ROMCOM or RADCOM?

I'm more of an intellectual guy but my wife thinks I'm the romantic sort, especially when it comes to special occasions like her birthday and our anniversary, or when my mood dictates it. Maybe that's why I started out being trained on the RADCOM test station in my air force days; it turns out a change of just a letter or two does make a huge difference!

The good news is, I managed to complete Chapter 7 on Automated Test Equipment, though it took two extra days because I had to come out with some additional illustrations. Here's a two-page sample for my readers:

Since I have yet to hear from my engineer friend (probably he's on long Christmas holiday), I guess I'll have to start with Chapter 8, the topic on Thermal Imaging. Hope I can finish it by year end, if not another week would be just fine. By then, hopefully I'll hear from that friend so I can work on Chapter 6.

Will there be a Chapter 9? Well, I still haven't make up my mind yet. There's also the Appendices that needed some work as well. By the look of things, PCB Diagnostics will probably come out some time in February next year. Maybe it'll be on time for release on our anniversary. Now, what would my wife have to say about that?

O darling, you're such a RADCOM guy!

Well, I certainly hope not...

Ps: ROMCOM - romantic comedy

On Target or Off-Tangent?

No, I'm not talking about my current book writing per se. This morning I received a message from someone who asked if I'd still consider Target 3001 as a possible avenue for PCB-RE. I vaguely remember mentioning this tool in my trilogy, PCB-RE: Real-World Examples. Out of curiosity, I went over to the software vendor's website to have a look. Lo, and behold:

I mean, I was surprised that my book was featured and recommended on the webpage. But I can't helped laughing when I read the weird language that resembles English. It's probably Google-translated from some other foreign language, judging by the awkward sentence construction. Nonetheless, it should not diminish the effectiveness of the RE tool nor the 'fluency' of my book content (I hope). As one reader by the name Bob Ding remarked:

Have no fear of Mr. Ng's English; it's really good!

Wishing all my friends and readers a wonderful Christmas season of peace and cheer in these uncertain times! Stay safe and well...

 

Automated vs Automatic

"What's the difference?" You asked. Well, not by a stretch of two letters at the end, really. When I was first introduced to the concept of ATE, the initial impression was it's a machine that could do everything a test engineer could dream of. But after being initiated into the privileged circle and having acquired what there is to know, I've come to realize that it's far from all that I'd perceived.

Automatic? Only if the test engineer provides what it requires—interface fixture, cables and test program, then and only then will it do what it does best. Which is the reason why I personally feel that 'automated' would be a more befitting word for such test equipment.

Here is a two-page sample of the chapter:

Christmas is just round the corner so I hope this will add some festive cheer to all my readers out there. I'm halfway into writing the chapter. Hope to complete it by Christmas and start the next chapter. If my engineer friend can come back with the materials I requested, I will begin work on Chapter 6. If not, it will be Chapter 8. Make a guess on the topic.

That's all for now. Stay tune for more updates.

Ps: I've finally obtained permissions from two wonderful guys to use their projects for illustration in Chapter 4 Building Test Jigs, though the draft were already done in advance. That's good news which brought a tint of joy to the coming holiday seasons.

More Than Skin Deep

When a nurse takes your pulse, she's checking your heartbeat rate. When a doctor uses a sphygmomanometer, he's measuring your blood pressure. But when a TCM practitioner feels your pulses (it's not a spelling mistake), he's studying the state of your internal organs. Incredible? Yes. Impossible? No. Those who have worked on a clip-n-test benchtop tester will understand what I mean. While Signature Analysis detects failure more or less on the surface of every circuit node, these clip-n-test in-circuit testers can test the internals (organs) of integrated circuits.

Here's a two-page sample of what should have been Chapter 5 of my book PCB Diagnostics:

The thing is, I'm still waiting for some materials from my engineer friend who is a sales manager cum field support engineer and trainer of one of these remarkable equipment. His schedules are pretty tight so I'll have to put this chapter on hold and proceed to the next chapter—Automated Testing.

Currently I'm about 20% into the content (by estimate only). There is so much to write on this topic which I had intended to put into a series of four books (see Conceptual), but decided it's just not worth the time and energy to do so. The only consolation is I get to give it some honorable mention in this last engineering book of my writing career. If ever my works get the kind of exposure and recognition to make writing sustainable, I may have a reason to reconsider. My wife has put up patiently and supported this passion of mine for seven years, and that is enough for me.

So, on with Chapter 7...

5-6 Pick Up Sticks

Nursery rhymes are often educational though sometimes it can contain allegories that belong to the realm of fantasies. Thankfully, PCB Diagnostics is pretty down to earth despite some of its abstract concepts and approaches. But once you get it, the benefits follow.

I usually start writing my book after going through some mental gymnastics of organizing my topics based on past experiences and equipment I worked on, then draft the table of content and lay out the chapters in the order I expect to write. Sometimes, though, my intuition would play on me to skip a chapter and work on the next instead, which was what happened with the fifth and sixth chapters. And as always, following my hunch seemed like the right thing to do.

The past week I made quite good progress and almost completed Chapter 6. Then it dawn on me that I should re-number the order of these two chapters to make the thought flow more coherent. Indeed, it fit right straightaway. Here is a two-page sample of the re-ordered chapter:

Currently, I'm working on the new chapter titled 'Clip-n-Test'. There is a PCB candidate that I wanted to use as demonstration example for this diagnostic approach. And while I'm using the TCM diagnostic equivalent as introduction to this subject (like I did for the past chapters to engage my readers and make my writing more interesting, not dry and boring), I hope my engineering friend will provide me the necessary details and diagrams to flesh out this chapter's content.

Do keep a look out for further update.

A Chef's Signature Dishes

I'm a lover of gourmet food though it's only during festive seasons that I'll treat myself and my wife to a really good meal (within our means, of course!). So Chapter 6 on Signature Analysis seems like a great idea to write at this point leading up to the Christmas seasons. And I'm pleased to say that I'm making rather good progress, making up for some lost time.

Here's a two-page sample just to whet my readers' appetite (pun intended):

To those who are well-versed in this technique of PCB diagnosis, the introductory information may look elementary; but those who are new to it will appreciate and perhaps be thrilled to know about it. I will dish out more delectable signature dishes to satisfy my readers' taste buds after I've whipped up enough recipes (boy, am I feeling like a Masterchef now!).

Stay tune for more updates, and more importantly, stay safe during this festive period. Do help to spread the word and promote my works so I can bring my supportive wife to a good restaurant for her well-deserved Christmas break. Thanks!

Can I Have Your Autograph?

I'm finally done with Chapter 4 on Building Test Jigs, after completing the photo editing and Visio illustrations for three examples——one on test jig with enclosure, another using Arduino and the last with Raspberry Pi.

Here's a two-page sample for the first example:

After weighing in on the options, I decided to skip the next chapter and go on to writing Chapter 6 instead, on the subject of Signature Analysis. No, not the kind of handwriting signature (though I will touch on this aspect pertaining to TCM practices), but the kind related to electronic circuits.

I will put out a sample or two just for preview as I go along. And I'm sure my readers are going to get a kick out of it as much as I do writing about it. Hopefully I will complete this chapter before the festive bug bites me...

Hare and Tortoise

I have to admit I had trouble spelling 'tortoise' despite being able to pronounce it properly. Whenever I'm making great strides in my writing, I feel like the hare breezing towards the milestone I set for the chapter I'm currently working on. That's provided I'm not experiencing mind freeze or suffering from an inspiration deficit, or having to attend to essential matters that interrupt my thought flow. When that happens, I feel like the tortoise inching my way through a chapter one page or less at a time.

As the story goes, it's the tortoise who won the race in the end, so I'm keeping my spirit high and moving along in short bursts instead of full steam (which often comes at the expense of content quality). The good news is, I'm almost done with chapter 4 of my book and here's a two-page sample to reward my readers for your patience:

Three interesting examples are earmarked for this chapter and I have completed two with the last one in the pipeline. Meantime, I am already thinking ahead of the next two chapters (the hare in me is just raving to overtake the tortoise, really). But I'll need to make some connections with an engineer friend of mine to give me the needed details and permission before I can start writing. Hopefully, he'll grant my Christmas wish.

Ps: I could have finished this chapter earlier if not for that perfectionist in me insisting on re-doing the illustrations and touching up the photos. It can be painful at times but if I don't do it, it will bug me to no end. Sigh...

 

A Page from the Past

Every great product begins with some good design ideas and guidelines. The OrCAD suite of EDA design tools started out with the Schematic Design Tool (SDT) in 1984, a modest yet promising beginning no doubt. OrCAD went on to take the PCB design industry by storm after its PCB and VST products made their appearances, giving the average hardware design engineer a powerful EDA tools on an affordable PC platform instead of an expensive workstation.

Thanks to OrCAD founders John Durbetaki, Ken Seymour, and Keith Seymour for their pioneering vision and daring venture into unchartered waters. Thirty years later, there is now a thriving Old Dos OrCAD community that makes these amazing tools freely available to everyone, complete with original user and reference manuals. All you need is a virtual PC installed that runs on MS-DOS and you're good to go!

 

Of Jigs and Gigs

To be honest, writing can be fun yet demanding. Fun in the sense I got to decide on the content and style; demanding because it's a fine line I'm walking to balance fact and humor, both of which are essential for an overall enjoyable reading experience. For chapter 3, Building Test Jigs, I have interjected some gigs in the form of TCM analogy and personal anecdotes.

Here's a two-page sample:

I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to readers who have bought my books to also leave a comment on the Amazon product page (if you have not already done so). Your feedback is important to let me know if I'm doing it right (my style of writing), as well as a morale boost for me.

A little encouragement goes a long way, especially for a writer like me. You, my readers, are the only real people in an author's world and works. Some have become companions to me in this lonely journey of mine, for which I am most grateful.

Stay safe and well, my friends!

Let's Go On Dutch!

Just three days after I mentioned about new readers from Poland, I was notified that there was a purchase from the remaining Amazon online bookstore in the Netherlands.

Of course, readers from countries outside of the twelve Amazon presence can still order my books via its nearest online bookstore without too much hassle. And as much as I can tell from the 129 flags in the visitors counter, I have no idea on the exact countries my readers came from. If you're one of those who are following my blog, do leave a comment and let me know. It would be a great motivation to authors like myself.

Thank you and stay well and safe in these uncertain times, my friends!

 

Basic Diagnostic Skills

Had been working on Chapter 3 of my book titled Basic Diagnostic Skills and realized that there is so much to cover it took longer than expected. Thankfully, I'm putting the finishing touch for the Summary end and will proceed to write the next chapter soon.

Here's a two-page sample:

The challenge is how to balance the content so that it covers the essentials without overbearing on a topic of interest. I would suspect that as I write the rest of the chapters, I may revisit and revise some of the earlier contents when inspiration strikes. That has happened for the last five engineering books I wrote and this one won't be the exception either.

So stay tune for more updates.

Hallå Sweden!

Following Poland, there is now readers from Sweden who bought my first (The Art of PCB-RE) and latest  (Deciphering Schematics) books:

There is one more country left: the Netherlands.

It would be nice to hear reviews from readers of these countries too. These days, however, book reviews are few and far in between. Maybe because of the nature of this topic, many engineers are not willing to be in the limelight. As one early reader remarked:

Reverse engineering PCB's is to electronic circuit boards what hacking is to computer software...something people do, but no one admits to doing it, LOL.

 

Email from the UK

Well, it's been quite a while since I received emails from my readers. This morning I was notified of an incoming and was pleasantly surprised that it came from the UK:

I recently purchased two of your books. I am enjoying the books very much and am learning some new tricks. Thank you for your dedication to such a topic. I am looking forward to your new book PCB Diagnostics and I will be one of your early customers.

PS: When I started as a computer technician back in 1990, we used to do board-level repairs and I had to learn how to reverse engineer PC boards and power supplies. I have always enjoyed reverse engineering as part of my daily work and as a hobby (guitar gadgets). A few years ago I started repairing automotive computers and electronic modules and of course, there is very limited information available. Over the years I have developed plenty of techniques on my own, however, your information and resources are a real treasure.

Bob Lawrence

Cosmic Computer Services

Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia, Canada

Website: cosmiccomputerservices.com

It always makes me glad when readers tell me they enjoy my works. When I embark to write a book, readers can be assured that I'd put my heart and mind into it to bring out the best reading experience possible, on top of the knowledge and skillset I want to share. Time and money are well invested when you pick up a book that engages and enriches you from cover to cover.

And that is what I aim to achieve in my writings.

 

Lightning Don't Strike Twice...

For those who're wondering about my inactivity on the blog...

After more than ten years, quite a number of things started breaking down around the house. It began with the wall-mounted LCD TV showing a bright spot in the middle with occasional image blur. Then the aircon unit started acting strangely turning on and off by itself. Some say that it's a telltale sign of aircon short cycling. Later on, my wife bought a new electric kettle to replace the old one but after two weeks of use, the kitchen power socket suffered a meltdown which led to the discovery of current leakages in two of the main ELCB units.

And if things couldn't get any better, the kitchen light went down followed by the study light. More recently, the faucet tap of the master toilet which I bought and installed only a month ago started leaking with rust in the water. It's supposed to be 304 stainless steel but when I opened it up to check, the valve and bottom shaft were completely rusted. That really put a damper on my writing inspiration as I wrestled to rectify these problems. And it cost me quite a sum especially the new aircon system.

Now that I managed to put things back in order, hopefully I can refocus and catch up on my writing again. Here's a sample on Chapter 3 which I'm currently working on:

They say that lightning don't strike twice on the same spot. Yeah, more like a couple of times in my case. And it ain't funny at all. It's one thing to feel the seven-year itch of being an author, but it's a different thing altogether to experience a series of disruptions in a short space of time. Maybe it's telling me the time has come to call it a day.

Hopefully, I can get through this last engineering book before that happens...

Double Reviews

It's not often you receive a review from a buyer of your books, much less to have a double reviews from the same buyer in one day. So it came as a pleasant surprise when someone did just that for two of my books, PCB-RE: Real-World Examples and Manual PCB-RE: The Essentials:

For those wanting to know how PCB-RE works out in the real-world, go for the examples; for those looking to understand the process of doing manual reverse engineering a PCB, I recommend you settle for the essentials.

There simply is no better references on the PCB-RE subject out there than these two books. If you're into Microsoft Visio, then my first book, The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering is your best bet. But if you want to know what are the alternative resources available for doing PCB-RE besides the manual method, then PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques is the answer, hands down.

To find out more, click on the book covers on the right to Look Inside at the content page and samples for a better idea.

Errata to Deciphering Schematics

As much as I tried to ensure that all my books are published to the best quality, sometimes a thing or two still managed to elude me. I just received the hardcopy of Deciphering Schematics after some delivery delays and found that the illustration for the Xminilab-B mechanical diagram is fainter than what was presented in electronic forms, both on my Word document as well as Amazon's book reviewer. Somehow you can never take for granted what you see onscreen is what you'll get on print. Granted, it's still visible but not ideal to a perfectionist like myself.

For readers who purchased the earlier version, I have included an errata of the affected page below which you can download, print and insert into (or paste over) your copy:

The latest edition has been corrected. My sincere apology for this oversight. An important lesson learned is that even for a vector graphic like Microsoft Visio, if it is shrunk to 50% of the original size, there's no guarantee that it will turn out right when printed. Instead, I need to export it out as a PNG format, then copy and paste before resizing it to ensure the appropriate visibility is achieved for hardcopy.

I would appreciate that readers inform me of any mistakes, typos, or quality issues so I can correct them or feedback to Amazon.

TCM Anyone?

I've just completed translating a book for my friend from English to Chinese. While the first draft is under review, I thought it'll be good to catch up on my writing PCB Diagnostics. As I mentioned in my previous posts, diagnosing faults on a PCB has parallel similarities with the practice of TCM. This makes for some interesting analogies like in the two-page sample below:

There are many books on how to troubleshoot a PCB or electronic equipment, so I'm not about to write another of the similar, predictable stereotype book on this subject. Of course, PCB Diagnostics will involve troubleshooting techniques as well as the various type of tools used to diagnose electronic faults. But I hope to take it one level higher by incorporating a holistic approach using TCM analogies.

I don't want to write books just to present facts. I want to impact readers and change their perspective and philosophy regarding the topic they are interested to learn, so they can pick up a life skill in the process of acquiring that knowledge. If I can achieve this objective, then I will have leave behind an invaluable and lasting legacy.

Amazon Ranking (US)

As usual, a few weeks after its release, Deciphering Schematics hits the top chart for new release in the Electrical & Electronic Circuits category:

It's just a fleeting achievement, though I wonder why Amazon would even bother to give every book this kind of temporary ranking. What makes a book, especially an engineering one, popular and appealing to readers in this field? Is it the content, the style of writing, the illustrations, or its overall presentation? I know some books are hot favorites, like The Art of Electronics (I own the 3rd edition) and is considered the de facto in the electronics industry. There are, however, other books that continue to enjoy good sales with plenty of reviews, yet falls short of reader's expectation in substance or style.

So what gives? This is the question I have in mind as I embark on writing my last engineering book, this being the seventh year of my lonely journey as an author. Besides leaving a lasting legacy to my readers, there is really no reason to continue writing because it's not sustainable with the increasing cost of living in this present age.

Unless there is a breakthrough and recognition for my efforts, I'll have to call it quit by the end of this year and start looking for a full-time job.

Halo! Poland!

For the first time since publishing my PCB-RE books, there are buyers from Poland, the Land of Fields. Amazon has online presence in 12 countries spanning three continents, namely North America, Europe and Australia, one of which is this eastern European country. Registered sales of my books came only after the recent release of Deciphering Schematics, though:

Still, it's something to shout about considering it's a rare sector to penetrate into. Hopefully, the two remaining countries will have readers for my books, namely the Netherlands and Sweden. Never have I imagined that my books would go this far when I started out on my lonely journey of writing. It feels unreal yet rewarding to know that engineers of diverse nationalities are actually reading my works!

I would have loved to hear from my readers too. Perhaps in time to come. For now, I'm thankful for their support through purchase of my books. That's the honor every author deserves for his or her hard work.

Dziękuję! (Thank you in Polish)

1st Review for My Latest Book

Since releasing my book Deciphering Schematics barely five days ago, a reader has posted the first review on Amazon:

This review alone is worth all the hard work I put in for the past one year, laboring with the text and many illustrations using Visio, as well as schematic diagrams that I have redrawn or overhauled to make the reading experience a top quality and enjoyable one. I have also pegged the book at an affordable price.

Being a non-US resident, I am subject to 30% withholding tax plus the cost of printing and logistics, so basically what I earn on royalty per book is enough for a meal and drink. I hope readers will support me with honest purchase so I can focus on writing my last book, PCB Diagnostics. Each book takes a lot of time and effort to produce, and careful thoughts go into how best to organize and present the content.

It is my desire that newbie and experienced engineers alike will benefit from my years of knowledge in the field of electronics. That's the legacy I wish to leave behind.

Ps: Thank you, Sebastian, for your generous compliment and support to my works.
 

Released with a Blast!

After a year of hard work, my fifth engineering book Deciphering Schematics, is finally online and ready for order! I have chosen August 9 as the date of release, though the book was submitted on the 2nd which resulted in that release date. Still, it's a blast much like the 21-gun presidential salute, performed by the 23rd Artillery Battalion, on our National Day Parade:

Readers who are anticipating and waiting for this book can now purchase it on Amazon. Simply click on the photo above to be transported to the ordering page (US only), or if you live outside the US, just search for my name on the Amazon store of your country to locate it.

Thanks for your patience and understanding. I do hope that you will find the book beneficial to your work and personal skill in deciphering electronic circuits. Do leave a review and let me know what you think. This is the desire of every author and it will most certainly motivate me in writing my upcoming sixth engineering book, PCB Diagnostics.

Take care and have a great week!

Note: Photo courtesy of my friend Jeremy Loei, an avid photographer.

Happy 57th National Day!

This year 2022, our little island nation celebrates its 57th independence year with the usual and much anticipated National Day Parade (NDP) at the Marina Bay Floating Platform.

The theme for this year is 'Stronger Together' and celebrates Singapore and Singaporeans going through the two-year pandemic and emerging stronger together as a people. For readers who have not visited our country or seen the parade, you can watch a past year sample video to get a feel of it (click on the image below):

You can expect whole-hearted participation from people of all walks of life, the military with its smart uniforms and contingents, the guard-of-honor that does the 'feu de joie' (3 shots of firing of joy), the 21-gun salute as the president inspects the guards, fly past of fighter jets and Singapore flag, large-scale formation dances that depict the theme, dashing celebrities rendering the newly composed national day song and those favorites of yesteryears, and not forgetting the spectacular fireworks at the end of this two-hour plus grand event.

It is a time to be thankful for the many blessings we share among families and friends, and for the nation our forefathers had built up so that generations that follow can enjoy the fruits of their labor. And many foreigners who have chosen this island-country to call it their home can vouch for the wonderful opportunities presented to them to live and work as one of its privileged citizens.

Cheers to Singapore's 57th birthday, with many more years to come!

A Special One-Off Anniversary

Exactly one year since I mooted the idea of writing Deciphering Schematics, I'm happy and relieved to inform my readers that I've finally completed the final draft of the book. The last mile has been a great challenge for me, mentally and emotionally on personal grounds. Currently it's in the proofreading phase.

Here's the updated cover without the Foreword (I took it from a reader's suggestion to drop the idea. Well, at least for the time being):

The former release will be on August 9 which is the National Day (or Independence Day for the US) of our island nation, Singapore. I will probably resume writing PCB Diagnostics sometime end of this month, but there could be further delays as I'm involved in the translation of a book by a friend.

There is so much to do with so little time, I just have to prioritize and manage the tasks at hand. If everything works out well, I hope my final masterpiece will be birthed on Christmas Day.

Final Appeal for Reviews

I'm into the final lap of writing Deciphering Schematics. And I have intentionally reserved the chapter on Deciphering Analog Circuits for the last but best cut of the pie. Below is a two-page sample:

This is also my final appeal for reviews on my book Manual PCB-RE: The Essentials. If you have not yet submitted your review on Amazon, now is the time to do so. Once my new book is completed, I will decide which three best reviews will get a free copy of it. Of course, the top ten reviews will make it to the Manual PCB-RE book on its next release as well.

So don't delay or hesitate any longer. Time is ticking away...

Ps: For those who have submitted, please ensure your proper names are correct. If you don't wish to make known your organization or company, at least provide your city and country where you reside in. Thanks!

CoVid Disruptions

The past weeks have been pretty rough going. Since the government adopted the CoVid endemic policy on the premise that over 90% of Singapore's population has been vaccinated and reopened the borders, cases of infection have since skyrocketed.

First, my mum contracted the virus and worse, had outbreak of shingles. I brought her to see her regular doctor who prescribed medication for the latter. Thankfully, after a week and a half she recovered. Sadly, however, a close friend of mine recently succumbed to the virus after experiencing high fever for over a week. The first doctor gave him a week's MC and told him to self-isolate at home. After a week, he went to another doctor who told him it's normal and prescribed some medication for sore throat and cough. Bad diagnosis... barely three days later he collapsed at home and was sent to the A&E. But it proved too little too late.

He was only 54 when CoVid took him from his family. It affected me quite a fair bit, though I'm sure his bereaved family will be most grieved by the lost of a father and husband.

I'm into the last mile of Deciphering Schematics, but writing proves difficult during this period with messages coming and going from friends and this family whom I've come to know personally. I just need to take a breather and regather my thoughts so that I don't write nonsense that will break the trust of my readers.

Life is just so frail and unpredictable. CoVid only makes it more apparent, I suppose. Rest in peace, my dear friend...

It's All About Connections

When it comes to writing an engineering book, some authors may not follow the order in which he or she planned or laid down the contents. I happened to belong to this group. Inspiration is a funny thing and can be disruptive at times. For example, when I started out writing on the Philips AZ102 Sound Master part, I placed it in the Analog section of the book. Half way through, it dawn on me that this illustration fits better in the Hybrid section, so I moved it over there and continue writing.

Here's a two-page sample:

I hope to complete this deciphering example by mid next week, then go back to the Analog section to finish up the remaining portion. That should cover about 95% of the book. It will take another 1 week for me to proofread and brush up the whole book. I'm still thinking who I should approach to write the Foreword, or is it necessary? Any suggestion from my readers?

And oh by the way, if you have not leave your review for Manual PCB-RE yet, now is the time to do so. Don't wait till the last minute because you may forget and forgo the chance of having your name included in the next release of that book, and lose the opportunity to get a free copy of this book (Deciphering Schematics) if you make it to the top three.

Analog Sentimentality

Writing an engineering book is not all about technicality on the subject matter. Sometimes, a little sentiment can come in handy to give an otherwise intellectually stimulating topic an emotional dimension. Readers may not know it yet, but I think it's about time I reveal the person I'm dedicating Deciphering Schematics to——my mother.

Neighbors knew her as a dedicated homemaker, but she is more than that (at least to me). All her life (she's nearly 80) she abides by the principle of integrity, despite a hard life in her early to middle years. In fact, some relatives took advantage of this and swindled all her limited dowry, leaving only a pair of bangles which she passed to my wife on our wedding. But instead of being bitter, she became stronger in her character and conviction. And I'm proud to say that she has taught me well by her own example.

So here it is:

To my mother——a woman who, despite her lowly education, taught me the value of integrity that shaped my character and attitude. This book is dedicated to her for showing me how to decipher the myriad of choices in life and to discover my true passion in the world of electronics.

Sometime back, the Philips CD Sound Machine I bought her stopped working. I took it back to see if it could be fixed, then realized that some electronic parts have died. But I did not throw it away and get her a new one because it has sentimental values. After some thought, I decided it would be a good idea to immortalize this sentimentality by including it as an extra teaching material in my book.

Here is a two-page sample:

Things don't last forever, but memories do, at least for a lifetime.

 

2nd Appeal for Reviews

Since putting up the appeal for reviews for Manual PCB-RE: The Essentials, there were several submissions posted on Amazon:

This is a good sign. But it still falls short of the number I hope to achieve in order to include into my next release of the book. So I'm making the appeal again to readers who have bought the book to post their reviews. The top ten will have their names and company (if they're comfortable) mentioned on the front inner pages where the reviews will be listed. And the top three entries will receive a FREE copy of my upcoming book Deciphering Schematics.

Don't wait till the last minute. Opportunity never knocks twice!

hardwear.io USA 2022

It's an exciting time at the Delta Hotels in Santa Clara as the much awaited hardwear.io USA 2022 event kick-started. Below is the schedule of the two-day programmes:

Many experts from various fields of hardware hacking will be giving their talks, demonstrating their tools and techniques, and answering questions from participants. Among them are keynote speakers Joe Grand and Window Snyder, and invited speakers Andy Nguyen, Cristofaro Mune, Damien Marion, Duy-Phuc Pham & Annelie Heuser, Daniel Genkin & Roei Schuster, David Kaplan, Derek & Ryan Chow, Francesco Restuccia, Karim Abdellatif, Laura Abbott, Sick Codes, Steffen Robertz, Steve Povolny & Sam Quinn, Jay Cox & Nic Watson, John McMaster, and Marcus Richerson.

A day or two before the event, speakers and hardwear.io staff could be seen setting up their wares and equipment to impress the participants:

Of course, such a large-scale event could not have happen without strong support from sponsors like Google, Leviathan Security Group, Quarkslab:

I'm certain those who made it to this event will have a smashing time learning new skills and winning some prizes, not to mention meeting these hardware legends in person.

Appeal for Reviews

Since it's release about a year ago, Manual PCB-RE - The Essentials has sold quite a few copies despite little publicity and no advertising. Unlike the first three books, the only thing lacking is reviews from readers. Would love to hear from my readers what they think about the content of this book, whether it has helped them learn or pick up essentials in this niche skillset and enable them to be more proficient in their PCB-RE work.

To encourage readers to publish their reviews on Amazon, here's the deal:

1. The ten best reviews will be included in the next print release of the book. This will give reviewers good exposure and publicity so please include your name and job title if you are employed, or company name if you own a business.

2. The top three reviews will get a free copy of my upcoming book, Deciphering Schematics, which will be released sometime in the third quarter of this year.

The deadline for acceptance of reviews will be the date of release of my upcoming book. If you have not gotten a copy of Manual PCB-RE, now is the time to place your order and put in your review. This offer is also extended to those who already own a copy so delay no more and submit your reviews today!

Your positive feedback is my motivation to write.

hardware.io PCB-RE Book Giveaways

I seldom receive more than three notifications on my Twitter account, simply because I'm quite careful who I follow to prevent being overwhelmed with indiscreet posts. However, today I received 20 post notification from a single thread started by hardwear.io featuring Joe Grand aka 'Kingpin':

Was wondering what's causing the buzz and realized there was a book giveaway promotion featuring my latest work, Manual PCB-RE - The Essentials:

This is certainly one effective way to create interest and draw a following to an event, much like ScanCAD who give out two of my books at their exhibition booth in-country and across Europe, with much fanfare and success in attracting potential customers to link up with their businesses. Another company that give away my books is Teel Technologies which specializes in providing training workshops on Mobile Forensics.

If you're running a seminar, workshop or exhibiting your business at a trade fair, maybe you want to consider this idea as well. Take it from the pros and see your sales improve!

Simply Sensational...!

Well, sort of, considering that many of today's home appliances and electronic gadgets contain a variety of sensors and transducers to make our lives convenient and comfortable. Some people though, tend to get confused over the two, thinking they are the same when there is a difference:

If ever Tony Stark's Iron Man suit get to materialize in real life, you can bet that it will contain all sorts of sensors interfaced to the central processing AI brain called JARVIS.

So we see that sensors and transducers are indispensable, not only in our mundane daily routines but also in the Marvel Comic Universe and possibly the Metaverse in the not too distant future...

Active Discrete - Transistors

If two is company, then three is a crowd——unless it happens to be a transistor. In the early days, this term is almost always associated with the germanium or silicon based maverick that has permeated into every electronic devices since its inception. Today, it's a different story altogether.

The transistor story, however, can be traced as far back to the era of the thermionic valves. I remember well the first lesson I had in my secondary school days was the theory and operation of the venerable triode. Talk about big brother!

Walter Brattain, John Bardeen and William Shockley of the Bell Telephone Laboratories might have been proud of their breakthrough when they came up with the first transistor prototype, but I believe Sir John Ambrose Fleming should be credited with the invention of the thermionic valve which ultimately led to the birth of the transistor four decades later.

Today's engineers certainly walk on the shoulders of these giants of bygone years.

Active Discrete - Diodes

I suppose the most common active discrete components that electronic engineers are familiar with should be the versatile diode:

For a simple two-terminal dual junction semiconductor device with non-linear electrical properties, it may come as a surprise that there are literally a bunch of variants exhibiting different characteristics and used in varied applications.

Considering the fact that the diode had existed since the cold war era as a vacuum tube entity, imagine the progress it has made to arrive at the forms that it is today:

What will the future hold for semiconductor electronics as wafer technology and manufacturing reaches its physical limits? Nobody knows. One thing is for sure——diodes are here to stay for quite a while. As they said, "You've come a long way, baby!"

Nostalgic Fontasy

When I wrote my first engineering book on the PCB-RE subject, I was more focused on the content than the presentation, and took little notice of the font type and style. As a result, some would-be buyers were turned away by the 10-point Calibri typeface which, though not a bad font, is rather uncomfortable to read for those with myopia issue. (To be honest, this fact had been bugging me for quite a while but I just did not have the time to address it and put it to rest.)

Subsequently, when I wrote the sequel and trilogy, I changed the font to a 12-point Franklin Gothic Book typeface which is easier on the eyes for those preferring printed copies. But I still retain the old format for 'The Art' book out of nostalgic sentiments. After all, it is my very first piece of work. Seven years down the road, I decided that a facelift is due so without much fanfare, I did a revamp and changed the font type to Franklin Gothic Book as well. This will ensure consistency for all my PCB-RE series. Here is a side-by-side comparison sample page:

I have also re-done the book cover (front and back):

Those who bought my original edition can take comfort in knowing they now own a 'limited edition' that is no longer in circulation. (Heck, it might become a collector's item in a few years time, who knows?) For those who have yet to get a copy of 'The Art' book, this change might just be the nudge you need.

Now I can finally put this behind me and get back to writing my next engineering book...

Passive Discrete - Inductors

Back to basics (covered in Deciphering Schematics):

Resistors, capacitors, and inductors are primary types of passive discrete components. In their most basic form, they come with two-terminals, through-hole or SMD. The chart below shows the types of inductors:

Inductors are coils with one or more windings of conductive wire wrapped over a medium (air, ferrite, etc.). Current flowing through an inductor induces a magnetic field that serves as a storage of energy (i.e., Eb = -L[ΔI/Δt]). It also generates a counter electromotive force (plus induced current) that restricts the flow of alternating current while allowing direct current to pass through. 

Passive Discrete - Capacitors

Back to basics (covered in Deciphering Schematics):

Resistors, capacitors, and inductors are primary types of passive discrete components. In their most basic form, they come with two-terminals, through-hole or SMD. The chart below shows the types of resistors:

Capacitors has the ability to store electrical charge exponentially, the amount of charge being determined by the capacitance value and the voltage applied across the device (i.e., Q = CV). One important use of capacitors is passing alternating current while blocking direct current, also known as ‘AC coupling’.

 

Passive Discrete - Resistors

Back to basics (covered in Deciphering Schematics):

Resistors, capacitors, and inductors are primary types of passive discrete components. In their most basic form, they come with two-terminals, through-hole or SMD. The chart below shows the types of resistors:

Resistors oppose (restrict, limit) the flow of current and are employed to control current and manage voltage levels in a circuit. The relationships between resistance, voltage and current conform to Ohm’s Law such that current is proportional to the applied voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance (i.e., V = IR).

A Special Birthday Request

Two days ago, I celebrated my wife's birthday. She did not ask for anything fanciful or expensive, just something simple: kite flying. So I bought her a beautiful butterfly kite that could be easily self-assembled and we went to a nearby coastal park after breakfast to fly it. Thankfully the weather was sunny with a cool breeze, which made kite flying a breeze (pun intended).

See how happy and delighted she was? That's the simple pleasure of life!

As it was a weekday, there were not many people around so we literally had the whole field to ourselves, which was kinda nice. Since the kite was on 'auto-pilot' we decided to sit near the shoreline and listen to the waves splashing while enjoying some quiet moments together. A few passers-by seemed absorbed with the quiet fun we're having, and one even requested to take a snapshot for us. For lunch, I treated her to a vegan Thunder Tea rice.

It's my way of showing appreciation and saying thanks to her for being supportive of my writing journey the past six years, this year being the seventh and probably the last. Thanks, my love, for being there and encouraging me to fulfil my dream and passion as an author!

A Worthy Mention

Books on hardware hacking are on the popular rise and there are a few notable titles that aspiring hackers can learn from. One book, in particular, is The Hardware Hacker's Handbook by Jasper van Woudenberg, which is really about overcoming embedded security.

I'm not giving a review here, in case you're wondering; rather, I was surprised and delighted that the author of this best seller mentioned my sequel, PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques in Chapter 3 (page 106) of his book, which I have produced and highlighted below:

It's always a nice feeling when your work is noticed by another author, a practice I engaged in my own writings to point interested readers to useful sources who want to learn more about a particular related topic. As always, the first and sequel PCB-RE books seem to be a natural choice for those starting out in their PCB-RE journey.

Writing engineering books is hard work that doesn't guarantee success unless there are good reviews and wide publicity from readers and supporters. So I'm counting on you, my friends, to spread the word and help recommend my books. Thanks in advance!