Book Review Out of the Blue...

These days it's hard to find readers who appreciate my books enough to leave a nice review on Amazon. So I was presently delighted that someone left a glowing review for PCB Diagnostics which I've written about three years ago:

Excellent overview, really the only book of its kind. Getting back into advanced PCB diagnostics/repair having not worked in the industry for over 20 years, this book was a phenomenal refresher, so much so, I have several more of Mr. Ng's books awaiting to be read. 

I see another review complaining the book is full of expensive equipment, it does cover various things like A.T.E. and such systems, but also teaches the basics of diagnostics. I would say anyone coming to this book without sound electronics knowledge in the engineering realm will find themselves out of place with the material, but more so out of place if trying to do any such work. This book isn't for the part and board swappers looking for easy tricks that will fix PCBs, that is for youtube. If you really want to get into the field you need to hit the books and bench, use this as a guide for futher education.

If you, my reader and follower of this blog, have received the benefits of my hard-earned engineering insights and experience, would be kind to leave a good review on Amazon, it would definitely help in the ratings and sales to enable and motivate me to write more in the future. 

My wife, who supported me all these years in this gruelling work, always look forward to reading them, and find consolation that our efforts do make a difference and impact in other people's lives.

So have a heart and do your part. Hear from you soon! 

Reader's Favorite 5-Star Review!

I submitted my novel to Reader's Favorite for review a week ago and today they came back to me with the following 5-star review:

The need for a rapid response to global threats leads to the development of the STRATOS team, an elite unit of combat-ready operatives prepared to take on and eliminate hostile targets at short notice. Keen to maintain the upper hand in a changing world, the country's top brass took it upon themselves to include an artificial intelligence project to assist in STRATOS operations. David Friedman is the mind behind EVE, the artificial intelligence program. With the personnel yet to get fully behind this new initiative, David takes it upon himself to perfect his creation, which leads to unforeseen consequences in the manifestation of an entity named HAVAH.

Keng Tiong's science fiction novel focuses on the battle for human supremacy over machines. He establishes the story's context well, explaining the need for an extra edge in the rapidly evolving fight to protect the country from international and domestic terrorism. The character creation is balanced and well thought out, as each STRATOS team member has a unique origin story and motivation for participating in the project. One of the main character in particular, Captain Wolfson, whose reaction to being forced to work with EVE reflected some people's distrust of artificial intelligence. 

With each unfolding chapter, the anticipation grows as David's clandestine upgrades to EVE take shape. While some of the story focuses on how the AI entity affects the STRATOS team’s outcome, the author balances the action with a subplot that follows the unusual developing romantic triangle between David, Amanda, and a rapidly evolving EVE. Keng Tiong's storytelling style encourages the reader to think about the effects of the increased use of AI in our daily lives. HAVAH is a scintillating debut novel that science fiction genre purists will enjoy reading.

Below are the ratings of a mini critic by Reader's Favorite on the various aspects of the novel:

1. Appearance - 5
2. Plot - 5
3. Development - 5
4. Formatting - 4
5. Marketability - 5
6. Overall Opinion - 5

I couldn't be more happy that my modest first attempt would garner such a good review and ratings from a highly acclaimed book review and award site. Hopefully the novel will garner enough reader attention and interest to warrant a sequel and perhaps even a trilogy!

 

Book Reviews (Deciphering Schematics)

These days, book reviews are hard to come by. So when there's one from a reader, it's always a joy to share. Here's two recent ones for Deciphering Schematics:

Good ratings and reviews encourage and motivate authors to continue writing, and even excel in the work of sharing their invaluable knowledge. It just take you only five minutes of your time, but it means a great deal for the one putting months of hard work in solitude.

So be generous, readers, especially during this season of thanksgiving. Show your gratitude and appreciation to those who have enriched your life through their writings. What goes around comes around!

Diagnosing PCB Failures

One of the questions I often get asked during my tenure as a test and repair engineer in my former company was: what's the most difficult thing about PCB repair. My reply: intermittent faults and erratic failures. I'm sure those in the PCB repair industry would readily agree with me on this. And it's not getting any easier anytime, given the increasing complexity of today's PCBs in terms of their designs and functionalities.

That's one reason I embarked on writing PCB Diagnostics, a book that attempts to address not only this thorny challenge faced by the PCB repair community, but to promote a greater awareness on the available tools and techniques to help them get the job done. For readers who want to know what is discussed in this book, here's the table of content:

Beyond the basics, I've included some rather esoteric approaches and methodologies, along with real-world examples and interesting case studies, to give readers a taste of how repairs are carried out using benchtop equipment and testers that they only heard or dreamed of, but have never gotten the chance to work on.

Some of the processes are laid out in detailed steps while others are covered only in enough depth, either due to the nature of the technique that is self-explanatory, or the scope of work involved which would overrun the book length. This is especially true of automated testing which I would love to devote specific coverage on a book series basis (see Conceptual for an idea of what I mean).

It's still too early to say how well PCB Diagnostics will be received by the repair community, but I hope that those who have bought it would leave their reviews on Amazon so I know if it has served the intended purpose when I started out to write it. Thanks!

Bestseller Title in the Netherlands

Soon after Antrisksh and Aseem's recent visit to Singapore and our meetup, I noticed an increase in sales of my books in the Netherlands. In fact, one of the titles got into the bestseller category:

This is not surprising, since The Essentials is priced lower than the other engineering books. But I believe there is more to it. While The Art of PCB-RE is still the best overall consistent seller, what it lacks in real-world application (after all, it is an introduction to PCB-RE for those learning this niche skill, albeit a good book to start with detailed step-by-step guidance), The Essentials filled in with a complex example (which can be overwhelming for beginners who're thinking to jump into the deep end of the pool).

So, if you intend to take the manual PCB-RE route, these two books would be your safest bet to get you up to speed. As one reader, Michael Boewe, puts it:

Want to know how to reverse engineer a PCB? Buy this book. The book gives a very thorough explanation of how to reverse engineer a printed circuit board. It discusses different techniques that can be utilized with real world applications.

Click on the book cover and secure your copy today!

A Pleasant Email Surprise

Just this morning, I received an email from someone who attended Joe Grand's Basic Hardware Hacking course and was given a signed copy of Manual PCB-RE: The Essentials:

Here's the content (partial) of the email (reproduced with permission):

Subject: Thank you for the knowledge

I received your book from Joe Grand after his "Basic Hardware Hacking" course (I'd like to think he gave it to me because I was the best) at hardwear.io 2022. I've been into hardware for quite a while (I own a tech heavy escape room that uses a large amount of Arduinos and Raspberry Pi's). I recently retired from the Navy and attended Joe’s course because I wanted a deeper understanding for my new job.

Currently I work for a small company that does RE and penetration testing. While everyone has their unique skill set, I fancied myself the "hardware hacker" of the group. In the last 10 months I have learned so much and would frequently thumb through your book for answers. It wasn't until three months ago that I brought your book home and read it from cover to cover. Then I picked up two more of your books.

To be frank your books scared me into taking anything apart...initially. I realized that although I was doing a great job on my tests, I could be doing a much better job. I lacked the methodical approach you take with your projects. The way you have written your books makes it seem as if you were sitting next to me teaching me the ways of the trade. I plan to get all your books as I create a "hardware" section for our company.

I want to sincerely thank you for making such amazing books. I find myself re-reading the same sections because there is so much information. Some of your ideas seem so simple and obvious, but I know it's because you learned them the hard way and are saving me years by not learning the same lessons through pain. 

It certainly made my day and my wife's as well.

I reckon that many readers felt the same way (the red highlighted text above), because I believe in engaging my readers on a personal level through my style of writing. This is my method of 'coaching' to transfer my knowledge as a fellow engineer and friend, not a lecturer or instructor.

As this reader told me, he had wanted to write to me earlier but could not find my email address, until he bought The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering and found it in the ending of the Preface section. So if you have something to say to me, and have a copy of this book, look it up and have your say. My wife and I would love to hear from you too!

Take care and stay safe, as always.

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

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.
 

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!

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!

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.

Email from the Danube

This morning, I was notified of an incoming email with the following message:

I found your books through the "Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast" and have to admit, that I first got a PDF off the internet on Saturday night, but after the first 30 pages, I quickly bought all your books, as I am totally stoked to get into hardware reverse engineering.

I am so glad I found your books and wanted to thank you for your work! Unfortunately, the Amazon package that arrived today did not contain the promised book but an HDMI adapter, guess I have to wait till Wednesday now for the replacement :-D

But thank you in advance and is there a mailing list or something to get notified when your fourth book arrives? As I also want to buy that.

So anyhow, I wish you all the best and will send a picture as soon as the trilogy arrives :-D

Now, I am aware that my books are available on some rogue websites that steal the hard work of book authors like myself. This is evident from the declining sales for the past few months. Frankly, there is nothing I can do about it. I'm not the only one who suffers the loss of income; the charities that I supported with part of my earnings bear the grunt as well. I had kept up with the donations despite the poor sales but had to painfully cut back to just one charity organization, the one that I have been supporting for the past 30 years. I'm sharing this just so my readers who honestly purchase my books know that they too are doing a good cause, and for those who obtained illegal copies at my expense that you have not only wrong me but many fellow humans who depended on the generosity of kind people.

This person had done the right thing which any human with a conscience would do. He is German, I suppose, from the email attachment provided. Every country has its dark history but that does not mean all the people there are bad or lack integrity. We cannot decide where we're born or the environment we're in, but we can choose to do as much good as we possibly can. There is a Chinese saying, "To come out of the dirty mud and still remain pure." It speaks of the lotus plant but allures to people of exceptional character and qualities even in the midst of dark times. I hope most of my readers are too!

You may be wondering why 'Danube'. Well, it's the second longest river in Europe that passes through the most countries, and has its origin from the Black Forest of Germany. Incidentally, black forest cake is my favorite and the ones made by German hands are the best. So let the best of your self shine in this blackest of times in the current pandemic!

Stay safe and be well, my friends.

Update: I received a photo of the books that this reader has purchased:

Latest Review from UK

It's been almost five years since my first book The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering was published. Still, I'm happy that there are occasional reviews from international readers who appreciate my work and giving me the much needed endorsement. Here's one from the UK this year:

This book is really informative, the Author really does explain things in detail. I am half-way through getting to grips with the Visio software. I’m looking forward to completing and purchasing the next book in the series.

For readers who have bought and read my books, I would love to hear from you too! Do leave a review and claim your bonuses. There are freebies for this book as well, in case you didn't know.

And if you find my books beneficial and useful, especially for those interested in this niche topic, do help to recommend and spread the word. I don't advertise as I believe part of the modest royalties earned is best devoted to charities, so if you buy my books you are doing a good work as well.

Take care and stay safe, my friends!

Reader from Pakistan

Yesterday I received an email from a reader who resides in Pakistan, requesting for the free resources on the purchase of my books. Here's what he wrote:

I have had the chance to read your books and I did really enjoy it. It contains good references for beginners to understand the concept and build on the foundation. The experiences you shared for PCB troubleshooting is another area on which you can write a complete book, I think. I would definitely love to learn from your experience. A step by step guide based on your experience can help a lot to others trying to understand/learn the work. 

The thought of writing about PCB repair and troubleshooting did cross my mind, but given the current schedules I have there is no way I can squeeze out more time for that. Of course, this is not a niche subject to write on, judging by the available books and resources online. Given a choice, I would rather write on PCB testing on different ATE platforms, something which I had mused on in previous posts.

Poster of my former work center which I created.

Readers who have hands on experience in any of these automatic test equipment (ATE) are welcome to leave your comments here. If the response is good enough, I may consider writing about them...

Reader from Spain (Espanol)

"The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains." So goes the nursery rhythm. Well, now that my books have found readers in that part of the world, I can safely say that PCB-RE has also gone ashore on the plains of Spain. Here's the review of one Spanish reader, Jose RV:

He's new to PCB-RE and posed the following question to me in his email:

In order to practice some manual RE, where can I find two layer PCBs? I have some old routers but they are 4 layer, which I think will be a bit challenging.

My reply:

Double-sided PCBs are quite rare these days. You might want to try finding them at the electronics hobby shops. Four-layer PCBs are more challenging for sure. PCB designers using four or more layers are usually driven by necessity due to the complexity of their circuit designs. 

As a beginner, avoid attempting on large pin count type PCBs as you might get discouraged easily. Learn to develop your own personal style and skill, and the right strategies for different type of boards. The Art of PCB-RE and Tools & Techniques does cover these topics.

As the proud owner of my first two books, he even sent me a photo complete with a nice bed sheet background:

V.Ray Follow-Up Email

After making the LinkedIn connection with this reader by the name Valery Ray and reminding him to collect the book freebies and review bonus from me, here's his email reply:

Thank you for connection and for offering to share additional materials available for the first book. 

I've started doing component level repair of electronics with (and without) schematics more then 40 years ago. Although since that time my technical interests have moved onto particle beam instrumentation and FIB technology, once in a while PCB repair returns to operation multi-million-dollar FIB/SEM instrument, bringing great satisfaction and some profit. 

Interestingly enough many of the methods you describing are similar to the approaches I've developed, but some of the techniques you describe are different, and as effective and useful as they are practical. Systematic approach presented in your books and collection of useful information is not only invaluable for a novice approaching PCB-level reverse engineering, but also very interesting reading and collection of reference material for professionals.

Well, you heard it from a field-weathered engineer with over 40 years of experience in PCB-RE. So if you're still wondering whether to go into this niche but satisfying endeavor in your engineering career, why not get yourself a copy to acquire the coveted knowledge and shorten your learning curve?