I've been on the game (electronics that is) for the last 30 years and thanks to ELEKTOR have gained valuable insight in the past few years.
For example, I always regarded GPS outside the realm of the 'hobbyist', but as ELEKTOR showed it's only a black box with RS232 on the output.Easy.
Thanks to the ELEKTOR small C booklet I am now using C and assembler to design firmware for my PIC's. Never dreamed how easy C is to use and now I can even use numbers larger than 255! Wow.
Not forgetting EAGLE PCB cad. To design single sided boards and autoroute them.Tried loads of others and this is one of the best.( for single sided that is) discrete componants or SM.
Just a few tips:
I use FTDI loads- both VCP and DLL and found the best way is to cold boot the old laptop when changing USB FTDI periphals.It sure saves the hastle of going into control panel everytime and changing the COM number port setting (for VCP) that is. Also simple to create shortcut for Windows 'SYSTEM' on desktop to easyily change COM port number if not wanting cold boot.
Latest my project: 8 channel color bargraph display using nokia mobile phone display - I always knew there was a much better use for mobile phones! haha.
Well all the best to ELEKTOR for providing my catalyst.Bye
Regards,
RG
