The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering: Tools & Techniques: April 2023

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

Monday, April 24, 2023

Review from Down Under!

Again, Amazon doesn't seem to post reviews by readers from other countries across its online platforms. This time, it's a review for The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering from Australia:

I suppose what this reader, an Australian, meant by "one of only books" is really "one of the few books" that deals with this subject (PCB-RE). The Art of PCB-RE book is an introduction to this niche and coveted topic, while the sequel PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques gives a comprehensive coverage on the available methodologies in this industry. The trilogy, PCB-RE: Real-World Examples shows how engineers carry out their trade in real-life experiences. Finally, Manual PCB-RE: The Essentials, is an extension of The Art of PCB-RE by teaching advanced techniques on doing PCB-RE manually using the GeForce 8600GT video card from Gigabyte.

Together, these four books provide ALL the necessary information needed to get any engineer quickly started on the PCB-RE journey with the proper tools and methods, while avoiding potential pitfalls and mistakes at the same time.

If you want to know which book to order first, read the following post on the trilogy. If you are already quite seasoned in this trade, then the fourth book (Essentials) might be what you need to bring your skillset to another level.

Take hold of the discounted offer before it expires in mid-May.

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Deciphering Schematics (Kindle Full-Color Edition)

Following closely on the heels of PCB Diagnostics, I have released the full-color Kindle edition of Deciphering Schematics. Here are some sample pages:

You can go to this link to preview more pages before placing order, if you have the Kindle app installed on your tablet devices.

Happy reading!

Ps: While I have the desire to convert all my engineering books to Kindle full-color editions, I do not foresee doing it that soon. The recent attempt on my latest two books had taken quite a toll on my health and I was out of action for a week. But I will inform my readers as and when I complete the remaining three.

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