Electronics Books Recomendations
SRLM
Posts: 5,045
Can anybody suggest some good electronic type books? Specifically, I'm looking more on the analog side of things. When I read some of the forum and the posts, some of the terms are new to me. I figure if I read about ten different electronics books, the sum total of everything will be understandable in a way that one book can not provide.
Comments
"The Art of Electronics" by Howrowitz and Hill
Cambridge University Press
ISBN 0521231515 (hard cover)
ISBN 0521298377 (paperback)
I'm sure it's into its 2nd or 3rd printing by now and when it came out in the mid-80's, it became one of those "must haves". The book covers a wide range of topics with very useful examples.
Also, anything written by Robert A. Pease. He is/was a senior scientist with National Semiconductor and has produced tons of articles chock full of no nonsense designs and advice.
Later,
DJ
Leon
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Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
The Art Of electronics is an essential part of any serious electronics dabblers library but it isn’t the place to start. One needs a simple book written in a clear simple format along the lines of “Stampworks” but focussing on simple electronic theory.
Like so many things in life, you have to decide what you want to do with your electronics knowledge. Do you want to focus initially on digital, analogue, power, radio, robotics or microprocessor? Choose an area and then look for something in that area. Use your enthusiasm for your chosen niche to power you through the sometimes complex and tedious parts of the subject.
As many people on this site often remind us, electronics is about building circuits and about experimenting with the components. For me, a good simple book of projects with explanations of how they work is a better place to start.
In time, if you stick with electronics, you too will have Horwitz’s encyclopaedic book on your workbench but I am not sure you want or even need that level of complexity to start with. (I often read a section of the book two or three times before I fully understand the concepts but if you are already a rocket scientist with an IQ in the low 200s then that is the book for you.)
So, what excites you about electronics?
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He wrote a bunch o'stuff for Popular Electronics and also produced a number of "how to" project compilations that were quite easy to understand (sold by Radio Shack).
DJ
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-Rusty-
--
Rusty Haddock <=> AE5AE
**Out yonder in the Van Alstyne (TX) Metropolitan Area**
Microsoft is to software what McDonalds is to gourmet cooking
I think that they are really helpful for anyone that doesn't have a lot of $$$$.
http://www.electronicsandcircuits.com/neets_manuals.htm
DO NOT PAY FOR COPIES!. All government publications are public domain and excluded from copyright in the U.S. Constitution. There are web sites that are more than happy to charge you big bucks for printed copies of these free documents.
'The Art of Electronics' is quite good, but doesn't cover as much as NEETs..
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It's sunny and warm here. It is always sunny and warm here.... (unless a typhoon blows through).
Tropically, G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan
"Although the words “he,” “him,” and
“his” are used sparingly in this course to
enhance communication, they are not
intended to be gender driven or to affront or
discriminate against anyone."
I'll look into these, although I like having print copies to save my eyes and that I can read on the train. Maybe I can get Kinkos to print them out and bind them...
Well, I looked at them. Each section is about 200 pages, and 23 of them, so a 4600 document would be required. Think I'll use them as a definitive reference instead of a good book to read.
You can't copy that old book smell at Kinkos.
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@SRLM - a few months ago I thought I'd build a simple amplifier for my car to plug my mp3 player in. HOLY Smile! Analog circuit design is a completely different world. I need to figure out op-amps. I've found AllAboutCircuits.com to be pretty useful.
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Concentrate on understanding the problem, not applying the tool
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There is a lot more useful stuff than just the NEETs course.
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It's sunny and warm here. It is always sunny and warm here.... (unless a typhoon blows through).
Tropically, G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan
Second on the Mims books - they are fun. Also, Radio Shack has a nice little electronics experimenters kit with a breadboard, and a good text book (by Mimms too). It does cover analog and gives you a few chips to toss around. One of Mimms books covers the basics of OP Amps. These are, and have been for some time, the standard building blocks of analog (as well as interfacing Analog to Digital and vice versa.) You might consider getting an "op amp cookbook."
Another thing to do is approach this like an electronic's engineer would do: When you need to build a circuit - that is to say, when you need to solve a problem - you figure out each little function and find components that can come close enough to doing these functions. Like programming, but in hardware [noparse]:)[/noparse] How do you know when a component, or a chip, let's say, does what you need? You study the *data sheet* the manufacturer supplies for the part. (See some Parallex data sheets here for instance.) You can learn a ton about electronics by plowing through this stuff, although it's tedious going at first. It's like learning a second language: when you encounter a term you've not seen before, just Google it! For example, many Parallax breadboards and MC's have a "Vss" and a "Vdd" ... what's that and what's the difference (and later, why do these matter?) Dig Dig. Of course, some of the terms can toast the brain - or fade your jeans ... However, those terms are just made up of more complex definitions!
cheers,
- Howard in Florida
(@Kramer: where it's warm too, until we have a hurricane!)
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Buzz Whirr Click Repeat
And, you will find people give away old test equipment that is as good as the new stuff.
Sometimes you learn to mix old junk with new tech to get something useful and valuable on a very cheap budget.
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It's sunny and warm here. It is always sunny and warm here.... (unless a typhoon blows through).
Tropically, G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan
is there some topic within analog that interests you more than others?
- H
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Buzz Whirr Click Repeat
Once you are a ham, you have a very good network of people and swap meets to locate hardware and advice for next to nothing.
In sum, it is worth the effort..
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It's sunny and warm here. It is always sunny and warm here.... (unless a typhoon blows through).
Tropically, G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan
yes, that seems like a good choice - simple and useful for building those future, killer analog apps [noparse]:)[/noparse]
I'm kinda jumpingh around here...
> wireless ... the least developed in the hobby world.
Ditto Kramer's post just above. The problem is not tecnology, but rather ownership and use of the airwaves. The authorities, like the FCC in the States, specifically limit the power, and sometimes the protocols, of such devices. Otherwise, our remote control robots might work from 10 miles while interfering with every television and - hey hey - open and close all the garage doors in a five mile radius! (Hmmm ... evil geniuses are plotting already.)
Rusty mentioned early in the thread to get a hold of an ARRL handbook. These are the HAM bibles which come out every year (?) - take a look in your public library's electronic section. Local HAMs will often donate their older copies. My branch has not one but _four_ year's worth - including 2006 or 07. Even if you don't want to get a "Technician Class" ham license, these handbooks are GREAT for learning analog stuff. Plus, they are thick books. Perfect for long train or bus trips. (Not to mention that they are used AND stored in a library... Right! ... a double dose of that "authentic old book smell!" ~~ :V) [noparse][[/noparse]<--- note lame attempt at a 'smelly emoticon' a smellicon?]
The technician class allows for the transmission of 'data' and experimental 'remote control' of some kind. I'm not a HAM, but actually have two copies of ARRL handbooks and am looking at one now. You know, I'd say that radio (TV, microwave, and generally, any form Electromagnetic Modulation) is the most sophisticated of the analog world. But it starts out simple too. For example, you can pull a signal out of thin air with basically just a diode! If you want it louder than an earphone's worth, toss in a small (op amp) amplifier.
Without a license, however, you could hack open a pair of cheapo (< $25/pair) Radio Shack walkie talkies (I think they're called FSR's) and modulate / demodulate a signal on the audio without fear of the FCC triangulating on your secret electronic labs. However, you're range is limited to a few blocks in the city/suburbs. The absolute (unrealistic) best is 12 to 24 miles, but that is really line of sight - and these better radios cost > $75 a pair. The other caveat is interference as these can be used by anyone. If you want to try, there are several easy ways to do it, e.g. serial out modifies a tone generator which feeds into the microphone for transmit. The receiver uses a frequency detector/converter to get back the pulses which then feed the serial in. I have had success with the cheapo's working about 2 miles.
The more I think about this, the more I'd encourage you to find the ARRL handbooks. The electronics primers in them are VERY good - covers transistors, op amps, and the most important things analog, but in a way that anyone can understand.
Yours electromagnetically,
Howard
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Buzz Whirr Click Repeat
Anyway, I'll look into the ARRL books. Sounds like a group whose target audience wants to learn radio, not electronics (so they make it easy to understand).
# Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr (Sd); 3 edition (Feb 28 2009)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0521809266
# ISBN-13: 978-0521809269
Another book that I use is Practical Electronics for Inventors (Paperback). If interested you can do a search inside, on Amazon. It's packed full of useful info and theory.
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Aka: CosmicBob
SXList.com has the software already developed for the SX28 modems.
I have the older 'Art of Electronics' and while it is fun, it is a bit advanced. Without the basics from NEETs, a lot of topics are a bit daunting.
The ARRL Handbooks of the 1960s were wonderful classics of theory and practise, but that was in the days of tubes. Whole sections of information no longer apply. We just no longer use Colpitt Oscillators and huge tank circuits. With the advent of solid-state and miniturization, it has gotten harder and harder to build your own ham station. One generally must buy units. Antennas do remain a big DIY focus though. And mobile ham radio is a lot more fun.
While digital signals are generally slow and low power enough not to require special procedures, the RF range devices are difficult to properly construct so that you don't put out a lot of nasty interference. Having other HAMs help you learn the ropes is important. The square wave puts out nasty harmonics if powerful enough. That is why radio carrier frequencies try to create a near perfect sine wave. The sine wave has one and only one frequency, no overtones.
If you ever want to be visited by a local cop, the FBI, the FCC, and an FAA marshal all at the same time, just transmit a beacon signal on the air rescue frequencies. It doen't take much power. They will arrive ready to handcuff you and haul you off to jail. So try to respect the airwaves for your own sake.
Years ago I read an interesting story. One guy bought a defective color TV [noparse][[/noparse]brand new] that was transmitting on the air rescue band. The authorities rushed to his home en mass. They let him go but not without some very heavy warnings and having him sign an agreement to not power up the TV ever again.
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It's sunny and warm here. It is always sunny and warm here.... (unless a typhoon blows through).
Tropically, G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan
LMAO! And if you're near a navy base, add more firepower:
Years ago, my crazy friends built a Telsa coil - a five-foot-high monster, generating three foot-long arcs. The first time they ran it for several minutes, they caught the garage on fire. They had planned ahead, however, and had an extenguisher nearby. A week later, not wanting any more excitement, they moved it outside to the driveway and 'fired' it up. Arcing to a tree over _six_ feet away, some dead leaves caught. Of course, this time, they had a hose handy. The next weekend, a bit tired of mishaps, they moved the beast to the middle of the yard, clear of any flamable objects. Contact! A few minutes of lovely arcing and plasma displays - and nothing caught on fire. Too cool.
They would have run it longer, but had to shut it down once a swat team arrived with guns leveled. After being allowed up from their prone, hands-behind-their-heads positions, my friends duly noted an FCC locator truck, the FBI, the state police, the local police, and the naval police, as well as some plain clothes guys from a black cruiser.
Once they were cleared of charges, the FCC guy quiped that my friends should be nick named "The Band of Bad Harmonics," as they had apparently jammed or severly interfered with *all* of the communications bands of these various authorities, even causing problems to ship-to-shore communications. Some a Telsa coil, eh? Moral of the story: never forget that the first radio jockies were called "Sparky."
cheers,
Howard in ~North~ Florida, dodging Tropical Storms - or a Hurricane? ... and which way IS it going anyway?!?
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Buzz Whirr Click Repeat
Just put that in my favorites as
AAAArt of Electronics (Right under AAA = Search Parallax Forums) [noparse]:)[/noparse])
http://books.google.com/books?id=bkOMDgwFA28C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0
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· -- Carl, nn5i@arrl.net