Everything in electronics has a learning curve. How to use a scope, how to use a digital multimeter (be glad today you aren't having to read an old analog meter scales), how to use a Frequency Counter, how to use function generators and the list goes on. Hell about the time I had some things mastered, new things came out. Trying to remain ahead of the curve isn't easy.

The more you use any TMDE (Test, Measurement, Diagnostic Equipment) the more proficient you become and believe me the learning curve is ongoing. Consider I am an old guy, my career began with vacuum tubes or valves for my friends across the pond. When I was a kid, maybe 10 years old, I rode my bike a town over to an Arrow Electronic Supply store. I plopped down $6.00 for two transistors. Transistors were the new rage. I promptly took them home and burned one up. Damn, learning curve at work. Rome wasn't built in a day and learning electronics takes time and starting from the beginning. You are going to make mistakes, you will let the smoke out of components but you will learn. Funny how I still remember smoking that first transistor. That was 66 years ago. Anyway, what is important is to learn from mistakes. I guarantee you the next time you want to view a 1.0 Hertz pulse with a 50% Duty Cycle you will know how to use your scope.

Ron

 

I also come all the way from vacuum tubes. The nice thing about them, from an electronics novice perspective, is the amount of abuse they could tolerate. If the plate started glowing a strange color, unplug the thing! Once the problem was cleared, the thing would work as if nothing had happened.
With transistors, a wrong connection, or if you accidentally shorted something with your VOM probe, and they would go kaput in a millisecond! And boy, those were expensive. Germanium also had this nasty tendency to easily go into thermal runaway.
But I digress…..don’t want to hijack this thread.

 

Rome wasn't built in a day and learning electronics takes time and starting from the beginning. You are going to make mistakes, you will let the smoke out of components but you will learn. Funny how I still remember smoking that first transistor. That was 66 years ago. Anyway, what is important is to learn from mistakes. I guarantee you the next time you want to view a 1.0 Hertz pulse with a 50% Duty Cycle you will know how to use your scope.

Ron

Every time i play with my breadboard i learn something, every time i ask questions on this site i learn something and yes, i now know how to view very low frequencies on my oscilloscope...

Electronics is a very exciting hobby

 

Every time i play with my breadboard i learn something, every time i ask questions on this site i learn something and yes, i now know how to view very low frequencies on my oscilloscope...

Electronics is a very exciting hobby

For me? Electronics was something I got from my father. As a kid I got my ham radio ticket when I was 13. I had no clue it would become a 40 plus year career and take me all over the planet. I enjoyed my work. Been 14 years come 01 May 2026 since I was walked out of the facility and surrendered my badge. Today I still meddle to keep my mind going. I help a friend a few days a week in his gun shop. Anyway what began as a hobby became a career that fed kids,, paid tuition and put beanies and weenies on the table.

That's good and each time you do things on the breadboard you come away with something learned. I have to visit the Arduino Forums. I have a circuit with 8 relays all I2C and it runs fine right till it quits.

Anyway, enjoy the hobby and every enthusiast starts somewhere.

Ron