EEVBlog Inspired Website - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:20:44 am
content: Hello EEVblog fourm! I come bearing good news,A long time ago in the general chat i posted a long rant-like post complaining about my computer engineering teacher "using me for my knowledge". The comments everybody left on that post was really supportive, and a few of them encouraged me to compile the lessons I wrote for the class into a website, and thats what i did.advtech.cais the website i built over the few months after that forum post, and now it's finally launched.Currently its designed to not be exciting, its full of issues in places (especially mobile formatting issues, if you're going to visit the website on a mobile I apologise in advance). But after getting the website up and running I began porting over my lessons to the website.Whats the point of this fourm post? A great big thank you to those who encouraged me to compile everything into a website, and also I am asking for suggestions. So far I posted everything with the Arduino/Basic electronics side of things. But I want to write more, so I have a few questions for content ideas.Pic microcontroller tutorials? I will have a seperate section if i go through with them, the only reason i find this worth doing is any tutorials i found online for almost all the pic microcontrollers i own are poorly written, they don't use the latest compiler and getting up and running was a long and painful experience. So would people find it useful to write tutorials on the PIC microcontroller?Programming in general. I can program in C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Html, Css...etc etc... Now i know there are tonnes of programming tutorials online but how about a general computer science refrence? where i talk about general computer science concepts from a less formal standpoint (more casual)Any other ideas i'd appreciateThanks for all your support, i'd love any feedback and corrections on the website and the content. Thanks for your timePS: Arduino section is incomplete, there's 3 other lessons that havent been added that cover LCD interfacing, C programming in general and I2C interfacing.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 01:35:29 am
content: I haven't read any of the articles yet but it certainly looks good from an aesthetic point of view.

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 01:38:06 am
content: Why thank you. I hope to add more content, and refine the content I currently have, but thank you

author: Synthetase
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 04:40:50 am
content: Looks interesting. From an aesthetic point of view, you might consider shrinking the header down a bit. It takes up a lot of the screen area and doesn't do anything practical (it does look nice, though). Also, I think the search box should be up the top of the page where most users will expect to find it, rather than in the footer.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 11:00:54 am
content: Quote from: Synthetase on April 20, 2016, 04:40:50 amYes, filling up space with a pretty graphic just means people won't see as much of the interesting stuff when they land. By all means brand each page, but don't push the main content too far down for the sake of it.QuoteYes. Searching for the Search bar is a bit paradoxical.Navigation:The menu item: "Before Arduino: Extremely Brief Electronics Introduction" goes to the section titled: "Furthering Our Understandings". This could cause some confusion when people navigate - "I clicked there and ended up here??". I would suggest the title in the menu option is the top title of the destination page.Proof reading:In clicking on the "Before Arduino: Extremely Brief Electronics Introduction" section, there is a sentence in the section about GND:"See the diagram on the right for a simplified view of the schematic on the right."One of those "right"s should be a "left".Further on the proof reading task is the clarity of expression - that is, how well you have phrased the ideas you want to convey. I would suggest someone who is good with words, butnottechnical, has a read and let you know what bits were confusing.Structure: At the moment, you have one set of options. While the content has few entries, this isn't a problem, but if you end up with 200 or so little tutorials, this might become unworkable. I suggest you sit down and map out what your content might look like in a couple of years' time and think how it might be organised. This does NOT mean you set up 3 levels of menu with lots of empty spots (until you get the content to fill them) - just be aware where you hope to be and plan for migration to a more involved menu structure. The balance is to try to keep the menu hopping to a minimum, but not overloading each page with too many entries.Titles/Naming: As an example, at the moment, you have a section titled "Before Arduino: Extremely Brief Electronics Introduction". While you stick to Arduino, this isn't a problem, but you have mentioned PIC. If someone comes to your site looking to follow only PIC info, they probably won't see the "Before Arduino" sections as relevant.Just some thoughts. I don't pretend to be an expert - so make up your own mind if any are useful.

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 11:59:25 am
content: Thank you everybody for the feedback!Quote from: Synthetase on April 20, 2016, 04:40:50 amDone! I shrunk the top header from 250 to 150 pixels, it seems much smaller.Quote from: Synthetase on April 20, 2016, 04:40:50 amI agree. I moved it to a nicer location on the top of the page.Quote from: Synthetase on April 20, 2016, 04:40:50 amThe navigation will be fixed, no worriesAnd for the proof reading, i figure I'll completely disregard "left and right" notations for refrencing images because on different screen sizes the images may be in thier correct positions or they may be stacked. I do see what you're talking about and I did end up messing up left and right but still, i'm thinking of a nicer "Figure 1" approach where the images can then have a small caption underneath. That way I can place the images in whatever location and I dont have to worry about formatting.And yes, I do enjoy writing however I can be quite awkward sometimes. Usually I read things out loud and if I have to repeat a sentence in order to make sense of it, It usually needs to be rephrased. Thank you though.And for structure: Once I get more different subjects on there I will have the main menu page that you land on and that will link to other pages with the full list of tutorials. I like the layout ofhttp://c.learncodethehardway.org/book/and that's what i'll be going for, exept that each series of tutorials will have their own page.Thank you everybody for your insighti'll keep working on the sites formatting

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:05:05 pm
content: Yep, I remember you joining andthatthread.Congrats, well done.Put a link to your website in your profile.

author: StuUK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:05:54 pm
content: remember the thread.Definitely get rid of the large graphic though.....

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:11:16 pm
content: Quote from: StuUK on April 20, 2016, 12:05:54 pmI might, I like it quite a bit. I'll get rid of it once my website has enough content to compensateAnd I put the link to my website into my profile, I forgot that you could do that here

author: StuUK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:19:01 pm
content: Quote from: netwinder on April 20, 2016, 12:11:16 pmThink beyond just PC screens.....

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:26:11 pm
content: Quote from: StuUK on April 20, 2016, 12:19:01 pmI have. On mobile the graphic is not invasive (and takes up a small portion of the screen), the website only scales awkwardly when on a mobile in landscape mode, but even that can be solved easily.I'm not sure, but people viewing the website on flip phones may have some issuesThank you for your insight though

author: klunkerbus
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:44:39 pm
content: Giving the site a glance, I noticed the schematic shown for a resistor voltage divider is wrong. +out and -out will always read zero because the junction between R1 and R2 is tied to ground.

author: StuUK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:48:07 pm
content: Quote from: netwinder on April 20, 2016, 12:26:11 pmnot on my android tablet, its overpowering....

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 12:52:45 pm
content: Quote from: StuUK on April 20, 2016, 12:48:07 pmInteresting, how big is your screen and what orientation is it in? Because if its that bad I can work on the formatting of it.Quote from: klunkerbus on April 20, 2016, 12:44:39 pmYep. I am definitely error prone, so feel free to point out everything wrong that i've done, i get a good laugh out of it. Thank you though!

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 01:22:49 pm
content: Ok I did some work with the CSS style sheet and the header on desktops are now smaller and on mobile in landscape should be a little more bearable, I do agree on mobile in landscape it should be removed entirely however scrolling down isn't that hard.An aside: Would a RPN calculator tutorial series be appreciated? To me the best thing that's happened to me in maths is learning RPN. So would a RPN tutorial be appreciated or is it just becoming a lost art?Quote from: tautech on April 20, 2016, 12:05:05 pmLooking back, when I created that thread it was rather silly IMO, and i'm awfully glad I didnt start the thread on StackOverflow, because its really a jungle out there

author: StuUK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 01:33:19 pm
content: Quote from: netwinder on April 20, 2016, 12:52:45 pmIt's a Hudl2

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2016, 01:59:20 pm
content: Hudl2, interesting. The reason why I asked was to find the screen resolution, and according to the specifications the newest version of the tablet has a 1920x1080 resolution, or the older version of the tablet has 1400x900. I did some testing using inspect element and i specified the resolution to be both 1920x1080 and 1400x900, and the navigation bar no longer takes up an obnoxious amount of space.Hopefully this helps

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2016, 08:15:48 pm
content: Back to the original topic: Any ideas for things i can write about? Any topics that I should cover?I'm just looking for content people will actually find interesting and useful, as the Arduino tutorials are more or less a placeholder for now

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2016, 08:53:00 am
content: Hey netwinder, good work. I do like that they are short enough my eyes don't glaze over things.I really like what you are doing!I don't have the toys to play with, but I really do find it very well laid out and informative.I dabble in all kinds of projects, know enough to adjust and fix some things (PHP, CSS etc).I always like inspiring ideas. I wish I had an endless pocket of money to play with.My particular area is PC's/Laptops and Graphic/Web. Though the latter drives me batty. (the people)Not really sure what to suggest, not sure what areas you can cover.Keep up the great work!

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2016, 11:37:57 pm
content: Quote from: imidis on April 23, 2016, 08:53:00 amThank you imidis!If you'd like me to cover any subjects let me know. Right now i'm working on I2C in arduino and some random Java posts, so if there's anything you'd want written id be happy to consider.I can cover a lot of things in programming, electronics, Linux, etc. Any ideas are appreciated.Thank you again

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2016, 09:48:53 pm
content: I would love to see something around custom made component power requirements and a power supply build.

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2016, 12:50:44 pm
content: Quote from: imidis on April 30, 2016, 09:48:53 pmThat does sound like an interesting build, would it be valuable to program a microcontroller as a power supply controller (providing i go the SMPS route), if not is there any special topologies i should cover?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 02, 2016, 02:00:57 pm
content: I've always liked the idea of a linear supply using, say, LM317's.Have a basic design and then have an extension where several are paralleled for higher current output. I've always thought it would be useful for one that could run up to 30-35V, but cover 12-15V at 10A. Great for automotive projects.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2016, 08:00:42 pm
content: Quote from: Brumby on May 02, 2016, 02:00:57 pmA pair of LM338's will do that.Some of their datasheets even have this circuit.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 06:10:04 am
content: LM338's won't go up to 35V.(I have a fistful of 317's I'd like to utilise.....)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 08:00:52 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on May 03, 2016, 06:10:04 amYou said:QuoteFrom LM338 Datasheet:The LM138 series of adjustable 3-terminal positive voltage regulators is capable of supplying in excess of 5A over a 1.2V to 32V output range32V is within your stated 30-35V range.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 01:00:03 pm
content: True - but in my heart I was looking at 35V because I had the silicon to do it.My bad

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 01:31:15 pm
content: Quote from: Brumby on May 02, 2016, 02:00:57 pmThat does sound like a project I could cover however the initiative at advtech is more or less to provide programming tutorials, less of electronics tutorials. However I can do some tutorials on that if need be.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 01:55:44 pm
content: Just throwing up some ideas...

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2016, 11:45:09 pm
content: Quote from: Brumby on May 07, 2016, 01:55:44 pmNo worriesIdeas are good.Recently I've hit writers block. I started to many segments at once and now I'm drowning in code.Thank you everybody for the support, I'm glad that my website is up and running and I have to thank this fourm for starting it

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2016, 02:16:45 am
content: Quote from: netwinder on April 20, 2016, 01:22:49 pmNo

author: netwinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2016, 09:00:32 pm
content: Quote from: ez24 on May 10, 2016, 02:16:45 amWhy not? I'm curious. Are people just less enthusiastic about manipulating numbers these days?