Electronics Knowledge and Skill Level of This Forum

[John R Retired]

Is this forum supposed to be geared towards technician or engineer level of electronics?

Or is it for any level of electronics skill and knowledge?

A related question is this a forum where actual techs or engineers would go for answers
to a problem they would run across in professional electronics work?

Or is this forum mainly for hobbyists who like to play around with electronic gadgets and projects
just for fun who have sketchy and piecemeal understanding of electronics and are self-taught?

Another question would be is there a certain level of electronics skill and knowledge one should
already have under their belt to participate on this forum?

 

[Harald Kapp]

This forum is intended for any level of skill. There are no particular requirements in terms of skill level or knowledge. What we expect, though, is a willingness to learn and to accept advice from those who do have the skills and knowledge.

From what I've seen over the years, the questions are mainly related to hobbyists. We do have professional members, too. You'll see them primarily on the answering side.

 

[Delta Prime]

The answer is yes.
To all of the above ; in the best possible way…

 

[davenn]

Another question would be is there a certain level of electronics skill and knowledge one should
already have under their belt to participate on this forum?

no, it's a place to come and ask questions and learn.
As Harald said, we have all levels of skill here ... those with zero knowledge through to those that work in electronics.
I started play with electronics before I was 10 years old. Went on to work in the telecommunications industry from my late teens.
The last 30+ years, I have been in the audio-video industry and then into the high precision GPS and survey equipment. over the last 13 years
So a pretty varied career.

In this forum, questions are always encouraged, but we do hope that the person asking has made some attempt to google some basic answers
and then come here to refine their search for help

cheers
Dave

 

[John R Retired]

Thanks

Here is another related question:

What knowledge and skill level would be considered "hobbyist" level who can figure out and construct a basic useful circuit device say like a simple AM radio, basic code transmitter (morse code), some kind of flashing LED toy, electric guitar pickup and harness assy., etc, etc., as compared to a pro level electronics technician who understands design and repair of consumer electronic products??

Where would be that threshold that separates the hobbyist who is tinkering around with basic circuits compared to the tech. who lnows
enough to get a job in at least a small business? When does the tinkering hobbyist become the "real deal" with electonics?

 

[ivak245]

Most here would have started in their early teens or even earlier building the types of projects you mention. A lot went on to trades (like myself), and would have gained their knowledge through many years of practical application. Trying to figure out what you are asking is like the old "how long is a piece of string". As an aside, I don't know anyone who has been making a living at this who did not start tinkering with electronics when they were very young. An electronic technician has always been very specific to a certain part of the industry, such as automotive, appliance repair, industrial controls, etc. The basics are the same, but the specifics are varied.

 

[John R Retired]

Most here would have started in their early teens or even earlier building the types of projects you mention. A lot went on to trades (like myself), and would have gained their knowledge through many years of practical application. Trying to figure out what you are asking is like the old "how long is a piece of string". As an aside, I don't know anyone who has been making a living at this who did not start tinkering with electronics when they were very young. An electronic technician has always been very specific to a certain part of the industry, such as automotive, appliance repair, industrial controls, etc. The basics are the same, but the specifics are varied.

I mentioned E.Tech only because I don't know any level in electronics lower than that except assembler which is really not electronics
per se', but more mechanical in practice, aside from some soldering. Where the threshold from hobbyist to "real deal" electronics , practitioner, tech, or "whatever" competent tech and creator of component level circuits is, I don't know. That is why I am asking.
So if according to what you are saying is those projects I mentioned in the last post are typical of early teen projects, then what level
of skill and-or knowledge exceeds the hobbyist level? I don't know how else to form the question, so it may sound like you said
"how long is a string"...... threshold, breakout point, that puts a person in a level beyond hobbyist..is the only way I can ask .

 

[John R Retired]

post deleted

 

[Harald Kapp]

Where the threshold from hobbyist to "real deal" electronics , practitioner, tech, or "whatever" competent tech and creator of component level circuits is, I don't know.

There's imho no "threshold". It's a gradual change. And you will find experienced hobbyists who are far more professional in their work than educated professionals. In almost any profession, not only in electronics.

And don't forget the Dunning-Kruger effect ...

 

[John R Retired]

There's imho no "threshold". It's a gradual change. And you will find experienced hobbyists who are far more professional in their work than educated professionals. In almost any profession, not only in electronics.

And don't forget the Dunning-Kruger effect ...

So how can, let's say,, "YOU" determine if a person has a firm and definite understanding of electronics theory and skills to build
electronics devices if that person is put in any circumstance which involves general electronics components and universal electronics
cognition? There must be a universally accepted standard of fully grasping general electronic theory and pragmatic skills for a person
to "honestly" and "legitimately" meet a widely accepted litmus test of knowing electronics, without the nebulous Dunning-Krouger affect.
Perhaps there is a "basic" level that every electronics practioner (design and repair) should know, but the word "basic" seems
too fundamental.
The other POV would be that electronics has too many specific specialized genres that stand on their own and cannot be generalized under one umbrella, but I don't think that is the case. All electronics use the same components, big or small, combined and wired to
perform electron manipulation on a practical level for everyday use, in one form or another. It's just a matter of the right combination
of individual components and the circuits they make. So if a hobbyist has a superior understanding of all that, he or she is not longer
a hobbyist but a professional practioner of electronics and really should be making some money using his or her skills in the world
of electronics practitioners.
Maybe all that explanation above describes the inquiry I am making. Why should I care about this? To understand where I am in the picture
or what I should be aiming for, if I take electronics seriously, or just tinker around haphazardy throw some components together to
occasionally make a nifty electronic widget of some sort, without really understanding electronics per se'. Like a person could change
their brake pads or spark plugs or light bulbs and fuses on their car but not really know anything about mechanical theory and operation or with the bulbs any understanding of electricity. That is some kind of a comparison I suppose, but not exactly.

 

[davenn]

So if a hobbyist has a superior understanding of all that, he or she is not longer
a hobbyist but a professional practioner of electronics and really should be making some money using his or her skills in the world
of electronics practitioner

And that right there is the main difference, it's the difference between getting paid or not.
As Harald stated, there can be highly skilled hobbyists and poorly skilled, and I use the term loosely, professionals

A side note the term "professional" would usually entail a university degree in electronics/electrical engineering.
A person can be a very skilled tech WITHOUT having gone to uni. on the subject. And I fall into that category.
So, because of that, I dont classify myself as a professional even tho I have been a paid electronics tech my whole
working life, 10+ years.

cheers
Dave

 

[Delta Prime]

Belly buttons are just like opinions. Everybody has one.
Here’s mine.Ignorance of one's own ignorance, can be excused on simple logical grounds, for how should one doubt one's own knowledge about subject matters whose very existence one does not know about?
I am an electronic technician employed to do electrical engineering research.
Recognizing that there exist unknowns beyond the realms of what one knows is possible; I’m living proof of that!
I learned very quickly to be cross, disciplined in science; the scientific method fuels a self reinforcing objectivity when seeking the truth.
Increasingly interdisciplinary nature of of electrical ,electronic research creates an asymmetry of knowledge: One reason is the fragmentation of modern science into subspecialties with their own terminological dialect.
Not being aware of one's own relative ignorance on a particular, subject, matter, is amplified among the less knowledgeable and the unlearned.
“Real Knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance”
– Confucius

 

[John R Retired]

Belly buttons are just like opinions. Everybody has one.
Here’s mine.Ignorance of one's own ignorance, can be excused on simple logical grounds, for how should one doubt one's own knowledge about subject matters whose very existence one does not know about?
I am an electronic technician employed to do electrical engineering research.
Recognizing that there exist unknowns beyond the realms of what one knows is possible; I’m living proof of that!
I learned very quickly to be cross, disciplined in science; the scientific method fuels a self reinforcing objectivity when seeking the truth.
Increasingly interdisciplinary nature of of electrical ,electronic research creates an asymmetry of knowledge: One reason is the fragmentation of modern science into subspecialties with their own terminological dialect.
Not being aware of one's own relative ignorance on a particular, subject, matter, is amplified among the less knowledgeable and the unlearned.
“Real Knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance”
– Confucius

So what makes a person competent in electronics according to some definite general standard set forth by the electronic gods?

 

[John R Retired]

And that right there is the main difference, it's the difference between getting paid or not.
As Harald stated, there can be highly skilled hobbyists and poorly skilled, and I use the term loosely, professionals

A side note the term "professional" would usually entail a university degree in electronics/electrical engineering.
A person can be a very skilled tech WITHOUT having gone to uni. on the subject. And I fall into that category.
So, because of that, I dont classify myself as a professional even tho I have been a paid electronics tech my whole
working life, 10+ years.

cheers
Dave

Same question for you:

"So what makes a person competent in electronics according to some definite general standard set forth by the electronic gods?"

By the way, some say that a person is a "Professional" in any field or operation if they are making money at it and are expert in their
understanding of said endeavor. That would make you a professional even if you don't have a uuniversity degree.

 

[Delta Prime]

So what makes a person competent in electronics according to some definite general standard set forth by the electronic gods?

I cannot answer your question. I am only a demigod. I do not know.!

 

[John R Retired]

I cannot answer your question. I am only a demigod. I do not know.!

"electronic gods"

Figure of speech meaning widely accepted & recognized experts in electronics.

 

[Delta Prime]

"electronic gods"

Figure of speech meaning widely accepted & recognized experts in electronics.

“Demigod”, I was being literal;
I am the unofficial, sergeant at arms for the brain trust. You seek an audience on Mount Olympus. You can find it here..

Physics Forums

Join Physics Forums, where students, scientists, and enthusiasts come together to explore and discuss the current understanding and practice of various scientific fields.

www.physicsforums.com

 

[John R Retired]

“Demigod”, I was being literal;
I am the unofficial, sergeant at arms for the brain trust. You seek an audience on Mount Olympus. You can find it here..

Physics Forums

Join Physics Forums, where students, scientists, and enthusiasts come together to explore and discuss the current understanding and practice of various scientific fields.

www.physicsforums.com

I'm asking about "electronics" not Physics, even if electronics is based in Physics.

What makes a legit real-deal competent electronics tech (4 lack of a better label ) who understands practical electronics design
and electron circuit operation as well as fixing electronics gear? There must be some technical knowledge criteria to pin this down.

 

[Bluejets]

I'm asking about "electronics" not Physics, even if electronics is based in Physics.

What makes a legit real-deal competent electronics tech (4 lack of a better label ) who understands practical electronics design
and electron circuit operation as well as fixing electronics gear? There must be some technical knowledge criteria to pin this down.

Like anything else, years of practical experience, years of study.
Even then there are a lot of dead heads out there, that's just the way it is.

Well known there are many good pilots out there for example and at the same time there are many who will kill you.
Just accept it and move on...........and get yourself a hobby.

 

[John R Retired]

Like anything else, years of practical experience, years of study.
Even then there are a lot of dead heads out there, that's just the way it is.

Well known there are many good pilots out there for example and at the same time there are many who will kill you.
Just accept it and move on...........and get yourself a hobby.

I'm not seeking a philosophical answer or revelation so I can accept the reality of the world of electronics (or airline pilots or whatever.
I'm trying to get a handle on what I need to know or practice to be considered competent in electronics, even though I already have some knowledge and experience at some basic level. What the general basic level is in electronics is, I'm not sure. After establishing that fact,
I am trying to grasp what knowledge and skill I should move on to. I'm talking about "general electronics" that could be applied in any area
of electronics, whether it's audio, RF, consumer devices around the house, TV, satellites, industrial control, aircraft electronics, digital and computers or ANY type or genre of electronics that exists currently----"general competent knowledge and practical (hands on) real world
electronics. Or is electronics so wide and differentiated that a general theoretcal working understanding of electronics does not exist and
each genre is so completely different that "general electronics" does not exist at some level?