSP, Morotola, Intel x86 etc. Having sound
>> knowledge of C, Assembly, DD, RTOS and other system level stuff. I want 
>> to
>> learn some basic skill on hardware side (like soldering etc.) to 
>> prototype
>> some very simple circuits. My main focus is on Firmware designing and
>> RTOS. Do I need to take up some course in basic electronics?
>>
>
> I would say it is incredibly hard to make the transition in this 
> direction.
> Software is at least an order of magnitude less complex than hardware so 
> it
> is difficult to become a good hardware engineer. Many people make the
> transition in the other direction from mechanical engineering and
> mathematics to software.
>
> Ian

Well, my aim is not to transition from software to pure hardware engineer. 
Understanding how a peice of hardware works is of immense help for a 
firmware engineer. Working closer to hardware, controlling a device this is 
what makes this field interesting and exciting.

-Neo

"nobody" <anon@anon.com> wrote in message 
news:te6dnb0RsJIQefrenZ2dnUVZ8qCdnZ2d@pipex.net...
>
> "Neo" <timeless_illusionN0SPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:4365e863@news.microsoft.com...
>> Folks, How difficult it is for a software guy to learn working with
>> hardware. I've been working on embedded systems for about 4 years. Worked
> on
>> various platforms like TI DSP, Morotola, Intel x86 etc. Having sound
>> knowledge of C, Assembly, DD, RTOS and other system level stuff. I want 
>> to
>> learn some basic skill on hardware side (like soldering etc.) to 
>> prototype
>> some very simple circuits. My main focus is on Firmware designing and
> RTOS.
>> Do I need to take up some course in basic electronics?
>>
>> What are the essential tools that I need to buy in order to get started
>> playing with hardware?
>>
>> Books for a beginner like me (who dont have any background in
> electronics)?
>>
>> Some of you guy might have faced the same thing. It would be really
> helpful
>> for me to get advice and tips, and quickly get started.
>>
>> Thanks and Regards,
>> -Neo
>
>
> Its really not as difficult as some would make out ... tho i suppose it's
> depends on your aptitude, perhaps just as important your 'determination' 
> ...
> and also the level of complexity you wish to move it. Much like yourself,
> was a programmer, wishing to take up electronics as a hobby. Digital
> electronics is actually fairly easy ... it's such connecting a bunch of
> black-box chips together - I'd grab a quick an easy guide to analog
> electronics ... to lend the fundamentals .. and a digital electronics book
> ... then start playing about with a few kits - its the best way to learn 
> ..
>
> As for how i got on ...5 years on ... well ... my last little project was 
> a
> dual wireless phone + base station ... connects to the PC and phone line 
> ...
> allows me to switch from voip, skype, landline and send sms's by gsm card
> :-) ...

That sounds amazing. Digital electronics I know quite a lot. Which 
microcontroller/microprocessor will be a good start? PICAXE seems quick and 
fast. How about ARM, MIPS etc. though i am not targeting these at this 
stage, its for later what I would like to use. For now I want "Play With It 
Yourself" on a tight budget and yet the power and flexibility to build real 
world gadgets.

Cheers,
-Neo
"Do you Really think, What you think REAL is Really REAL?"

I wouldn't say that it is necesary, however you might find it both
helpfull and enjoyable to have it.

The lab workbook does two things.  One it provides a different
perspective on some of the critical concepts that can be somewhat
difficult to understand initially.  Second it presents a number of
recommended realtively simple experiments to perform on a bench, which
in my opinion is the real value of the book.

"Neo" <timeless_illusionN0SPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:436efa76@news.microsoft.com...
> "nobody" <anon@anon.com> wrote in message
> news:te6dnb0RsJIQefrenZ2dnUVZ8qCdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> >
> > "Neo" <timeless_illusionN0SPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:4365e863@news.microsoft.com...
> >> Folks, How difficult it is for a software guy to learn working with
> >> hardware. I've been working on embedded systems for about 4 years.
Worked
> > on
> >> various platforms like TI DSP, Morotola, Intel x86 etc. Having sound
> >> knowledge of C, Assembly, DD, RTOS and other system level stuff. I want
> >> to
> >> learn some basic skill on hardware side (like soldering etc.) to
> >> prototype
> >> some very simple circuits. My main focus is on Firmware designing and
> > RTOS.
> >> Do I need to take up some course in basic electronics?
> >>
> >> What are the essential tools that I need to buy in order to get started
> >> playing with hardware?
> >>
> >> Books for a beginner like me (who dont have any background in
> > electronics)?
> >>
> >> Some of you guy might have faced the same thing. It would be really
> > helpful
> >> for me to get advice and tips, and quickly get started.
> >>
> >> Thanks and Regards,
> >> -Neo
> >
> >
> > Its really not as difficult as some would make out ... tho i suppose
it's
> > depends on your aptitude, perhaps just as important your 'determination'
> > ...
> > and also the level of complexity you wish to move it. Much like
yourself,
> > was a programmer, wishing to take up electronics as a hobby. Digital
> > electronics is actually fairly easy ... it's such connecting a bunch of
> > black-box chips together - I'd grab a quick an easy guide to analog
> > electronics ... to lend the fundamentals .. and a digital electronics
book
> > ... then start playing about with a few kits - its the best way to learn
> > ..
> >
> > As for how i got on ...5 years on ... well ... my last little project
was
> > a
> > dual wireless phone + base station ... connects to the PC and phone line
> > ...
> > allows me to switch from voip, skype, landline and send sms's by gsm
card
> > :-) ...
>
> That sounds amazing. Digital electronics I know quite a lot. Which
> microcontroller/microprocessor will be a good start? PICAXE seems quick
and
> fast. How about ARM, MIPS etc. though i am not targeting these at this
> stage, its for later what I would like to use. For now I want "Play With
It
> Yourself" on a tight budget and yet the power and flexibility to build
real
> world gadgets.
>
> Cheers,
> -Neo
> "Do you Really think, What you think REAL is Really REAL?"
>
>

PIXAXE?? ... took a glance at the site and yeah! seem's like a good place to
start ... i started off on the Microchip product line too ... my first
project, the "hello world" equivalent to embedded hobbyists - controlling a
bunch of LED's :-) ... which had me excited for all of 10 minutes ... ARM &
MIPS? .. not much experience i'm afraid, never used MIPS. As for ARM - i've
worked on them, but only from a 'software perspective' ... from the sounds
of which, you've more experience than i.

the project? (dual wireless thingies)  cheers for the thumbs up :-) ...
built it, and worked ... but decided the change the plan! .. no bulk level
purchase's meant scaling up was too damn costly ...

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