Jameco Great American Hobbyist census

[SoundMods]

Looking at the average age, I see that what I already "knew" is true: We are a dying breed.

HEY!! I resemble that remark!!

[Stuart Polansky]

I done with posting here
I post comments to add to the conversation not post to criticize someone else's comments

Sorry,

Didn't intend to criticize. Was only trying to share my own youth's experience, similar to yours and hopefully others.

Stuart

[Roscoe Primrose]

The electronics company Jameco recently did a survey of a large number of electronics hobbyists. They have the results of that survey on their site and it is very interesting with some surprises in the form of outlook for DIY in the future. Here is a link:

http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/workshop/r ... l?CID=blog

Tom

You should be able to attache the pdf at thi point, as long as it's <2MB....

Roscoe

[tomp]

Here is the Jameco census which I can post as the site now handles PDFs.

Tom

Attachments

GreatAmericanElectronicsHobbyistCensusExecutiveReport.pdf

(400.24 KiB) Downloaded 860 times

[Guy]

My comments were to highlight that no single source can supply all that we need nowdays. It is getting harder to find the right stuff every day. Unfortunately, DIYers are not a big enough factor to steer the market so we have to hunt around in both the new and used markets to find what we need and increqasingly the new stuff is coming from China.
Tom

I fear the day when I can't get components with wires on them! My eyes and hands may not stack up to all those little solder pads...

[tomp]

I know what you mean. In one of my projects I needed an RMS to DC converter that was only available in surface mount. After much struggling I finally invested in a hot ait reflow work station that is normally used to repair boards with surface mounts to do the job. I seldom use it so if anyone needs to borrow it please let me know.

Tom

[Curlington]

When I was a kid I relied on Rat Shack, looked what happened to them!
I am a little lucky here in Baltimore I have Bayneville electronic just a few miles away for last minute bits and pieces.

That's a pretty cool store. I bought some 69's vintage grill cloth there a couple of years ago. I'd love to have them near me.

Earl

[Guy]

I used to get a LOT of parts at the Shack! I was mesmerized by the selection of parts and tools at the original Radio Shack on Rockville Pike (1st in my area.) That and perusing the Lafayette catalogs.

[SoundMods]

Baynesville Electronics still keeps a nice selection of that wonderful open weave grille cloth plus so much else. Decent RCA and XLR connectors, shrink tubing up the wazoo, power resistors, 10-turn pots, anything you need for RF, speaker crossover pots, etc. I go there first when I need something. It's a family run operation and believe or not, they got a lot of referral business from Radio Shack.

For a while there they had some sand-filled fuses that were competitive with the Hi-Fi Tuning Fuse product for pennies on the Hi-Fi tuning Fuse dollar. I think for now I nailed them all until they restock. Plenty of wire and cable, soldering tools, tools focused on electronics, and so on.

[Guy]

Thanks, Walt, I didn't even know about Baynesville! I little drive for me, but at least they still have a physical store!