No progress to report

Finally have all the parts needed to start working through the "Getting Started with Arduino" book but have found absolutely no time to devote to the project.  Finding between wife baby and work theres nearly no time to satisfy the need to.melt.solder.  With hope I can return to this project soon, I have been carrying the parts around with me the last few weeks looking for the chance to tinker!   73 for now de W8FG

My Arduino Arrives

Micro Controllers and Self Education

Been hearing more and more about the Arduino platform. I think it is finally time to start experimenting with embedded computing and micro controllers. Past desires to do so have only brought me to severe frustration either by the expense or the fact I lack the programming skills to get anywhere with this sort of projects.  Several years ago I had desire to learn PICs but the expense for the Basic compiler wasrather high and I had no confidence in trying to learn C or assembler.  In more recent years the thought of the PICAXE and everything that makes it easier than a PIC had gave me new founded desire to try.  I ordered several 08m chips but had to pack up about 99% of my electronics work shop into rental storage. (I have a new wife and new baby) Now after the recent edition of MAKE Magazine watching videos by LadyAda and Phil Torrone, The works of Ben Heck and Jeri Ellsworth all I can say is here we go again! I hope the Arduino community can help bring me up to speed and inspire some great projects. Soon hope to have the Arduino Uno. Will probably wind up with the SMD edition. I am uncertain how I feel about this! At this time I am leaning more toward not being thrilled. Still researching the ups and downs. i understand the SMD unit was developed out of a huge shortage of the DIP ATMega328 chip. Hope this is corrected soon!

Internet Blogging

I am not much of a writer,  I hope to use this page as a marker for my random thoughts that gather when surfing the internet.  It may be of no use to anyone, but it may prove useful in keeping my projects and desire to start a project in order.