On Fri, 01 Sep 2006 09:45:18 +0200, Peter KÃhlmann wrote:
> Mark Kent wrote:
>
>> begin oe_protect.scr
>> [H]omer <spam@xxxxxxx> espoused:
>>> Mark Kent wrote:
>>>
>>>> These days, which kids are buying resistors, transistors, diodes,
>>>> capacitors and soldering them together on veroboard
>>>
>>><wave>
>>>
>>> I dabble in various hardware projects, mainly PC modding related, but
>>> also audiophile stuff. It's not really that difficult to build amps and
>>> radios (especially working from "kits").
>>>
>>> I'm surprised nobody here ever worked out what the "[H]" in "[H]omer"
>>> was before :) <clue>.
>>>
>>> In fact I've been an AEE since the days of Practical Electronics
>>> magazine, which I got into through subscribing to its sister
>>> publication Practical Computing (now *there* was a *real* Computer
>>> magazine).
>>>
>>> Recent projects include:
>>>
>>> . PIR motion detector powered cat deterent, with water cannon .
>>> Ultrasonic insect repellent
>>> . And of course, a "Killer Robot"Â
>>>
>>> Well ... everyone has to have of those, don't they? :)
>>>
>>> I could have bought any of those prebuilt, of course, (well maybe not
>>> the Killer Robot), but that would've taken all the fun out of it.
>>>
>>> My next project is a home security system, including networked CCTV.
>>> I'm hoping to integrate it into a MythTV media server somehow, so I can
>>> call up any of the "cams" like switching channels on the TV.
>>>
>>>
>> Sounds like some interesting stuff. I still dabble in Amateur Radio,
>> but even that's barely worth building anything now, as commercial items
>> are so inexpensive, particularly if you avoid the "branded" items. For
>> example, an RS232 level converter from yaesu for my radio was about
>> Ã30, whereas an aftermarket one was Ã15. I thought about making one,
>> but if I can buy one for Ã15, it's hardly worth it.
>>
>> My no1 son has an electronics kit which he's gradually working through,
>> building various projects; it's a solderless one, which at his age, is
>> probably fair enough, but he's more or less old enough to start doing
>> things the "hard way", I think.
>>
>> Are there any more hobbiest electronics mags?
>>
>>
> In germany two remain.
> And I agree, most of the stuff one can build oneself is now (financially)
> no longer worth the trouble. That was different years ago I still do some
> electronics myself. But I haven't used my two-channel Osci since at least
> a year
Even if one wants to build their own, it is definitely cheaper to buy
modules and put them together to build custom kit.
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