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.

Hidden Review

Just felt a need to include the following review from an UK reader who downloaded Deciphering Schematics from Kindle Unlimited, which did not get posted across all the Amazon platforms except in the UK (strange!):

My intention for writing this book is not so much to go into the mathematical analysis of typical electrical or transistor circuits. Many books have already done that. Rather, I want to help readers understand enough of the various elements and topologies that make up digital, analog, hybrid and power circuit designs to be able to decipher (or interpret, if you prefer) them. Even so, the book does include some fundamental formulas and circuit characteristic graphs as and when necessary so readers can grasp the concepts behind their designs.

Sometimes we can fail to see the forest for the trees when we try to go into too much analytical details. This is something which I wanted to avoid and simply get to the essential points, while maintaining a balance between theoretical models and real-world examples. And rather than doing a quick, slip-slop work to get this book out, I took great pains to draw most of the circuits and illustrations using Microsoft Visio, for example:

Readers who bought my book can be confident they are getting the best quality content for their money. That's my personal guarantee.

To Sir, With Love

Today is Valentine's Day and I'm reminded of my secondary school teacher, Jonathan Chan, who despite his qualifications, chose an average neighborhood school and by his dedication left a lasting impact on his students during his short tenure there, of whom I am one. Much like the classic story of E.R. Braithwaite in his novel by the same post title.

I learned Technical Drawing from this teacher who had instilled in me a love for technical illustrations, and to pick up Microsoft Visio as the drafting tool of choice. This is also the reason for all the beautiful engineering drawings that can be found in all my books. I pointed this out so that my readers may know the contribution of a good teacher through his students. Not only that, his positive outlook and pleasant disposition remain a great influence in all that I do, especially my personal belief in giving my best and taking pride in my workmanship.

Here is a two-page sample dedicated in his honor:

I'm giving Chapter 6 the finishing touch today, much earlier than the estimated timeline I set because I labored through the past weekend. And while I could not release the book in time for Valentine's Day, I would like to say to my teacher:

Your fine example and model has made me what I am today as an engineer and a writer. To you, most respected Sir, I dedicate this book with love!

Top Three Posts

Since February 2017 when I started blogging about using Microsoft Visio to do PCB-RE, I have posted 287 write-ups to date. Not all are related to the PCB-RE topics, though I would think the figure comes to over two-thirds. I don't particularly bother about the statistics, i.e. the number of times each post is read, but out of curiosity I did a scan to see which of the posts come in the top three.

Here are the findings:

1. Joe Grand's CV (read 914 times, link)
2. Artosyn Drones (read 812 times, link)
3. Old But Not Obsolete (read 664 times, link)

You can click on the 'link' to read the post, if you've not already done so. It's not surprising that Joe Grand (aka Kingpin) has the highest hit, being the renown hacker that he is. The Artosyn drones seem to be of great interest among my readers, for obvious reasons too. What surprises me, though, is the number of people who are still looking for the old DOS OrCAD EDA suite, which went out of circulation after its competitor Cadence bought over the company in 1999 and migrated the software to Windows.

But as they say, good legacy software never dies; it just lives on in another hardware host that permits it to thrive in. 

Visio Alternatives?

I've been asked a number of times by readers whether there's any open source Visio alternatives out there, and I can understand why—a single user license doesn't come cheap even for a Standard version. Of course, there are many so-called free alternatives (not necessary open source, though) that claim to be  equal to or better than Microsoft Visio. Some are cloud-based, online kind of diagramming editors that do not need to be installed, while others offer free download of their most basic products with limitations for you to try before you buy.

At best, if you ask me, these alternatives are nothing more than your usual run-of-the-mill diagramming tools with colorful and attractive templates for drag-and-drop style presentation and illustration purposes only. When it comes to creating serious engineering drawings, their arsenal of drafting tools prove to be rather basic and primitive.

In my years of using Visio, right from the start with version 4.1 Technical from Shapeware, to this present time with Visio 2016, there is never a doubt in my mind that nothing (and I mean NOTHING) out there comes close to the power and usability of this amazing piece of software. How many of these Visio wanna-be spot the following features:

        1. Multiple-page support per drawing file
        2. Layering of shapes
        3. Smartshapes and Shapesheet programmability
        4. Bill of Materials report generation

Most Visio alternatives failed on just the first feature alone. And if you have bought my PCB-RE books you would no doubt have firsthand experience of what it's capable of through the many examples that I've demonstrated.

If the full license is too high upfront, you can opt for Microsoft's monthly plans of $5 for a web-based version which is synced to Onedrive, or $15 for an additional desktop install version. This can be tied to your Office 365 subscription without bursting your bank account. In fact, Microsoft offers a free 30-day trial of its latest version. Click on Evaluate Visio to go to the site.

So go ahead, give Visio a try and see if it's the best and only diagramming tool you'll ever need.

Layout Diagram (Fast Track)

Microsoft Visio is such a piece of versatile 2D drafting tool it's not difficult to create complex illustrations and diagrams using simple geometric shapes. Take for example the Gigabyte GeForce 8600GT graphics card featured in Manual PCB-RE: The Essentials:

At one glance, it seems impossible but if you were to go through Chapter 5 of the book, you will be given a fast track into how such a complicated PCB layout diagram can be created. Well not effortlessly but certainly not difficult either.

But if you are the type that needs to be held by the hand and taught step-by-step, then I would suggest getting The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering, where you will literally go through a detailed exercise in creating a SCSI host adapter card, complete with the mechanical fittings.

Don't take my word for it; you've got to really hands on to believe it. Click on the titles of the books to go to Amazon and start drawing some amazing stuff with Microsoft Visio!

Microsoft Visio 2016

When I wrote my first engineering book on PCB-RE back in 2014-15, I was using Microsoft Visio 2007 for illustration. The current book which I'm writing will feature Visio 2016, which is a much improved and streamlined version. Here is a two-page sample:

Since coming across Visio twenty years ago when it was sold by Shapeware, I have never looked back or considered any other drafting tool for my work. As far as I'm concern, Visio is still the best 2D CAD program for its ease of use and powerful features. And I'm sure my readers would readily agree after going through those beautifully created diagrams found in my PCB-RE trilogy books.

If you have not tried it, I suggest that you download an evaluation copy from the Microsoft site and give it a go. You'll not regret it.

Preface to Book IV

Since completing the trilogy to the PCB-RE subject, I had thought that my mission in writing this niche topic is done. The idea of a fourth book, an essential guide to the manual PCB-RE approach, was hatched in the midst of writing my third book, but I shoved it aside due to other commitments. It was only during the CoVid-19 circuit breaker period that had given me the time to re-visit it and pondered over a suitable candidate for the book.

Here is the preface to book 4:

Manual PCB-RE was given a basic treatment in my first book, The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering, using a simple network adapter card to illustrate the steps involved using Microsoft Visio 2007. Besides the detailed instructions on how to create the layout and schematic diagrams, there is also a chapter on Advanced techniques to tap into the power of Visio's Smartshapes.

In the trilogy, PCB-RE: Real-World Examples, I showcased a more complex board that is through-hole with some SMD components, applying the mixed-signal methodology to solve the connectivity puzzle and produce a complete 3-page schematic diagram. This, along with other practical examples, should be enough to get readers new to PCB-RE to a fresh start.

However, I am aware that there are those who just want a no-frills guide to quickly launch them into the deep waters, with the essential know-how to handle surface mount PCBs with all the trappings and real challenges these boards present. After looking into my inventory, I came upon and decided on an Nvidia GeForce 8600GT graphics board which has all the making of an interesting PCB-RE project to work on.

It's by no means an easy PCB but I thought why not give it a try and re-live some of the good moments I had? So here I am, spending at least 3-4 hours a day with this graphics card in front of me while typing away on my keyboard, and drawing the illustrations using Visio 2016. The good news is, I have just completed three out of the five chapters outlined in my preface, including a smashing great chapter on the layout diagram. The fourth chapter is currently in the works but the real challenge will be to reverse engineer the board itself, which I foresee will take up more time and effort than the other chapters put together.

Of course, there will be two introductory chapters that cover the tools of the trade as well as knowledge and skillsets of PCB-RE, additional resources to enable an apprentice to go further, and also tons of information in the appendices for reference. So stay tune and look out for more news.

GeForce 8600 GT Layout Diagram (Part 2)

Continuing with the layout diagram for the Gigabyte GeForce 8600 GT graphics card, I have completed the solder side (rear view) of the board. Again, for contrast, here's the negative photo:

And the Visio drafted diagram:

I have also created different layers for each category of components for better management and flexibility of display:

Notice that besides assigning colors to components belonging to layer, it also shows the number of objects (not components) on each layer. I say 'objects' because each component is made up of a number of basic shapes which are grouped together. And until I merged these shapes, Visio will count them as individual objects still.

At this point of my PCB-RE process, though, there's no need to do so. But having different components in their own layers enables me to turn on or off a group of components at will. And once I assign reference designators to them, it will be much easier to locate a particular component, especially since the PCB does not order them according to location placement. These are two of the advantages of using Visio to create PCB layout diagrams which are mentioned in my books.

GeForce 8600 GT Layout Diagram (Part 1)

Three weeks ago, I mentioned about reverse engineering a GeForce 8600 GT graphics card. I haven't really gotten into doing it yet as I was busy with some other commitments. In between, when I could find the time, I would work a little on the layout diagram. Well, I managed to create the front view of the card using Microsoft Visio. For comparison, here's the negative photo for contrast:

And here's the Visio drafted diagram:

I've included the PCB artwork just for the fun and effects but there's really no need to do so if you only want to have a basic layout diagram for your PCB-RE work. Hopefully, this example gives you a glimpse of the versatility and power of Visio in creating technical illustrations.

I have yet to include the  reference designations of the components but that would be very cramp and messy, unless I use layering to segregate the components by their categories. This advanced technique is discussed in my first book, The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering, along with how to create stunning layout and schematic diagrams using Visio's powerful features.

Getting Started with PCB-RE

If you're like me, most likely you're self-taught in the PCB-RE skillset out of necessity. Maybe you've developed your own methodology and even have the luxury of automated equipment to help cut down the time and effort in doing those menial tasks of connectivity probing. Well, good for you!

For the majority of PCB-RE engineers, however, it is the manual route using the digital multimeter (DMM). Whether you've come out with a streamlined process of doing it, that varies from one person to another and also the kind of resources and drafting tools you use. 

What about budding enthusiasts who've never done it before and decided to give it a try? Or perhaps some had already done so but quit halfway due to lack of know-how. Until four years ago, the only way to get a good peek of this coveted art was via online articles and postings by engineers who've 'been there, done that' and were kind enough to share their experiences and advice. But these gems are usually scattered and at best bits and pieces that require much time to search and sift out from the tons of jumbled information.

The good news is, there is currently three books published that allow a beginner to be properly introduced to this niche topic, namely, The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering, PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques, and PCB-RE: Real World Examples. So which book should you read first? This post will hopefully answer that question and point you in the right direction.

The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering covers the basics of doing manual PCB-RE and employs Microsoft Visio as the tool of choice for drafting schematic diagrams. It has six chapters and five appendices that guides the reader through a systematic process of doing preparation work in analyzing the PCB for accessibility, creating a bill of materials, determining the type of conformal coating to be removed, if present, and extracting the right information from datasheets.

A large part of the book goes into the details of helping the reader develop good schematic drawing habits for consistency of style and good readability. A real-world example using a SCSI host adapter card is provided with a step-by-step guide. For those familiar with Microsoft Visio, there is even a chapter on advanced techniques that will further sharpen your skill with this versatile drafting tool.

The appendices contain many useful references and charts that will cut down time and effort in looking up for the needed information while engaging in PCB-RE work.There are also freebies such as Visio templates and drawings, SMD and IC Master references, IC packaging and dimensions, etc to get you up to speed. Additional bonuses are also available for readers who leave a positive review on Amazon.

Click on the photo to order on Amazon.

PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques is a sequel book which showcases the works of several renown industrial experts such as Joe Grand (aka Kingpin), Bill Loving and Jeff Rupert of ScanCAD International, Bob Elder of TEEL Technologies, and Dr Sergei Skorobogatov of Cambridge University, etc.

This book is aimed at readers who want to have a better overall understanding of the equipment and methodologies used in the PCB-RE industry. Both automated and semi-automated processes are discussed, from the amazing flying probe tester (FPT) to the compact Clip-N-Learn benchtop workstation, from brute force deconstruction techniques to the elusive X-ray de-layering, and from board-level boundary scan to the microscopic chip-level and chip-off forensic. You name it, the book has it!

Besides the usual useful appendices, there is a separate section on PCB-RE resources that you can either buy or build on your own, as well as a rich list of freeware and online resources which you can refer to build up your own library of knowledge and know-how.

If you're not ready to take on the PCB-RE challenge just yet, perhaps this is the place to start your journey and get a peek into the fascinating world of hardware reverse engineering.

Click on the photo to order on Amazon.

PCB-R: Real-World Examples is the trilogy to the PCB-RE collection and like the sequel book, it also has several contributing authors who shared their invaluable insights and experiences. What better way to learn PCB-RE than to learn it from real-world engineers?

In this book, I show readers how the manual PCB-RE approach is done with a complex board, detailing the steps to divide-and-conquer a hybrid PCB. You will see first hand the process and methodology that I developed and used in my 15 years of reverse engineering work.

Readers will also be treated to some behind-the-scene information used by one of the most successful PCB-RE service providers, ENA Electronics Inc., in their industry practices and processes. Game for a round of firmware hacking? Then let our hacker specialist, Juan Carlos, take you for a spin inside a Huawei wireless router! And if that does not whet your PCB-RE appetite, how about X-ray on an Arduino UNO, breakdown on a quadcopter drone, and come face to face with the innards of a Rigol digital oscilloscope?

Of course, there's still the ever informative appendices, reviews on essential tools you can add to your PCB-RE arsenal, and additional case studies to pore over.

Click on the photo to order on Amazon.


Latest Update!

The fourth and final book on the PCB-RE subject is now available. It covers primarily on the Manual PCB-RE methodology and demonstrates how to reverse engineer a Gigabyte GeForce 8600GT graphics card. You can click on this link to go to the post for more details.

All my books are written in an engaging style to afford readers an enjoyable reading experience, complete with plenty of informative footnotes and humorous personal anecdotes. Need I say more?

More PCB Layout Examples

Learning the Microsoft Visio diagramming tool is just the start of an exciting journey in creating professional quality illustrations for your engineering work. You have the option of representing the same PCB using different approaches, just like the HP power supply module example found in my book, from this:

to this with more information:

You might think that only the pros are able to produce this kind of work fit for publication. But I can assure you that if you keep at it, you will only get better with time. Skill is something that is refined through constant practice. But you've got to start somewhere. Better still, if you have someone or a book to guide you along.

Laying Out the PCB Artwork

If you think Microsoft Visio is only good for doing flowcharts, organizational charts, or floor plans using its supplied stencils, I hope the earlier layout drawing will change your mind set. As far as I'm concerned, Visio does a pretty amazing job with 2D technical illustrations.

I won't go into details in my blog on describing the Visio workspace, how to configure its initial settings (user and developer modes, ruler and grids, guide lines and guide points, font, text, line and fill styles, etc.), the various quick maneuvering tricks (zooming, panning, scrolling) and manipulating objects (aligning, distributing, arraying, sizing and positioning). These are all covered adequately in my book.

For simplicity's sake, I use a simple example to illustrate the steps involved in creating a PCB layout of a SCSI host adapter, as shown below:

There are four specific steps to creating the PCB layout:

1. Prepare the drawing page

2. Draw the PCB outline

3. Create the component layout symbols

4. Populate the PCB

Each of these steps are also detailed in my book so that you'll be able to replicate exactly what I've drawn, using the X-Y coordinates and the size and position properties of each object that you create, including the SCSI connector itself. As you work through the exercises, you'll come to appreciate the beauty of breaking down a seemingly complex object into basic building blocks, and then assembling them together. You will also be taught how to create sophisticated objects such as the various SMT ICs (PLCC and its socket) and their footprints in a later part of the chapter.

You'll learn the trick of creating impressive PCB layout illustrations that are professional to look at and captivate your audience in your report presentation.

Why Microsoft Visio?

As the blog URL suggests, I use Microsoft Visio for all my technical illustrations. It it the tool of choice for me ever since I first used it back in 1996. The versatility of this 2D diagramming software in terms of its functions and user interface makes it easy to learn compared to other CAD or CAE programs. This has to do with its initial design concept when the original maker (Shapeware) produced and marketed it in 1992. When Microsoft acquired it in 2000, Visio was given an overhaul and integrated with Microsoft Office. Though it suffered performance issues in the earlier Microsoft releases (as usual), from the 2007 version onward the software has become better in terms of usability and programmability with an improved smartshape structural definition.

Because Visio is a general vector-based graphics editor, it is suited for a wide variety of purposes, not just limited to flowcharts, processes or organizational hierarchies. It's multiple-page feature allows flat or hierarchical representation of schematics just like most CAE tools, less the steep learning curves and rigid component representations.

Besides the PCB layout diagram which you've just seen in the previous post, below is a full-blown schematic diagram of the DS203 nano mini digital storage oscilloscope which I've redrawn from the original using, you guess it, Visio:

This drawing, along with many more illustrations, will be featured in my upcoming book PCB-RE: Tools and Techniques, the sequel to The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering. It features many experts from different fields of the PCB-RE discipline, who will share their experiences and practices on the various aspects related to this niche topic. If you have bought and enjoyed reading my first book, then it might please you to know that the best is yet to come.

So keep a look out for its release in the not too distant future.