To My Readers



If this is the first time you're visiting my blog, thank you. Whether you're interested or just curious to find out about PCB reverse engineering (PCB-RE), I hope you'll find something useful here.

This blog contains many snippets of the content in my books to provide a more detailed overall sampling for my would-be readers to be better informed before making the purchase. Of course, the book contains more photos and nice illustrations, as evidence from its cover page. Hopefully, this online trailer version will whet your appetite enough to want to get a copy for yourself.

Top Review

I started doing component level repair of electronics with (and without) schematics more than 40 years ago, which activity often involves reverse-engineering of printed circuit boards. Although over the years my technical interests have shifted into particle beam instrumentation, electron microscopy, and focused ion beam technology fields, till this day——and more often than not——PCB repairs have returned multiple multi-million-dollar accelerators, FIB, and SEM instruments back to operation, delivering great satisfaction and some profit.

Many of the methods described by Keng Tiong in great details are similar to the approaches I've developed, but some of the techniques are different, and as effective and useful as efficient and practical. Systematic approach and collection of useful information presented in his books are not only invaluable for a novice approaching PCB-level reverse engineering, but also very interesting reading and hands-on reference for professionals.

Focus on reverse engineering instead of original design provides unique perspective into workings of electronics, and in my opinion books by Keng Tiong (I've got all three of them) are must-read for anybody trying to develop good understanding of electronics——together with writings by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill, Phil Hobbs, Jim Williams, Bob Pease, Howard Johnson and Martin Graham, Sam Goldwasser, and other world's top electronics experts.

Valery Ray
Particle Beam Systems Technologist

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Three D's of RE

PCB reverse engineering is by no means an easy task. Very often, it is laborious because of the repetitive nature in finding and ascertaining the electrical connections between components. Also, being able to constantly visualize the schematic diagram that is slowly taking shape and having to realign the various portions of a circuitry to ensure readability requires certain artistic affinity—a skill that can usually be picked up and refined only with practice.

Ultimately, it comes down to three essential traits that a person who wants to engage in such a work must possess in order to be able to successfully complete the task:

Determination

A 'never say die' attitude is important especially when faced with the constant frustration of not being able to locate the electrical connections to make sense out of the partial schematic diagram. This is not to say that one must be insistent on finding the 'missing link' and gets stuck on one particular part of the PCB, and not able to make further progress. Working smart is just as important as working hard!

Discipline

Being focused, systematic and maintaining a careful work practice are necessary to avoid unwanted mistakes that can prove to be both time–wasting and confusing, perhaps even to the point it demoralizes you. Many engineers have the habit of diving straight into a project or task without giving thought to at least some planning or preparation work. This is a BIG mistake that will pay grave dividends—believe me—I made them myself and thankfully survived to regret (and learn from) it!

Dedication

Nothing can replace the satisfaction of seeing a task complete if a person does not take ownership of the work and prides himself or herself in the thing he or she is doing. After all the end product bears the signature of the craftsman!
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