Electronics > Beginners
Advanced diploma electronics at TAFE (kinda want Dave to answer this question)
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StreuB1:

--- Quote from: EEVblog on January 23, 2019, 07:50:40 am ---
--- Quote from: Mr. Scram on January 23, 2019, 07:20:04 am ---
--- Quote from: EEVblog on January 23, 2019, 06:36:39 am ---I missed that the said just "engineer". My point still stands though, I don't call myself a fitness instructor, and given that I only do fitness as a hobby, at best I'm a "fitness hobbyist" or "fitness amateur" despite being qualified. I'd make the same argument for "engineer". Amateur engineers have always called themselves hobbyists.
If I stopped doing engineering as a living or a hobby, I'd call myself a "former engineer" at best.

--- End quote ---
I understand where you're coming from. I'm probably looking more at the term in the etymological sense, with it originally meaning "cleverly devising". I guess that's trade versus activity.

--- End quote ---

I've never really heard many electronics hobbyists call themselves an engineer, it just doesn't seem to be a thing. Unlike a person who plays the violin I can imagine them calling themselves a "violinist".
Many qualified software engineers would call themselves a programmer, but I've never really heard a hobbyist programmer call themselves a software engineer?
The term engineer seems to quite vocationally oriented.

--- End quote ---

I would completely agree.
jeremy:
I teach at university part time, but this is my personal opinion only. I did an undergraduate degree and a PhD in electrical engineering, and I deal with maybe 500 undergrad students every year. (If one of my students ever reads this, hi!). I personally don’t think that a degree makes an engineer (much like Dave has said), but it sure does help, even only as a way to get your foot in the door.

First, just to cut it off, I’ve never heard of any sort of GPU PCB stuff happening in Australia. I suspect it’s mostly just reference designs out of the US companies, which are then modified by the OEMs in Asia. That’s not to say it’s something you can’t do, but it’s pretty unlikely to be in Australia. There is certainly PCB work, but GPUs specifically I’m not so sure.

Can I suggest that you perhaps ask some companies what they would expect in terms of qualifications ? It is my experience that having an engineering degree generally gives you access to better paying and more interesting jobs, although the latter is subjective. Whether or not is should be that way is another argument which I will not involve myself in  ;) I’m not sure I know of anyone who designs serious PCBs but is employed by their company as a technician. Particularly with complex designs (high frequency, high power, etc), you need to be aware that the PCB is very much part of your circuit, so you need to have a good understanding of how the circuit works as much as you need skills in general PCB design.

I obviously don’t know of your experience, but I regularly see students who consider mathematics to be their weak point. Heck, I consider that to be mine too (among lots of other things!). I think it is exceedingly rare to find someone who doesn’t struggle with the sort of maths you would use in some areas of engineering; in fact, the reason most simulation tools exist is because the maths is either too difficult or too much work for the average engineer. People also seem to learn very differently; some are great at absorbing it in a traditional classroom setting, whereas some need to do it themselves repeatedly (I’m in the latter category). All I’m trying to say is that if you don’t care about maths, then you might struggle doing electronics. But if you just find it difficult or intimidating but see the value in it, perhaps there are other learning strategies that might work better for you.
CuteNotGate:

--- Quote from: jeremy on January 23, 2019, 12:07:25 pm ---First, just to cut it off, I’ve never heard of any sort of GPU PCB stuff happening in Australia. I suspect it’s mostly just reference designs out of the US companies, which are then modified by the OEMs in Asia. That’s not to say it’s something you can’t do, but it’s pretty unlikely to be in Australia. There is certainly PCB work, but GPUs specifically I’m not so sure.

--- End quote ---

Yea pretty much its all done over in silicon valley or any other overseas cooperation. I'm all ways been interested in the circuits in computer hardware. The careers adviser at my high school said to me "even if i had the aptitude to do an bachelors in electronic engineering you wont be able to get to do want you want to do, because its done elsewhere other then Australia e.g. Intel and Nvidia" That's why I wanna a do an advanced diploma in electronics it requires an less mathematical ability that I think I should be able to handle it. But I was reading some where that electronics technician are become an less of importance in this age, because of the no need for repairing any electronic equipment when you could just get an new one unless for the militarily.
rstofer:
Around here, Calc I is a 1st semester class in an engineering program and that assumes you have the equivalent knowledge of Pre-Calc which is a two semester class.  Pre-Calc assumes a decent background from high school.  But 2 semesters is a full year and it doesn't even count toward graduation.  That's one of the reasons engineering programs are now more typically 5 years than 4.  And don't even think about skipping Pre-Calc, you will struggle mightily with the low level details when you take Calc I.  There is a saying that "Calculus is easy, it's Pre-Calc that's difficult!".  It's a fair assessment.  Here's a hint:  Don't take Pre-Calc I as a short summer class.

Given the Internet and resources like Khan Academy and CalcWorkshop (fee), math is getting more approachable.  There are so many tutorials just watch some and see how it works out.  NancyPi is good (and easy on the eyes).  Her channel used to be MathBff.
EEVblog:

--- Quote from: jeremy on January 23, 2019, 12:07:25 pm ---Can I suggest that you perhaps ask some companies what they would expect in terms of qualifications ?

--- End quote ---

IME most companies don't care about qualifications, and it usually goes down the bottom of your resume as a footnote here in Australia as a result.
As you said though, it help you get your foot in the door, and is essential in some jobs, but once oyu have experience that is what companies care about.


--- Quote ---All I’m trying to say is that if you don’t care about maths, then you might struggle doing electronics.
--- End quote ---

Most electronics design work does not require complex math, and you can go your entire career without ever needing to use calculus for example.
Of course there are some jobs you might use it daily, but I think if you polled the design engineers on here you'll find they hardly need it.
That's not to say it's not important etc, and you certainly need to know the concepts.

The issue here is that the OP can't get into university, he doesn't have the grades, isn't mature age, and likely doesn't have much experience to special plead to the dean with.
So really the 3 year TAFE diploma is the go, with the option to transfer into uni later if desired.
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