Magazine Recommendations

Hello...

Seems this question comes up every now and again. I know this from searching the groogle gloops archives. Problem is that I cannot find any references newer than say, 1999, and many of the magazines cited appear to have gone by the wayside- i.e. Circuit Cellar, etc.

Some time ago, I came across some old issues of Popular Electronics and was blown away by the quality of the articles, the neat projects and interesting people writing for them (i.e. Craig Anderton). I understand that, for all intents and purposes, "Nuts and Volts" is the modern incarnation of PE. Some posts (in 1999) indicated that Nuts and Volts was on a decline.

True or False?

How about Everyday Practical Electronics? or Silicon Chip Magazine? I'm in the United States, so will the circuits in these still work even though the holes and electrons want to travel on the wrong side of the wire, upside down?

These days, with Internet mail order and all, is it pretty easy to find parts and supplies for projects in magazines from abroad?

What else is worth reading, and what is junk? My skill level is somewhere between beginner and intermediate. I'm mostly interested in audio circuits, and i *could* become interested in robotics. I'm less interested in magazines that regularly feature computer/operating system/programming subjects (I already get enough of that at work). Part of my problem is that I'm eager to build *something* all the time, I just don't know what to build, aside from guitar effects and small amplifiers.

I'd appreciate any help, direction or flames. Thanks in advance!

-phaeton

Reply to
phaeton
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That's news to me, considering that I have a circuit cellar subscription.....

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I've heard that Servo, Nuts and Volts, and Make magazine

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are all fine publications.

ttyl,

--buddy

Reply to
Buddy Smith

I don't keep up with new hobby mags anymore, simply because I don't have the time and there aren't as many around. But I do know that you can still load up on back issues of various electronics/ham radio mags very cheaply. Check out computer sidewalk sales, hamfests, and library sales. You can find issues of _Popular Electronics_, _73_, _QST_, _CQ_, _Hands-On Electronics_, _Electronics Now_, etc. Much of what they handle is still useful today and they're easy to understand. Of course, by this time you may have to make any circuit board patterns yourself, and some oddball components may be difficult to find. But if you're just studying theory or want to read stuff from particular writers, that's a good way to go.

Reply to
Matt J. McCullar

I agree with Matt that older magazines are one of the best sources of both project ideas and information on the basics. You can find vintage Popular Electronics, Radio Electronics and Elementary Electronics on Ebay fairly cheaply.

From my experience you can't do any better than these older publications for timeless tutorials on things you must understand to pursue electronics right. Many seem forget that you must understand concepts discovered over

100 year ago and devices invented over 50 years ago to build and/or modify a project built around the latest microcontroller, MP3 player or Internet control.

Dorian

Reply to
DM

--3 I find useful: -Nuts & Volts -Make -Servo --There's a bran new rag devoted to homebrew robotics but the name escapes me at the moment..

-- "Steamboat Ed" Haas : Whatever happened Hacking the Trailing Edge! : to Eiffel Plasterer?

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---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

Reply to
steamer

Thanks for the suggestions, folks.

I'll definately have to dig up the old Popular Electronics mags. I bumped into someone in a different forum that said he bought about 7 years worth of issues from a library sale many years ago for about $5 (and then of course ebayed them).

Makezine looked interesting for this issue, so I bit the bullet and ordered a subscription. I'll probably do the same for Circuit Cellar and/or Nuts n Volts.

I'm trying to avoid "digital copies" of magazines though. I'm trying to develop something to read and do /away/ from the computer :-D

Thx

-phaeton

Reply to
phaeton

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