how old are you people? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: d4n13l
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2018, 10:12:32 pm
content: Hello everyone,I decided a little while ago I wanted to learn electronics, just for the fun of it. And to really commit I went and bought some parts, a multimeter and an oscilloscope.. It's been a little tough starting from basically zero and on my own, specially when often I lack free time, but I really enjoy it.Anyway, I have posted just a little but everyone has been very friendly and helpful, so I'm just wondering about the demographics here, if you're willing to share. I guess most of you do this professionally? but are many also just learning? how old are you?Btw I'm 30 years old and do plant research for a livingwhich I guess must be weird to find here..

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2018, 10:23:11 pm
content: From what I remember there is a "polling" feature as part of the forum (or maybe I saw it on others). Anyways, you could create a poll/survey and have people anonymously click different age range options to get some idea. It will be biased and of course totally arbitrary as to who wants to divulge that info but again it may give you some insight. I would guess that the age ranges here run the gamut from teens to college grads to people just starting off in the industry, to veterans and even retirees. One of the advantages of these forums of course is also that whatever your age, sex, ethnicity, religion, politics and what have you, we all can assume the character of our handle name and thumbnail and be whatever you want to be! Because at the end of the day, none of that other stuff really matters anyways.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2018, 11:13:21 pm
content: There are three ages here:People that know a lot ,people that know less andpeople that wouldn't be able to figure out how many buckets they have without help If you have one bucket that holds 5 gallons and a bucket that holds 3 gallons, how many buckets do you have?

author: Syntax_Error
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2018, 11:16:52 pm
content: Quote from: DimitriP on July 31, 2018, 11:13:21 pmThreeve, obviously.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 12:25:11 am
content: I would have 5.I already have a 2 gallon (9 litre) bucket in the laundry and two more in the garage.

author: SpanishVikingNorCalEE
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 12:30:55 am
content: I recall things being much cleaner when I was young. Then some idiot invented Dirt. Now it's everywhere and "clean-rooms" became a thing. Ha ha.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 12:42:55 am
content: How old?1. Too young to care, a couple years ago this would be the YOLO group2. Young and foolhardy3. Somewhat careful but still like to “see what happens”4. Age that would like to “see what happens” but concerned about the overall costs5. Old enough to know better, but…….6. Old enough to care that you keep all of your body intact7. Old enough to thoroughly think through the risks before acting8. Retired9. Too old to worry about it anymore10. What was the question?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 12:58:19 am
content: Quote from: Gregg on August 01, 2018, 12:42:55 am#7 for me.

author: bsfeechannel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 02:26:52 am
content: When I was born, leaded solder was legal and marijuana was illegal. Now do the math.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 02:37:39 am
content: I remember TV stations (what's cable TV?) signing off at midnight ...

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 02:58:02 am
content: Quote from: bsfeechannel on August 01, 2018, 02:26:52 amThe answers to these are country (and in the case of the US, state) specific.In my case, both are still true, at least for my purposes.I only need lead-free if I want to produce new commercial product. For hobby use and repairs, no problem.Marijuana is illegal without a prescription in my state. And technically illegal federally in any case, although that isn't really enforced much when the state laws are in conflict.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 03:09:03 am
content: When did UHF TV get started? I remember when we got our third TV station. It was on UHF and my grandfather had to take our TV to have a converter added so we could watch it. My age was probably still in the single digits at that time.Quote from: xrunner on August 01, 2018, 02:37:39 am

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 04:01:24 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on August 01, 2018, 02:37:39 amMe too.

author: bsfeechannel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 04:37:59 am
content: Quote from: Nusa on August 01, 2018, 02:58:02 amGood point. I meant in most places of course.(And TVs signed off at midnight too.)

author: d4n13l
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 05:22:39 am
content: haha loved all the answers, thank you

author: geekGee
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 05:39:17 am
content: I remember having to get my arse out of the chair and go to the TV to change the channel.There were only two channels to choose from so not a huge inconvenience.I also recall the first TV remote I ever saw was a Zenith that used ultrasound... I thought that was so cool.So what was the purpose of this topic anyway?

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 05:55:11 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on August 01, 2018, 02:37:39 amI worked at some like that.The first lot were attended transmitting stations where we had to close down everything at night,The Log would read:-2355 GSTQ (later AAF)*2400 HT off0010 Fils off.We would then wait for the Transmitter blowers to shut down, knock off the main breakers, do a quick security check, turn off unrequired equipment, including most of the lights, close the building & go home.*Oz didn't want to rush into things, so we used "God Save The Queen" for many years, before finally making Advance Australia Fair" the official anthem in 1984.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 05:59:02 am
content: Quote from: geekGee on August 01, 2018, 05:39:17 amHa, I remember the first TV I saw that didn't use ultrasoundor Infra red (not the first remote I'd seen, but such an oddity it stuck in my memory), it used tuned bars of some metal and had little mechanical hammers to make them 'ring'

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 06:03:22 am
content: Quote from: geekGee on August 01, 2018, 05:39:17 amThe first unwired remote I saw was on an AEI/Ekco back in 1959 or '60.It also used ultrasound, but the most impressive thing was the big mother of a motor which turned the turret tuner via what looked like a motorbike chain.The sound of one of those things churning from one end of its range to the other was something to chill the spine.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 07:22:34 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on August 01, 2018, 02:37:39 amMe too, but that stopped AT MOST 20 years ago

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 07:37:37 am
content: Quote from: Gregg on August 01, 2018, 12:42:55 amProbably 5 for the most part. My dad is similar, however. He decided that, he himself, without any decent power tools, and just a bow saw should cut down a very large branch (around 2 feet in diameter, maybe more) off the willow tree in our back yard. I, being the responsible, intelligent, and lazy person I am, decided to help him out, with the most impressively stupid moment being when he ran out of steam to cut through the rest of the branch's base, resulting in me climbing up the ladder with a pickaxe, substituting as a regular axe, and bring the rest of the branch down.This branch happened to be above our wooden carport, which has a roof made of some weird cardboard-ish fibreglass something or rather (it's really the consistency of very strong, thick cardboard as of this point, but still cardboard). The branch of course fell on it, and didn't go straight through, it wasn't big enough for that, but still managed to puncture a few fist sized holes into the roof.So afterwards, me, my dad, and our neighbor, who wasn't notified that we were doing this, but didn't mind helping along with what ended up on her property anyways, cut down most of the smaller stuff until we were left with a massive chunk of log on the carport roof that was too annoying to get through by hand. It stood there for a few days before one of my dad's coworkers came by with a chainsaw and sliced it into movable chunks.This of course left our yard a massive mess, which was cleaned up over the course of a couple days. At least I saved some of the chunks of wood, which ended up going to craigslist for whoever wanted it, for use in our electric smoker. As it turns out, Willow is a really nice wood for smoking, and sort of tastes like chocolate and coffee.Reading back through this extended ramble, perhaps I belong in category 10, but for what it's worth, and to answer the question, I am 16.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 09:17:11 am
content: Old enough that I should know better, young enough at heart that I don't care that I don't.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 04:03:30 pm
content: Fourteen years as an 8 - retired.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 05:42:24 pm
content: Old enough to have watched black and white TV with 3 VHF channels because there was no color and none of this remote kind of rubbish. I was the remote for my parents.

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 06:13:07 pm
content: Sputnik...

author: medical-nerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 07:24:34 pm
content: Snooker on a black and white portable as a kid - and still recognising the colours.

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 09:30:42 pm
content: Quote from: Gregg on August 01, 2018, 12:42:55 amPhysically a solid 8. Mentally getting to (who am I kidding - I'm past ) the point where I'm recognizing things I used to be able to do mentally, right off the top of my head, but sometimes escape me now. Even if I tell no one, it's embarrassing.

author: med6753
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 09:54:46 pm
content: My signature is all you need to know.

author: Muxr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 09:57:06 pm
content: My first computer was not an iPad! It was a ZX Spectrum.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 10:00:16 pm
content: Quote from: med6753 on August 01, 2018, 09:54:46 pmLikewise.https://youtu.be/pCCdT_THQzw

author: pelule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 10:22:49 pm
content: When I started my professsional, tubes where still common in electronics. The first computer I worked with, filled a room and was programmed using a teletyper- Now do that math./PeLuLe

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 12:03:02 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on August 01, 2018, 02:37:39 amI vaguely remember that, I have no recollection of when they switched to 24 hour broadcast though. In many ways I think TV was much better in those days. The channels didn't have logos and animated garbage superimposed over the content, they didn't edit or speed up shows to pack in more commercials, the commercials tended to be less annoying and abstract, there was still a reasonable variety of content. Now it's 300 channels of ad and logo infested reality garbage.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 01:57:07 am
content: Welcome to the forum, d4n13l. You're still a young'n, so no worries about just getting started.I'm older than the Internet. *faint*

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 02:07:29 am
content: Old enough that many of my compatriots and I made our first radio using an oatmeal box, lots of wire, a pencil and a razor blade.

author: d4n13l
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 02:26:22 am
content: @bitseeker I used to think that was my case also when I was just becoming a teenagerI got to see how people started to get personal computers and internet became a thing with cybercafés popping in every corner in my city, this back in the 90s in Mexico, now of course I know that happened earlier in other countries and that internet was actually born maybe a couple decades before that. It's not the appearance of color TV but technologically speaking a significant moment to be a part of I think.Anyway, yes, I think it's never too late to learn something, so, thanks for the welcome.

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 04:59:20 am
content: Old enough for you to get off my lawn.

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 05:13:34 am
content: Daniel, I was born during the Korean war, I saw the news when Sputnik was launched and then I watched president Kennedy announce the intentions of the US to reach the moon by the end of the decade on TV. I watched the coverage of the Apollo One fire and all of the different missions. I was glued to the TV for any coverage of the missions. I then watched men land on the moon and so on and so forth. I started in electronics in the '70s and dabbled ever since. I guess you will have to look the dates of those events up...After working for NASA for 3.5 years at the high bay training building 9, I started working at Boeing on the commercial crew systems in 2012 and I have just finished my stint on the project and will probably move on to other commercial and military projects for Boeing despite that it is time for my retirement. In fact, I will continue to work as long any company continues to hire me because I love electrical work and always have. Perhaps this is what you really wanted to know from the start?Hope this helps...

author: d4n13l
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 05:46:50 am
content: I asked just to get a feeling of the people here.. When I was maybe 15 years old I started hanging out with a group of guys promoting free software. We used to meet and talk about projects some of them have, or just discuss linux related stuff, I loved it. They were probably in college at the time and obviously everyone their own stuff but all shared at least one interest in common, and they helped me to catch up quick. Anyway this forum reminded me of that, I think it's great.

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 06:34:17 am
content: In my head, I reached about 28 and stopped there. The calendar, somehow, as I KNOW nowhere near that much time has passed, puts me in my early 50s. I like that place in my head better...-Pat

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 12:42:56 pm
content: Quote from: tpowell1830 on August 01, 2018, 06:13:07 pmI was 10 months old when it launched.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 01:32:15 pm
content: Old enough, to know color TV was amazing! (coming from B/W)With a handfull of TV channels and no internet: Miami Vice, we stayed home for to watchThe "Walkman" was like a huge tape-deck strapped to your beltKeywords: ZX Spectrum, Commore 64, Kaypro II. My first Internet connection was a dial-up, I was online, but had not clue what to do. Just a shell (no mosaic), gopher, finger.Oh yeah, we played hide and seek!Yup, those where the days!

author: Alex Nikitin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 03:39:29 pm
content: Hmm, the first TV transmission I've watched in my life was on the 16th of June 1963 - in a neighbour's house on a TV with 5'' screen and a big lens in front of it. I was a small kid then though - you may work out how I know the exact date.CheersAlex

author: Tepe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 03:48:10 pm
content: Quote from: Alex Nikitin on August 02, 2018, 03:39:29 pmTereshkova in Vostok 6?

author: Alex Nikitin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 03:54:08 pm
content: Quote from: Tepe on August 02, 2018, 03:48:10 pmObviously.CheersAlex

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 08:21:42 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on August 02, 2018, 12:03:02 amHamm's Beer from the land of sky blue waterBucky Beaver "brusha-brusha-brusha with the new Ipana" toothpasteGillette and "look sharp, feel sharp" razor commercials"See the USA in your Chevrolet"and who can forget Olympia Beer and the Artesians?Not a really ancient commercial:

author: InductorbackEMF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2018, 09:10:43 pm
content: Sadly missed all the fun bits of ye old days,but on the bright side i get to make up for it now!Oh and seeing as 90% of folk on here could be my dad, that is my age for you.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2018, 04:05:30 am
content: your dadhmm, i was in England about 17 years ago, so unless your 16.. I'm probably not your dad.

author: InductorbackEMF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2018, 09:01:20 am
content: Well i am.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2018, 11:37:52 pm
content: Quote from: InductorbackEMF on August 03, 2018, 09:01:20 amuhohI didnt do it, you cant prove anyting....

author: bsfeechannel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2018, 12:33:57 am
content: In short this forum has people from all ages, including a bunch of grumpy old farts like me who are pleased to see that electronics is of interest to a whole new generation.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 04, 2018, 02:24:53 am
content: BACK IN MY DAY, REPAIRMAN USED MIRRORS.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2018, 02:55:36 am
content: Once upon a time, the only electronics I was around were a transistor radio and the van's ignition system.For after-dark light, we had kerosene lanterns.For water, we carried pails down the hill and filled them from a hand pump.For milk, we carried a milk pail to the neighbors dairy farm and got it fresh and unpasteurized.For refrigeration, we put stuff in the so-called cold cellar.For heat and cooking, we had the classic cast-iron stove.To fuel the stove, we had to saw logs with a hand-saw and later chop them up with an axe.The toilet didn't flush, but we sometimes dumped a scoop of lime down the outhouse pit to keep the smell down.There were no cell phones.(edit to fix typo)Once upon a time. I don't do much that way anymore, but many of you can't even imagine living without modern conveniences.

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2018, 04:51:16 am
content: Only a couple years before I became interested in electrical/electronic stuff, I was 10. We used to spend a few weeks at "the cottage". It was a 3-room log cabin on a plot of land leased by my grandfather on an island situated just off the mainland. My dad and his dad built it from a small camper and the trees they felled on the plot. When the water was low you could drive over to it. There was:No internetNo cell phonesNo satellite TVNo 911No hydroNo telephone linesNo generatorNo heat or AC of any kindNo trafficNo neighboursEntertainment was provided by a crank-up Victrola, by conversation around a campfire by the shore, by fishing or by playing hearts under a naphtha gas lamp and identifying the moths that collected on the front windows at night. Once a week we would trek into the nearest village for basic groceries and 50 lbs of ice for the ice box.It waswonderful.

author: geekGee
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 04, 2018, 02:02:56 pm
content: Quote from: Nusa on August 04, 2018, 02:55:36 amQuote from: basinstreetdesign on August 04, 2018, 04:51:16 amAhhh... sounds Utopian.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 04, 2018, 02:37:57 pm
content: BACK IN MY DAY, WE USED CELEPHANE TO COLOR OUR TV'S.what other colors did you need but green reddish-brown and blue for westerns anyway?b&w tv hack -https://trulyskrumptious.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/instant-color-tv-screen/

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2018, 03:08:55 pm
content: I was in my mid teens when channel 4 appeared. That was the start of the downfall.Quote from: medical-nerd on August 01, 2018, 07:24:34 pmFor those of you watching in black and white, the blue ball is the one next to the brown.

author: Alex Nikitin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2018, 04:25:38 pm
content: Quote from: Nusa on August 04, 2018, 02:55:36 amMy childhood was about the same with two exceptions - we had electric lights (no electric heating or cooling though, so the cellar was important) and on top of wooden logs we also used coal for heating. In winter it was not uncommon to wake up early in the morning and see some ice inside the house.CheersAlex

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2018, 12:14:34 am
content: Quote from: Nusa on August 04, 2018, 02:55:36 amA bit earlier for me, we had valve (tube) radios---- a "4valve" portable, & my brother's "regen" shortwave set.Our horse didn't have an ignition system!QuoteFor outside, yeah, but in the kitchen, we had a "Aladdin" mantle lamp----great light!QuoteOur well was never worth a damn, except for watering plants, so we had big galvanised water tanks fed off the house roof gutters.In summer, we sometimes had to take a 44gal (55 US) drum into town to fill up at the standpipe.( poor old horse didn't like that at all!)QuoteWe went one better, had our own cow!QuoteNo cold cellar, but the bottom of the "kitchenette", right near the cement floor was always pretty cool.We could also hang ( waterproof ) things in a big waterbag under a tree.QuoteWe did this, too, but our block was pretty big, so we could often pick up reasonable sized bits of wood in the bush.QuoteOurs was a "chemical toilet"----it had some special stuff which the "dunny seat" lid dispensed every time you closed it, which was supposed to de-odorise things.We ran out of the fancy stuff & used something else, can't remember what!QuoteNo phones---- full stop!Quote

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2018, 12:36:07 am
content: Quote from: KJDS on August 04, 2018, 03:08:55 pmFor a year or so before the introduction of colour TV on Oz, the stations were transmitting chroma, but no colour burst.Various " hackers" devised a "chroma lock" & were watching colour well before the official date.We had a Philips "k9" official receiver at my work, & discovered that we could do a simple " bodge" to do the same job.One problem was that it would sometimes lock up in the wrong phase.Nothing like watching "Pot black" with brown felt & green woodwork on the tables!