Hobby Electronics Training in Houston, TX - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: farlander762
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2021, 11:43:06 pm
content: I've reviewed the available boards for the best one to use and none really seem to fit so I'm posting here...Does anyone know of some evening courses or an electronics club in the Houston area? I can watch YouTube videos as well as anyone but tend to drift a bit so would prefer some in-person training. Even the community colleges don't seem to have much for the basics of electronics. I'm not looking for a degree, already have two, just wanting to be able to play around without frying everything I attempt. I did buy classes on Open University and Udemy and will be working through them.I understand what many of the various components do but building them into a circuit escapes me. I can even do limited troubleshooting but would like to be able to do "real" troubleshooting or build my own gizmos. I can spot the power supply circuitry from the "working" circuitry on a board and somewhat follow a circuit diagram. Modern modular designs make that easier.Thanks!

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 12:24:32 am
content: I suggest you join a ham radio club. Or an antique radio club. Many members of those love to teach newbies.

author: farlander762
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 01:16:09 am
content: That could actually work! My mom and sister both had ham licenses AND RADIOS! Both sets are sitting at my dad's house unloved right now. I just need to go grab them and then get the license.

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 02:34:10 am
content: That's great! I recommend starting with HF, 30 MHz and below, to learn about circuits. The higher frequency stuff is more finicky and harder to learn.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 05:13:06 am
content: Course level stuff (in other words, mostly math):Khan Academy, noted for their math tutorials, also has an Electrical Engineering track. It's pretty good!https://www.khanacademy.org/science/electrical-engineeringDigilent has an EE program that is primarily theory and math during the tutorials but there is a lab manual, printable notes and so on. It's call 'Real Analog'.https://learn.digilentinc.com/classroom/realanalog/There a 'Primers ...' sticky thread at the top of this forum.Here's a playlist for EEVblog's Fundamental Fridays (some math but much more practical)https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvOlSehNtuHtWlH0UOZNtOn-FlFCn1GYww2aew video playlistshttps://www.youtube.com/user/w2aew/playlists

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 10:04:24 am
content: Two Hacker Spaces exist in the greater Houston area. Some of them are setup for electronics so look them up and show up on open night. Also see if they have any repair cafes near you, there might be a friendly electronics guy who volunteers at one.It helps to learn electronics if you have a purpose, so find something to assemble repair or design and then start asking questions or looking for answers. You'll need a multimeter, soldering iron and power supply to get started, as you get more serious about diagnosing issues an oscilloscope is the next step.

author: farlander762
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 12:34:26 pm
content: I have two good multimeters, several others, two good soldering stations, lacking a good variable PSU (but have dozens of regulated and unregulated supplies), and I just bought one of those FNIRSI tablet O-scopes because it was cheap and portable. I put a label over it's specs stating 30 MHz and 100MSa/s based on Dave's and other reviews. I may order a Siglent 1204X-E on Friday when I get paid. On a different thread, tautech also recommended a Siglent SDG1032X function generator.I had never heard of a repair cafe, it seems there have been some events but not for the last couple of years. I'll look at the hackerspaces.Thanks!

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 12:45:35 pm
content: I hear what you are saying. For the past five years or so I have been teaching myself basic electronics, mostly from online sources, YT etc. The problem is I become easily distracted by interesting circuits or components and go off on a tangent. This slows the process down tremendously. With Covid keeping me away from any group settings, if there were any, I decided to go with The Art of Electronics books, particularly the lab manual. I found gently used second edition copies of both books from online used book sellers for about $15 each. If you start on page one of the lab manual, and with great discipline, work your way through to the end of the transistor chapter you will get a very good handle on the basics. I concentrate on the lab manual, using the big text book as a reference. For equipment, a used Analog Discovery usb scope/wave gen and a couple of the $25 Aneng 8009 DMM's will take you a long way. The key is discipline to keep from getting distracted and going down rabbit holes, I am still working on that.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 02:09:02 pm
content: Is TX/RX labs still operating? It seems they took a hiatus during the pandemic. But, it was an incredible maker space, with a strong focus on electronics.Yup, looks like they are back in operation!Jon

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 02:46:42 pm
content: Quote from: Old Printer on August 24, 2021, 12:45:35 pmIn my view, education should have a purpose, at least for me. Learn what you need to know for the next project, that kind of thing. I find w2aew's videos on transistors quite good and I refer to them on this site quite often but I don't tend to use transistors for anything beyond a driver. Audio just doesn't interest me. Other people play in that corner of the sandbox exclusively.I could never work through the lab manual in sequence. There are too many interesting projects to build and I can learn on the way.I wouldn't overlook the Forrest Mims series of books available new at Amazon and used at Alibris. "Getting Started In Electronics" is pretty good but there is an entire collection to select from.I totally agree about the Analog Discovery 2 but I'm not as enthusiastic at the new price. Back when it was $279, I thought it was the best thing in hobby electronics. It still is, it's just a lot more expensive. Sometimes projects have to be scaled to work at the lower voltages supplied by the AD2 (unless you use an external supply) and inputs are voltage limited but these are easy restrictions to work around. For those wanting an entire bench full of equipment for a reasonable price (yes, even at the new price), the AD2 is the way to go.The real art of electronics is deciphering datasheets. That, and writing code. It seems like most hobby electronics is drifting toward uCs.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 02:55:31 pm
content: Quote from: farlander762 on August 24, 2021, 12:34:26 pmI bought the Siglent SDG2082 generator a couple of years ago. It is a great tool! But you have to read the specs! The unit will generate a 200 MHz sine wave but square waves and other waveshapes are limited to 25 MHz. If square waves are the primary interest, there's not much point in buying the 80 MHz variant.The SDG1032 will serve very well.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 03:13:50 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on August 24, 2021, 02:46:42 pmI noticed recently Diligent was offering a $200 discount on the AD2 "IF" you purchased $100 worth of something of theirs, I forget exactly what it was, but my point here is maybe they are feeling the pinch since their last large price hike. I love the AD & AD2 but when it is equal or above the price of a quality entry level scope it looses a lot of it's shine.

author: farlander762
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 03:25:46 pm
content: QuoteI've had a copy of this book for probably 30 years. I had forgotten about it. Back when it was the green cover version. I think there's actually a couple of copies around here. Last I looked him up, Mr. Mims lives in Texas. I actually got several friends through basic electricity in A&P school with this book. Smiling electrons seem to be very helpful.My mom was directed to that book in her educational material provided for her ham radio license.

author: sicco
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 03:41:08 pm
content: Check outhttps://epohouston.com/They’re on Fondren Road, nearby Katy Freeway & Westheimer As you can see in the pictures on their website, the place is a mix of an active shop selling electronic parts (from the pre SMD era - everything…), blended in what’s maybe more a museum of what such shops were like in the past millennium, but also a place where hobbiest get together an do training sessions. Great selection of old instruments also.

author: farlander762
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 09:53:04 pm
content: Yup. I've been to EPO in Webster many times. They're closed for remodel right now though.I need to get over to EPO Houston, just haven't made it there yet.

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2021, 11:06:55 pm
content: Quote from: farlander762 on August 24, 2021, 09:53:04 pmYes, both stores were owned by the same people at one time, but EPO Webster has been resold several times in the last thirty years, in fact was just resold a couple of years ago. (Could be new owner now, I have lost track). But Webster EPO used to have an abundance of very old components available from surplus sellers. It used to have an old train set that circled the cash counter as well. I loved going there and would peruse all of the old and unusual components for hours. They were very inexpensive back then as well.Last time I was there a couple of years ago, they still had some old components, but the new owner was selling off a lot of the inventory and was repairing computers.

author: farlander762
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2021, 08:52:52 pm
content: Yup. That sounds like Santos. He does a lot of repair work. I like him.