WesTest-2000 DATS

Some time in the end of 2003, my department clinched a project to develop 18 test program sets (TPS) for the F-16 avionics. The test platform was a relatively unknown (to me) tester from WesTest Engineering Corporation, based in Utah, US.

A number of our senior engineers were selected to attend a training on the test system and by early 2004, we were already designing test fixtures and developing test programs using the WT-2000's TDE under Windows as well as running LASAR simulations with Sun's Ultra 5 workstation installed with Solaris 8. It was both challenging and exciting, and sometimes excruciating given the tight development schedule and little help available, since we were the only ones working on this new test system in Singapore!

Below is the book cover concept for the fourth and final volume:

If you've not taken a look on the previous volumes concept artwork, go to past posts and get a feel. Better yet, give me your support and comments as to whether I should proceed to write, or else these will just remain as still-born ideas.

Teradyne Spectrum 8852

Ten years into the company, the Factron testers began to show their age, and as more young engineers joined the team, we felt it's time to upgrade to new ATEs with graphical capabilities and development environment. Enter the Spectrum 8800 series testers from Teradyne.

Our center acquired two of these machines: an 8851 which is an in-circuit model, and an 8852, a combinational model which has an M910 digital test subsystem configured for functional testing, and uses the LASAR simulator to generate good test patterns and fault dictionary for diagnostics.

Below is the book cover concept for volume three of the new book series on automatic test equipment:

Any of my readers ever worked on this platform?

David Protzman

If you bought PCB-RE:Tools & Techniques, you'd no doubt know who is David Protzman. For those who don't, he is a senior research engineer at a company called Department 13 which specializes in counter drone technology. He also volunteers his time as secretary at Unallocated Space Inc, a technology-based community center that does collaborative education and research works.

Since I made reference to his works for the JTAG-RE chapter, it was only right that I acknowledged and gave him credit with a complimentary copy of the book. Here's his email reply:

The book arrived at the end of the month as expected. I have read through about the first third and have been very impressed with the depth and attention to little details that you explained! I will be working with my office to procure a couple of them for reference and training since we do a fair bit of RE ourselves. I have a coworker who is well known in a smaller RE field that I will be recommending your book to as well. 

Excellent work on the book, and thank you very, very much for the complimentary copy! And a big thank you for including my name and my work in such a well thought out book!!

You heard it from the man himself. What more can I say? :)

Happy CNY 2018!

Today is the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year (CNY) for 2018. According to the Chinese zodiacs, this year is the year of the dog. The eve of CNY is a time for family reunion in which every member will come home no matter where he or she may be, abroad or locally, for the all-important once-a-year reunion dinner at the home of the most senior member of the family. It's a good tradition that should be observed by every generation, more so with globalization where family ties may be stretched and spread thin because of work or study pursuits.

Here's wishing my readers:

Treasure the time with those you love and cherish, my friends!

Romance and the Engineers

Valentine's day and engineers don't seem to gel. That's because engineers often give people the impression that they are more logic than romantic. It's true that most engineers choose engineering because they love to create things or come up with ingenious solutions to teething challenges. No wonder an engineer is defined as:

However, engineers are still humans and not devoid of feelings or affections. Fact is, most of the time they are people in deep thoughts but capable of expressing their emotions, albeit in a different way. Go figure!

All in all, engineers are pretty amazing people. The world would be a very dull and primitive place without them, don't you agree? In truth, engineers are:

So it's time to change our perception of this breed of people, especially on this romantic day of the year.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, my readers! ;)

5-Star Review from Down-Under

A 65-year-old reader from Australia by the name of Bob Dring, a retired engineer who has done much RE works, left this 5-star review on Amazon:

Books on this topic are as rare as hen's teeth.The first book The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering was mainly about RE techniques and ways to keep the extracted data organized. It was really well written and an enjoyable read. The latest book PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques is about the tools (hardware and software) that can be made or purchased to ease the RE process. Again it was just as well written and a good read. I've been doing RE for years mainly to help in the repair of undocumented products and yet I still found some very useful stuff in these two books. 

The reader should be aware that RE takes a lot of time and no book is going to be a magic bullet that will give instant results. However learning to be organized and to correctly document the results can be learned from these books and that means you get to waste less time. You can also reuse and expand a well documented partial RE when tackling a different fault on the same product. 

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

Thanks for the strong endorsement on my books, Bob!

Factron S700 Testers

Right after my three-year stint with the RADCOM WSTS in the air force, I joined Singapore Technologies Electronics' ATE Centre and was introduced to a different kind of testers: the Factron S700 series, namely, the 720 (functional), 730 (in-circuit) and 750 (combinational). I also learned to use third-party test development resources such as the CADAT simulator and the CATS-10000 hardware modeler, to compliment the 720 in functional board testing and debugging.

Just for the fun of it, here's the book cover concept for the second volume of the series on automatic test equipment:

I still haven't made up my mind to write though. Unless readers can persuade me otherwise. Well, as they say, great things always start with a dream...

Rand Kruback

Not many people know Rand Kruback, a renown cartoon artist, but engineers who subscribed to HP journals would have come across his engineering cartoons at one time or another. The sequel book also featured some of his works to which I gave him credits, and sent him a complimentary copy in appreciation.

Well, he was nice enough to acknowledge receipt with a short note:

I want to let you know that I received your book. Thank you very much!
I am very impressed by the huge amount of work you went to in order to collect, organize, formulate, illustrate, etc. your book! Very well done! It is a great look back into the past… for a moment I thought I could even smell the old Kodalith prints coming out of the developer.

Rand still hasn't lost his sense of humor, and I hope he'll enjoy reading the book as much as I had the pleasure of writing and co-editing the contribution chapters.

New Series of Books?

I am still deliberating and hesitating whether to kick start a new series of books that detailed my experience and knowledge in automatic test equipment (ATE). I have been trained in various kinds of ATEs in the 30 years of my engineering careers, from my time with the air force to working in a home-grown defense industry.

Of the many test equipment that I've worked on, there were four that really stood out which I wanted to write about: the RADCOM WSTS (AN/USM-467), Schlumberger's Factron S700-series, the Teradyne Spectrum 885x and the WesTest DATS/2000. These are interesting ATEs that served their era in the electronic testing industry and each has its unique strength and technology to learn from.

To give you an idea, I have created the cover page for the RADCOM WSTS out of inspiration as the first in the series to write (if I decide to write, that is):

I know there are many ex-US Navy technicians as well as those from countries with the E2C aircrafts who had worked on this amazing piece of test equipment. They would probably be delighted to get a copy of this book (if it is published) and relive the good times and memories they had as they read the technical biography of a familiar old friend.

The question is: will there be enough interests to warrant my time and commitment to write it?

Grand Idea Studio

Joe Grand, CEO of Grand Idea Studio and one of the main contributors to PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques, has graciously endorsed the book on his website:

Thanks, Joe, for the much needed publicity!

Amazon Offer?

As of today, I've set the price of the book at $44.95 (10% discount, on account of my wife's goodwill) but Amazon seems to have its own idea on the pricing:

Not sure how long this offer will go on, so if you haven't secure your copy or are still hesitating, then you better act fast before it is gone...

A Twitter Review

Chris McKernan - inventor, developer, engineer, technician, writer as well as president and CEO of Computer Innovative Designs Corporation, tweeted his purchase:

Here's his 5-star review on Amazon.ca:

Great book, great content for those designing PCBs as well as reverse-engineering them. Well worth the purchase price.

Another 5-Star Review

Here's another 5-star review for PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques from Jeremy Hong, a bright and promising student at Wright State University who is also a hardware design and reverse engineer himself:

There are currently only two books that comprehensively cover the niche topic of PCB-RE. Both of these books are authored by Mr. Ng, this is his second book. His first book is a great example of a well documented process of PCB-RE and this book covers fundamentals, tools, and other techniques. 

One chapter in particular, "Manual Override", briefly and concisely describes the fundamentals that design engineers adhere to when laying out a board. Coming from a design background myself, I really appreciated his explanations of layout rules and the constraints that design engineers are faced with. The chapter practically describes my design experience with mixed signal PCBs and it was spot on! I credit my previous design experience with my ability to RE PCBs. I believe that hardware/embedded reverse engineers that don't come from a design background should read this section carefully. It should provide some valuable insight to find interesting test points, debug interfaces, interactions and relationships between digital and analog signals. Also in the book is a very useful chapter dedicated to JTAG. There are chapters dedicated to high-end tools, that I didn't even know existed! I'm still trying to get over the chapter on ScanCAD and how it works. The resources section has some great references and DIY ideas/projects. The PCB-RE equipment and vendors almost reads like a wishlist to me... 

Overall, I found this book to be super useful and it will probably be on my bench more than on a bookshelf. If you are doing this kind of work on a daily basis, like me, you are definitely going to be writing notes, marking up the pages, and putting bookmarks everywhere. I think students, enthusiasts and engineers looking for a career change will certainly take away something from this book.

This book is the culmination of experiences from different industry experts and engineers, and even I myself have benefited from collating and editing their writings and contributions, per se. I'm sure there is something useful for everyone engaged in this niche skillset, whether you're doing it the manual way or with the help of advanced equipment.

Debut Offer Ending Soon

A gentle reminder that the debut offer for my newly launched book, PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques, will end on January 31, 2018. That's three more days from now.

So if you have not order your personal copy, take hold of this opportunity to enjoy the 20% discounted price of $39.95 while you can!

First 5-Star Review

Just received the very first 5-star review from a reader of PCB-RE:Tools & Techniques:

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It has many chapters on all sorts of techniques to reverse engineer printed circuit boards with the intent of either replacing them with identical boards that no longer exist, or determining the schematic for debugging a faulty circuit. From low-tech to high-tech techniques. I've been inspired by the book to troubleshoot and fix a vexing 1970's calculator for which schematics no longer exist.

It is heartening that the hard work put into writing and assembling this book has inspired the likes of readers such as Mr Baruch to at least give a go in reversing some legacy PCB. In time to come, I hope more readers will share their exploits and experiences, and who knows... I may come out with a trilogy that details your interesting stories and skills.

Now that's something to think about, readers!

#1 New Release

Just three weeks after its launch, PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques has achieved No. 1 spot in the new  book release category, as can be seen in the Amazon page:

In terms of overall Amazon Best Seller ranking, it is currently at #24,729 place among the millions of titles carried, which is not bad! In Electrical & Electronic Circuits, it ranked #21 and in Industrial and Manufacturing it is in the #94 position, both of which are within the 100 place marks.

This is like a dream... the months of sweat and hard work is finally bearing fruit, all thanks to readers who believed and supported me through their honest purchases. May this book be a valuable asset to your PCB-RE arsenal of tools and knowledge. Happy reading!

Ps: If you're one of those still hesitating to order a copy, remember the offer is expiring soon...

Pps: And as I mentioned in a previous post, part of the royalties go to charities, so by supporting this book, you are indirectly doing some good at the same time!

Look Who's Tweeting...

Just this morning, I came across a fresh tweet by Joe Grand, one of the contributors to my book, who posted photos of the complimentary copy I sent him as a gesture of my appreciation:

Joe Grand is an American electrical engineer, inventor and hardware hacker who specializes in finding security flaws in hardware devices and educating engineers on how to increase the security of their designs. He was featured in Discovery Channel's TV series Prototype This! in 2008 which saw him achieve mainstream popularity at the age of 33. His involvement in the book, together with a few other big names, is a strong endorsement to its content and credibility.

Grab your copy while it is still on offer!

Off to a Good Start...

To date, my blog has registered 3,600 views with visitors from nearly 50 countries. Since publishing the sequel to my book, within a week there were several Amazon online orders from US, UK and DE, with 50 copies in the pipeline for a bulk order from a digital forensic training company. This is very encouraging compared to when I started with my first book!

A reader from ETAS GmbH, Germany by the name Dr Stephan Pabst, who bought The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering and left a glowing review on Amazon.de immediately ordered the sequel book when he learned that it is published. This is what he wrote in an email to me:

Your first book about reverse-engineering PCBs is, in my opinion, the best publication on this topic, so I am now looking forward to learning even more details while reading the sequel.

The debut offer is still on at the moment but it will not last indefinitely. Order your copy at the 20% discounted price now before the offer ends.

Note: ETAS GmbH is a company that provides innovative solutions, engineering services, consulting, training, and support for the development of embedded systems for the automotive industry and other sectors of the embedded industry.

Debut Offer!

To all my readers who have been patiently waiting... The wait is over! The sequel book, PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques, is now available for online order on Amazon. The list price is $49.95 but for a limited time only you can get it at $39.95 (20% discount). Click on the book cover below to go to the Amazon website to find out more and read sample pages before purchase:

If you stay outside of the US like me, you can order through the Amazon channel best suited to your region (amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.de. amazon.com.au, etc.)

Appreciate if you can help recommend or spread the word around too. Thanks for your patience and support. Happy reading!

2018

2017 has been a momentous year in terms of political, social, economical and environmental bearings for many people. The increasing antagonism and distrust between nations, the racism and intolerance that led to ethnic genocides and displacement, resulting in a complex refugee problem that even the UN is helpless to resolve; the loss of jobs and stability for the average person due to automation, outdated business models or obsolete skillsets, further widened the disparity gap between income groups that impact social cohesiveness; last but not least, the erratic weather conditions that brought heavy rainfalls in some regions and severe drought in other parts of the world, and the destructive forces of nature (hurricanes, earthquakes, raging fires, torrential floods, etc.), cast a dark and long shadow over the ending year.

So what can we look forward to in the coming new year? Is there any glimmer of hope for a better and brighter tomorrow? Nobody can be certain about it. But life still goes on and so must we, one day at a time. Perhaps as we bask and revel in the jovial mood of transition into a new year, it'll be good to pause for a moment and ask ourselves how we can make a difference in the community we live and work in. If each one of us can do our bit to bring a smile to those around us, the world may become a better place.

Here's wishing all my readers a wonderful 2018. Stay healthy and happy!

Xmas? X-Ray!!!

Just learnt from my friend, Fraser Castle from the UK, that recently he's been struggling with some health issues, as well as tending to his father who is undergoing terminal illness. He's a great guy to know and one of the first few to buy my book, The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering, and left a glowing review on Amazon.

I felt kind of sorry that he has to go through so much in life, especially in Apr-May period this year when he lost a close family member. As an active member in the EEVblog forum, he had shared countless engineering topics based on his years of industrial experience, and is most helpful and inspirational to many engineers who seek his advice and assistance.

Chapter 10 of my book, PCB-RE: Tools & Techniques, is adapted from his knowledge on X-ray which he discussed in the forum. He was generous in allowing me to include his writings and the many interesting X-ray photos which he took with his personal Facitron MX-20 machine. Here's a two-page sample:

His good friend Mike also owns one of these machines, and has uploaded several videos on Youtube too. How cool is that?

I wish him good recovery and quality time with his dad as he tends to his needs. Keep yourself in good cheer and spirit, my friend!

Season's Greetings

Christmas always convey an atmosphere of peace and hope, especially in a world that is filled with so much problems and sadness. People seem more joyful during this period as they meet with family and friends to enjoy a wonderful time together, renewing bonds and friendships.

While searching for a greeting card for this post, I stumbled upon a rather interesting one that resembles an engineering drawing:

It's a Nativity scene done by the staff from Engineering Ministries International (eMi) who, since 1982, have worked on over 1,000 relief and development projects in 90+ countries. Their most recent projects involve relief work for those affected in the Mexico earthquake and the Caribbean hurricanes.

While part of the proceeds on the sales of my first book goes to two local charities in my country, I am considering apportioning a sum from the sequel book for this organisation. Readers who buy my books will indirectly be supporting a worthy cause and helping the less fortunate.

Christmas is a time of caring and giving. Let us bring some cheer and hope to those who need it, in whatever limited capacity we are able to. Have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas!

Foreword - Going Forward...?

Waiting. Still waiting. Not just for me, but for many of my readers and those who are following this blog as well. So when will Michael Dunn come back to me on his review of my book, or pen the Foreword that I reserved the honor for him? I have no idea.

Just the other day, I entertained the thought of getting an alternative choice: William Loving, the CEO of ScanCAD International, who has been very supportive of my work since it's inception. So I wrote an email to him and asked if he would be interested to put in a word for the Foreword. He readily agreed and here it is:

I would very much like to hear from my readers whether to continue waiting for Michael's response, or to go ahead and incorporate this Foreword into the book so it can be released for publication. Of course, I will still keep the option open for Michael should he decide to come back at a later date. After all, it's not uncommon to have two persons writing the Foreword.

So please leave your comments in this post so I can proceed from here. Thanks!

Why PCB-RE?

Below is an excerpt from the first chapter of my book:

Despite the high cost and challenges involved, companies and individuals engage in PCB-RE for the following reasons:

 1. Re-create the schematic diagram, in part or full, for repair

 2. Recover the Gerber data for PCB reproduction

 3. Re-design the board to circumvent obsolete parts

The first instance applies to repair technicians and agencies that carry out repair of PCBs without any proper documentation, probably from customers who are end-users and not the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), who may have limited recourse either because the OEM is no longer in business or supporting its end-of-life products, or charges a high premium for repair.

Similarly, a PCB may go out of production resulting in not enough new or refurbished stock in the market to keep existing system operational for another five years. In such cases, the customer may be forced to reproduce the PCB by sacrificing a few bad boards to re-construct the layered artworks for reproduction purpose.

Obsolescence is one major issue faced by the commercial and military alike. PCB designers do not have the ability to predict whether parts used in their design will go out of production or stock for whatever reason.1 Consequently, customers may find themselves in a tight spot when a failed component is no longer available and thus unable to replace it, rendering the faulty board useless.

PCB-RE then becomes a viable option to re-construct the schematics to facilitate re-design works, doing away with the use of obsolete components and replacing with parts that are more readily available. This is usually done without firsthand knowledge of the OEM since there might be possible infringements of intellectual property rights. The legal risks though, is negligible if the re-designed PCBs are meant only for internal consumption and not for external sales to make a profit.

From doing it manually on an ad hoc basis to full-scale automation with reproduction in mind, PCB-RE is increasingly becoming an indispensable discipline in the PCB repair and refurbish industry. The fast-changing market and shortening design-to-product cycles will only see higher demands for such services and practices, not-withstanding the idiosyncrasies and stigma that is attached to this peculiar trade which everyone seems to be doing but no one wants to admit it.

The Suspense is Intense...

Just last week, a reader from down-under inquired in my Facebook page about the status of my sequel book. He saw the photo I posted on the ScanCAD Edition and thought it was already released. Well, I had to disappoint him and tell him to wait a bit longer. Still, he's optimistic and looking forward to getting a copy when it's out.

In the interim, ScanCAD's CEO Bill Loving also emailed me to find out my progress on the book. He is looking forward to getting copies for his distributors and clients from over 48 countries, with an estimated 1000 companies in their business dealings over the past 27 years. In fact, he volunteered his staff to proofread the draft copies for free. I'm glad to have the strong belief and support from someone of his status and experience for my work.

Here's a two page sample taken from a chapter contributed by him and his colleague, Jeff Rupert, an experienced engineer and now director of sales and business development of the company:

Yesterday, a friend of mine Whatsapped me regarding its launch date. I told him I'm still waiting for the review and Foreword from the Editor-in-Chief of EDN. It's as if the suspense of waiting isn't bad enough for me, the intensity of waiting becomes harder to bear with each well-meaning concerns from friends and readers...