"Retro Repair" key electronics skills?
Robert Jarratt
robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com
Mon May 9 22:40:30 CDT 2016
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Swift
> Griggs
> Sent: 09 May 2016 22:37
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: "Retro Repair" key electronics skills?
>
>
> I figure I'm good for about eighty hours or so of reading and fooling
around
> with electronics before I'll want to move onto a different hobby for a
while (I
> rotate through a whole bunch). That's my normal MO. So, I'm wondering
> what kind of skills I could build with that time, once I get started. I'd
love to
> hear if anyone has suggestions for how to use my time wisely to learn
skills
> that would be most useful for working on older machines (mid 80's to late
> 90's is my focus as far as a hardware bandpass).
You don't list being able to repair power supplies below. I would thoroughly
recommend that as a valuable skill for older machines. I don't have any
great skill there either, what I do know has come from people on this list
very generously helping me out.
Regards
Rob
>
> Here's what I (think) I know now:
>
> - Basics about electricity. Ie.. Ohms law, power vs frequency, etc..
>
> - I understand basic physics ("A" in 100-level college course and two
> years of high school physics, too). I actually had an excellent teacher,
> too!
>
> - I used to do math to about a 300-400 level, but now I'm at a 100-200
> level (I can still do most algebra II, some trig, and a few other bits).
>
> - I understand what most analog components do (resistors, capacitors,
> diodes, etc..). I can run a volt-meter, and super-basic operations with
> an analog scope (checking test points and that kind of simple crap) . I
> also have a rudimentary rig for soldering etc...
>
> - Since I'm a coder, I understand boolean logic (which I hope would help
> with ICs).
>
> - I took a digital electronics course in college. However, it was pathetic
> and it's all gone now anyway.
>
> I've spent most of my technical energy learning coding and sysadmin
skills,
> not hardware. I'm still interested in it, though. I'm most comfortable
with
> self-teaching via projects. Any that you folks would recommend (even if
they
> are for kids, I don't mind, I'm not proud) I'd love to hear about them.
Books,
> project kits, etc.. My goal would be able to understand 40% of what is
> happening on an Amiga 500 or that level of machine. If I could do that....
> wow. fun. cool. Plus I bet I could repair many more items/problems than I
> can today.
>
> -Swift
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