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Member's Forum Cost of electronics hobby?
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  • hardware
  • cost
Related

Cost of electronics hobby?

cybermah
cybermah over 8 years ago

Hi All,

 

Just a general question,  how everyone affords their electronics hobby?  I find for me the average cost of a development board is around $50 to $75 plus tax and shipping and that doesn't include any external hardware.  I usually cut my cost by buying off of ebay for external hardware unless a the project requires specific brand or I need to get the parts fast ( ebay usually takes a month for shipping).

 

Thanks

Dana.

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Top Replies

  • kas.lewis
    kas.lewis over 8 years ago in reply to dougw +1 suggested
    True on the instrumentation part. I wouldn't have any of the top gear I do without it, VERY helpful. But I have looked at GoIndustry DoveBid but with importing to Canada it gets complicated, if you're…
  • kas.lewis
    kas.lewis over 8 years ago in reply to kas.lewis +1 suggested
    Looks like Tektronix is now using the site to get rid of their refurbished units... LOTS of their stuff on there.
  • jlangbridge
    0 jlangbridge over 8 years ago

    That all depends, really. I have dozens of boards, one of them costs in excess of 300€, but there are a few that are around the 10€ mark. It all depends what you want to do... I'm currently working on mbed, and the STMicroelectronic Nucleo boards are extremely cheap (and reliable), for 50€ you have an evaluation board, a breadboard, enough components for a few projects and even a low-grade multimeter that will help you through.

     

    As for the exact question, I can afford it because it is my job, otherwise I wouldn't have as many boards...

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  • DAB
    0 DAB over 8 years ago

    I use garage sales and flea markets to find and repurpose old electronics devices.

     

    Lots of useful parts in toys and old VCR's.

     

    DAB

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  • kas.lewis
    0 kas.lewis over 8 years ago

    Seminars, lots of seminars and getting friendly with sales reps. At seminars they will often give away some really nice kits and reps will lend, or give you kits if you ask nicely and they know you well enough.

     

    Kas

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  • dougw
    0 dougw over 8 years ago

    Lifetime of hoarding, salvaging parts from junk, scouring ebay, going hungry to buy parts, begging suppliers for samples, and of course applying for a lot of element14 road tests and design challenges - the only way I get any decent instrumentation.

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  • kas.lewis
    0 kas.lewis over 8 years ago in reply to dougw

    True on the instrumentation part. I wouldn't have any of the top gear I do without it, VERY helpful. But I have looked at GoIndustry DoveBid but with importing to Canada it gets complicated, if you're living in the US it's probably a lot easier.

     

    Kas

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  • kas.lewis
    0 kas.lewis over 8 years ago in reply to kas.lewis

    Looks like Tektronix is now using the site to get rid of their refurbished units... LOTS of their stuff on there.

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