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Comment by rramadass | Hacker News Reader

See my previous comment here for how to get started - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33628025

I highly recommend downloading Understanding Signals with the Propscope from Parallax (available for free online) and following the tutorials from it with an Arduino+Analog Discovery 2/3 device. You can use the Digilent "Real Analog" learning course along with it - https://digilent.com/reference/learn/courses/real-analog/sta...

The real motivation in Electronics comes from understanding in visual form (using a Oscilloscope/Multimeter etc.) how things work in a circuit and how your calculations match up to what you see on the screen. Even as simple as the beginner LED circuit can teach you a lot when you use a potentiometer and see how voltage/current graphs change.

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I have a feeling that in circuitry the focus is to manipulative the components so that the final chart is similar to what you want (e.g. a sine wave), and then try to improve the quality and reduce the # of components to save cost. Is it correct?

Thanks a lot for the recommendations.

Would you recommend the Real Analog course independently?

What does the Propscope one offer that Real Analog doesn’t? The Propscope one looks kinda old so I was wondering what I’d miss if I only used Real Analog.

Also not sure if there’s a parts kit for the Propscope one that I can buy.

Sure, you can do the "Real Analog" course independently. Study it with a Parts Kit from Digilent+Analog Discovery 2/3 device(AD2/AD3)+Arduino board. That would be a nice entry point into Electronics+Embedded Systems.

I was referring to the tutorial pdf of Understanding Signals with Propscope containing very nice step-by-step lessons in using a USB Oscilloscope for measuring various circuit parameters. The Propscope itself is very old/underpowered (not being sold anymore) and not needed. You just use AD2/AD3 with its Waveforms software to do the same experiments with any board.

Note that if you use a AVR-based Arduino you can learn to program at the higher Arduino API/library level and then at the lower direct AVR level both with the same board. For learning Arduino Programming see Exploring Arduino by Jeremy Blum and for direct AVR programming see Make: AVR Programming by Elliot Williams.

Thanks for the tips.

I placed an order for the AD3+Parts Kit and excited to dive in!

Nice. You also need to get the BNC Adapter board and probes for AD3 (available separately or as part of the pro bundle). Might also want to take a look at other available adapters for AD3.

AD3 resources (docs/tutorials/accessories/books etc.) - https://digilent.com/reference/test-and-measurement/analog-d...

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