Reviews

I started doing component level repair of electronics with (and without) schematics more then 40 years ago, which 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 then 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 Ng 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 Windfield HIll, Phil Hobbs, Jim Williams, Bob Piece, Howard Johnson and Marting Graham, Sam Godwasser, and other world's top electronics experts.

First off, I'd like to point out that this is perhaps the first book I have ever seen that has a very well documented process (in this case using MS Visio) in the niche field of hardware reverse engineering. I can see why this can be a deal breaker to some people, but can we just appreciate the fact that there is now a relatively inexpensive resource that goes over PCB-RE?

PCB reverse engineering of course is a smaller subset of Hardware RE, but a very critical component in the process of reverse engineering hardware overall, with the applications and intentions to resurrect legacy designs, or exploit them for security research. Coming from a design background definitely helped me in my first year of hardware reverse engineering, but that only gets you so far. The actual formal processes used to conduct a task like PCB reverse engineering exist, but most are proprietary/trade-secrets or hidden deep within academic literature that is out of reach of most people (Expensive textbooks, academic paper database subscriptions, behind paywalls, etc). It also doesn't help that even the resources that are "easy" to search for freely are fragmented, lacks depth, and sometimes out of date. Experts like Joe Grand, Joe Fitzpatrick, Dmitry Nedospasov, Colin O'Flynn, Samy Kamkar, The exploitee.rs, Xipter, etc are the names of a few individuals/groups who have presented at security conferences and taught workshops. They are the reliable few that you can get the most insight from and up to date resources (papers and talks on YouTube) available for free online.

This is where Mr. Ng's book sets the precedent, by publishing the thorough process (and art) of printed circuit board reverse engineering. Yes! I dare to say it, Mr. Ng is the first engineer to do this, I can only hope that this will inspire other hardware reverse engineers to publish their methodology and processes. I also purchased his newest book: PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques, which is the sequel to this book and also very essential!

This is an introductory text on hardware reverse engineering. The main focus of this book is on Technical documenting the hardware reverse engineering process using Microsoft Visio. Throughout the book the author provides anecdotal stories of his reverse engineering experience and what to look out for. A portion of the book is provided as a technical reference, (schematic symbols and component type). Overall it is great book.

Email from a 65 year old reader from down under (dated April 14, 2017):

Just to let you know that I bought your book via eBay, just the standard edition as I'm color blind anyway. I finished reading it in a few sittings over two days. I'm 65 years old and now retired. As a youth I loved repairing things, then I became an electronic design engineer and now that I'm retired I am loving repairing things again. It's just like reading a good detective novel!

I can see that you really put your heart into this book and it is really nicely presented. I have done some haphazard reverse engineering previously for repairs but I have found your excellent book to be a good lesson in applying method and discipline to the process.

Regards 

Bob Dring,

Sydney, Australia

Having spent a few weeks working through the book, I can pretty much confirm that this is the best resource out there for the subject. The book not only discusses the concepts of reverse engineering, but delves extensively into using Visio as a tool to neatly capture the process as well, something I wouldn't have considered had it not been for this book delving into such details. Well done to the author, and this book will serve as a constant companion during my future RE activities.

Gert Byleveldt

Specialist in Automotive Electronic Repairs

Helpful for my college degree.

Michele Field

Just received my copy of your book from Amazon. Amazing! This is going to be one of the most useful books I have ever bought. Visio has always been one of my favorite tools, and I would consider myself quite an expert, but you have shown me some wonderful new tricks!

Ken Howard

Configuration Manager

Wide Area and Space Surveillance Systems Program Office

Department of Defence | Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group

Very helpful... Thanks alot!

Translated from German on Amazon.de!

Literature on reverse engineering (i.e. the analysis and possibly reconstruction of a finished system ) is rare, and the few books devoted to this topic are usually so general that every aspect can be treated only briefly. The book "The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering " by Ng Keng Tiong therefore is an exception: it is dedicated to the reverse engineering of electronic circuits and exclusively deals with this subject in detail.

The author deals professionally for about 15 years with the reconstruction and repair of electronic systems. In his book, he summarizes the experience gained in a structured manner and apply the methodology progressively using an example PCB - a small ISA bus SCSI host adapter. Each step of the reverse-engineering process, from identification of elements, analysis of electrical connections, reconstruction of the circuit diagram, is treated in a separate chapter; numerous illustrations and repeatedly interspersed anecdotes of the author from his own professional activity make the book easy to read and easy to understand.

To document the information obtained the author uses the Microsoft Visio program. Engineers who use this program will therefore benefit from the detailed step-by-step guide. However, a chapter dedicated to both commercial and open source EDA programs also addresses readers who use other software tools or are still looking for such tools.

Overall, it's a very interesting and unusual book for anyone working professionally or as a hobby in the analysis of electronic systems - whether to repair them despite the lack of circuit documents, but if only to understand how they work and - as the subtitle of the book states - to rediscover the beauty of their original designs.

​Dr. Stephan Pabst

ETAS GmbH

Engineering Services Automotive (ETAS/PGA-EAS2)

Borsigstraße 14

70469 Stuttgart

Germany

www.etas.com

I just want to thank you for your Amazing book. I really  enjoyed reading it. I am in reverse engineering field for some time but have never used Visio. It was an amazing idea. I know your hard work will not pay back financially but at least you will have support from people like me and I will buy anything you publish in the future. I've left my review on Amazon.ca and I will recommend your book to all my colleagues I am working with in Canada.

Amir Pasalic  B.Sc.E.E

​ENA Electronics Inc.

It is a great book/manual to read and very helpful to understand the arts of reverse engineering of PCBs in particular. Thanks for the insight, Mr Keng Tiong Ng.

Tsehaye Kidane

Excellent book.

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.

Mr Ng not only does it, but he lays out a very clear and systematic approach to the entire process. I am self-taught in this field, and it was a real joy to find that someone had actually written an entire book on the subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic.

J. Ryan

I purchased this book after having discussed it with the author on the EEVBlog web forum. I have been reverse engineering complex printed circuit boards for many years, and enjoy the challenge. The author of this book has similar experience and it shows in his excellent coverage of the topic. He has correctly identified the key aspects of such a task and the need for the methodical and disciplined approach in order to achieve success. 

This book would suit anyone who has an interest in the reverse engineering of PCB's, and even those with previous experience will likely learn from this book. I certainly did! There is no requirement for complex or expensive tools beyond the basics normally found on an electronics workbench, but MS Visio is recommended for the documentation. Visio is not essential to success however, and should not put buyers off of this book. 

I know of no other book that covers this topic so well for those starting out on PCB reverse engineering. The author writes in an easy to read fashion and offers purchasers of his book free downloads of additional useful material via his web site. The quality of materials used in the production of this book are excellent and it should have a long life in the lab. All who have seen my copy of the book have been very impressed with it. Highly recommended to those embarking on PCB reverse engineering, both beginners and the experienced.

Fraser Castle 

Electronics engineer and hobbyist 

Amazon.co.uk