The Future Of Hobby Electronics.

[T.Jackson]

> In most subjects you are "continuously educated" ...

A very wise man I once knew always quoted an old Polish saying to us youngsters... "education does not end at school but at death" ...cheerful kinda guy...

I agree, in most walks of life you are always being "continuously educated".
But I think, it's much more so a case of this with anything that's technical.

In any professional field you never stop learning. But in any professional technical field, the re-occurrence of a whole new learning curve is by far much more frequent. For example; a doctor spends 6 years at UNI, graduates, finds a job. In a period of say, a year, what's likely to change in this field? My guess is new or improved medication and not much else.

Consider the same scenario for an engineer. What's likely to change in a year?
A bloody lot more! I recall my old college teacher telling me that a technician
can render themselves redundant within 5 years of finishing their trade it they don't constantly revise things. This could mean a whole new learning curve if you've been out of it for too long. So far as to say redoing the entire trade again. Can't picture a doctor ever having to redo UNI.

Trent Jackson

[Luciano]

Hi,

(Inspired by the first post in this thread).

Nowadays for young people without formal education there are no possibilities of
a career as a technician if their experience is just hobby electronics.

* * *

After a X years career as technicians without formal education, people are unable to
find new jobs in the same field. The main reason is that the job market is saturated
with highly qualified young candidates with formal education which can afford to work
for less money. (Young = no family, no mortgage, ...).

As an unemployed technician without formal education (age 30-40), going back to school
and get a degree will help me find a good job? Will I be able to compete in today's tough job market?

Best regards,

Luciano

[T.Jackson]

Hi Luciano

I agree with what you're saying.

Today, without a formal education the prospects of a job, in any field are next to none. In Australia, most technicians today are actually entry level, fully qualified engineers. Seldom they repair, often they swap boards and liaise with clients. I quite often see such jobs advertised.

Being educated in one particular area doesn't necessarily mean that you'll get to apply these skills on the job. A qualified engineer who spends most of their time liaising with clients will undoubtedly have little time left in putting their skills in say, Protel, in practice. But just having this skill set makes this person smarter in whatever they choose to do in life. At the moment I'm studying Discrete Mathematics unit, quite possibly I may never actually get to apply these newly acquired skills in life. Not directly anyway. Definitely No plans on becoming a mathematician.

Another such industry that was in a similar disaster about 10 years back was Graphic Arts. 1,000's of qualified trades people, one minute on top $$$, next minute given the ultimatum: learn how to use a computer or lose your job. A lot of people just simply couldn't "grasp" it. Which is fair enough, they're from the old school and you have to respect this. In some sense technology can be quite very evil. No one deserves to lose their lively hood because of it.

Best Regards,
Trent Jackson

[RussMartin]

This thread has been fun for me to read and think about.

It certainly stimulates a lot of memories!

For me, it all started the summer I turned 12 (that would be 1962). I was twiddling the dial of my mother's table-model Zenith (it had AM broadcast but also two short-wave bands). I happened, quite accidentally, to find a tiny little wedge on the dial where guys were just talking to each other, interjecting odd combinations of letters and numbers.

I had discovered ham radio on 40 meters!

I asked my Assistant Scoutmaster (yes, I was a Boy Scout, too) about it. He wasn't a ham, but he knew some of them and introduced me. And, oh yes, he owned a television repair shop and invited me to drop in after school any time I wished.

One of the great thrills in my life was Christmas, 1963, when I was 13. Under the tree was a kit--a Hallicrafters S-199K "Sky Buddy II" receiver (I still have it.)

I could go on and on but, mercifully, I won't.

Anyway, electronics has given me much enjoyment, both as a hobby and as a profession, for a lot of years. And so has amateur radio. (I just realized I've been licensed for 43 years!)

Either my fingers are getting bigger or the parts are getting smaller . . .

[Pic_User]

I don’t know about you, but I think part of the fun of this forum, is the fact we are from all-over the world.

I am an old phart, and fascinated that someone from one continent can help answer a question from someone from another continent. Then someone from a third continent, or country adds even more help. All in a matter of minutes (+/- a time zone or two)

Not linked because we are all working for one company, or government or even club. Linked by our interests, PBP (and electronics) and the desire to help others.

This may be the future of the electronics enthusiasts. Exchanging ideas, help, arguments via the internet. We don’t live next-door to each other but we are a neighborhood of “think-alike-s ” (or think-somewhat-alike-s). Not alike in geographical, political, other terms but alike in specific interests.

Interests that we choose to spend our spare time doing. Sure there are professionals on here, that’s the best part. The pros are as interested in the fun of electronics as the hobbyist. That’s what make this work. The rest of what makes this work, is the hobbyist, asking questions one month and helping the next.

I think that is what makes us less tolerant of a “school project” or a “copy / paste” DMX code questions. These type of posts look like the post-er is mostly interested in the final product, the “destination”. Our ilk (type) seem to “enjoy the journey”. If we don’t know how we got there, we are not happy. We go back and try it again, just to understand. The school project” or “copy / paste” DMX code people tend to be hit and run forum people.

Of course, along with this internet rant, is the issue of buying electronic components online. The neighborhood stores are becoming extinct, true. eBay and online suppliers are filling the gap. I bought electronic parts from local stores in the 1950’s. In-case you don’t know or remember, everything was in black and white, in those days. We never saw color before it was invented in the 1960’s. It was interesting to find out what color my clothes were!

Web pages of electronic projects and ideas may be the future hobby magazine.

So it looks like the future of the electronics hobbyists may be shifting a bit but the neighborhood just got a lot bigger.

2cents,
-Adam-

[Ryan7777]

But why do we use PIC micros? I mean, I remember using tons of logic IC's that I can still get from about 10 different sources just thinking off the top of my head.. But I can do all that work in code and have just a few parts. Why mess with a 555 timer when i can code one and have it do exactly what i want? change is just part of it. Sometimes because we want an easier path, sometimes because the path changes on us. The old timers will still find a way to get DIPs that do what they need, the younger guys will grow up on surface mount and not have a bit of problem doing it. I mean guys are using wal-mart toaster ovens to reflow! the price of hot air irons have dropped way down. I can get a second hand analog scope that works fine for next to nothing now, and if i want, a PC based digital one for not much more... things change, but we always find a way... As far as HAM goes, i've never had an interest in it.. I mean sure, you get to play with electronics, but to a means to talk to people over a radio.. I like the phone myself.. So it may drive some people to get into electronics, but not everyone. and you guys should try working for the government or military, pretty much everything is old, old, old... and will remain that way for a long time (if you love tubes, you'll fit right in...) you might not get in as a GOV employee, but contractors are always in hot demand.. But.. if you are doing this as a hobby and to learn, now is the perfect time to be doing it! I love learning about new parts, I love learning about new tools and ways to do things. figuring out a way forward is the best part in my opinion!

[RussMartin]

But why do we use PIC micros? I mean, I remember . . .

I'm old enough (fortunately or not) to remember many arguments starting in the same way:

"But why do we use transistors? I mean, I remember . . . "

"But why do we use integrated circuits? I mean, I remember . . . "

"But why do we use microprocessors? I mean, I remember . . . "

I've seen the advent of SSI, LSI, and VLSI.

Yet I look around, and I still see vacuum tubes in kilowatt and megawatt applications (as well as high-end consumer audio), discrete transistors, and integrated circuits (including ASICs and PLAs).

And any old ham will tell you: There's nothing like building your own stuff, then proving it works by using it to talk to someone hundreds or thousands of miles away--wireless! It sure as hell beats a "blinky".

Electronics is an art, not a science.