My first "proper" electronics book...  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:44:24 pm
content: Ahh, memoriesI remember buying from Tandy (or maybe it was given to me) this amazing book by Forrest M. Mims:"Getting Started in Electronics", back when I was a teenager:I know I have it in the house *somewhere*, but do you think I can find it? Nope. I've resorted to finding a PDF version and printing it out with my laser printer, until I find my REAL copy (and can you believe the originals are about £20-50 on Amazon?!). I used to read this book inside out when I was younger, then it was abandoned, as happens, and then it surfaced again around 5 years ago.. then disappeared againSUCH A GOOD BOOK!Ahhh... the memories...

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 11:12:21 pm
content: indeed. as well as all of the "mini" notebooks.

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 11:14:36 pm
content: Quote from: deth502 on January 21, 2014, 11:12:21 pmYes; I had a few of those too... also gone AWOL.

author: denelec
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 11:30:42 pm
content: I have the same.Bought it at Radio-Shack about 30 years ago for $3.59.I remember being amazed at how clearly it was written.It was a must for a beginner.

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 11:34:25 pm
content: Quote from: denelec on January 21, 2014, 11:30:42 pmYes, Mr Mims is obviously King of clarity - I whole-heartedly agree with you!It still IS a must for beginners; not an "Arduino" in site... ahhh!

author: denelec
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 11:54:52 pm
content: I also got a few of the mini notebooks. They sold for $1.59. Great value.I wonder, what do beginners read today as an introduction to electronics?

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:26:05 am
content: My Dad had a couple of years of these in a box in a high closet, when he died in 1971 I inherited them.

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:31:26 am
content: Quote from: denelec on January 21, 2014, 11:54:52 pmWhencompletenovices enter the field, I have no doubt that this will be one of the first "essential" books recommended to them...I mean, why learn Ohm's law when Arduino can config a resistor array, and do all that "hard stuff" for you?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:35:46 am
content: Quote from: rolandpenplotter on January 22, 2014, 12:31:26 amQuote from: rolandpenplotter on January 21, 2014, 09:44:24 pmHave you checked under your dead horse?

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:39:48 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on January 22, 2014, 12:35:46 amI don't have a dead horse to flog; I flogged it to the knacker's yard for glue.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:52:54 am
content: I may have mentioned this before, but the excellent Ladybird Book from my local library next to my primary school, "Making a Transistor Radio". From the days of germanium diodes and PNP transistors in mysterious black bullet cases. Not to forget those fantastic rotary multi plate capacitors and self wound ferrites.http://www.we0h.us/Amateur_Radio_stuff/Books/Making-A-Transistor-Radio-by-George-Dobbs/Making-A-Transistor-Radio-by-George-Dobbs.htmlBeautiful artwork - and yes, the audio transformer with curly wires, and high-Z crystal earpiece really did look just like that from the town centre electronic parts shop in the 1970s! The wood and brass screws too.I would love to make one again, but having recently restored an ancient valve radio, only to find nothing other than BBC World Service broadcasting on the LW/MW band there is probably no point any more!Also TRF is an insult to an electronics engineer, superheterodyne is where it's at baby, yeah!(OK, now SDR is where it's at)Great book though!

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:59:56 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on January 22, 2014, 12:52:54 amOh yeah! I have that one too (unless my Mum got rid of it...)

author: denelec
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 01:12:26 am
content: Yeah. I remember building cristal sets with my electronic kit and experimenting differents designs with transistors when I was a kid.I only had a rudimentary view on how electronic components worked (I hadn't bought Forrest Mims book yet).Today, it wouldn't be possible anymore as there is nothing to be heard on the AM band.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 01:16:12 am
content: Oh well, I am sure you will have plenty of old books by the voracious and inimitable "R. A. Penfold"

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 01:18:00 am
content: Quote from: denelec on January 22, 2014, 01:12:26 amIs there trulynothingwhere you live, or just nothing good? Around here we still have conservative talk shows and the Praise Jesus dudes on AM.I'm sure a (very) simplistic (and awful) FM receiver could be similarly constructed.

author: baljemmett
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 03:46:15 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on January 22, 2014, 01:16:12 amAh, yes, the Bernard Babani Publishing displays (in all good bookshops!) were great fun. Probably still have a handful of R. A. Penfold's works in boxes in the garage...My first introduction to the subject was almost certainly through an Usborne book - I thinkFun With Electronics- I definitely remember building the crystal radio from that, and probably the accompanying amplifier too. Obviously a book aimed at children, though, so probably doesn't count as 'proper'