Hi everyone! I just found out about this sub and am happy to be subscribed. Just wondering if you all watch YouTube videos on the subject. I really like Adrian’s Digital Basement and UsagiElectric. I’m very interested in the vacuum tube computers from the latter and trying to figure out how those work!
Does anyone have any recommendations for other channels with a similar sort of educational-ish style? I like being not told exactly wtf is happening with the electronics but the diagnostic and repair and explanation parts are the best!
Anyways thanks for reading!
It probably ventures way too far into the “exactly wtf is happening” territory, but Mr. Carlson’s Lab covers tons of tube electronics, mostly radios and amplifiers, but occasionally other equipment like oscilloscopes and function generators, etc.
Again, very in depth, but still really cool to see all the old equipment and some of the clever solutions the original engineers found to make it all work.
Awesome! Thank you for the recommendation. I’m sure I’ll find something to binge on his channel lol
Some other channels I like which probably aren’t all exactly in line with your stated interest (e.g. vacuum tube computers), but I believe produce good content in the retro computer (and adjacent) arena:
8 bit show and tell (mostly commodore stuff) Ben Eater CuriousMarc Tech Time Traveler
I’ve left out some that I like (Cathode Ray Dude comes to mind) which are just too far afield of what I think you are asking for, but are still, in my opinion, good retro computer channels (more or less). Of the ones I mentioned I’m thinking maybe CuriousMarc probably fits best with exactly the kind of thing you are looking for.
Awesome! That’s so many channels to check out thank you so much :)
You’re welcome.
In retrospect I sort of got over excited and rather than answering your exact question I just shared a bunch of my favorite channels. But hopefully you can still find one or two that fits the bill. :)
Super old computers get me pretty excited too! Lol
Do you work in whatever field this type of electronics tinkering falls within? If so I’m just curious what sort of education you obtained. I’m a bit too old for a career switch but this stuff reaaaaally fascinates me.
No, my work experience is in the system/network administration and software development fields. So you could say it is adjacent to that somewhat. I’ve just always loved computers and have wanted to understand how they work and what they can be used for. I get to do a lot of that in my job, but I guess there is a part of that itch which isn’t scratched by what I do in the office.
WindowsG Electronics
Sweet! I’ll take a look. Thank you for the recommendation!