Useful Links
This page contains links to Internet sources and contacts we have found useful, we hope you will find them useful too.
These sites linked are neither owned nor maintained by us, and we cannot take responsibility for their content. Some of the links are to suppliers of various goods and services, and while we may have used these suppliers in the past, we do not offer any warranties or guarantees, regarding any particular goods or services that may be offered by, or in connection with these sites.
Many of the sites listed offer free software. As far as we can tell, they contain no unwanted hidden features such as Spyware or Trojans etc. and the sources are generally respected in the Internet community. We use most of the software offered on a regular basis, and have done so for a number of years without problems. Nevertheless, while unlikely, it is possible that the web site any software is offered from has been interfered with in some way.
There are a number of people who would like to see some of the sites linked discredited or closed, and are evidently not overly concerned with legal or ethical implications. (For instance, the Spamcop site has been subject to several 'Denial Of Service' attacks, presumably launched by disgruntled spammers.)
We therefore advise caution, and recommend that you satisfy yourself that the software is safe before installing. There are lots of websites offering advice on this subject, like this one, but get advice from more than one source.
An extra tip on using virus scanner software: Virus writers rarely issue advance release notices, and it will often take a while before a virus makes itself known. Once a virus has been reported, it has to be checked to see if it is a virus this takes time. It takes a little longer to add it to the virus database and make it available for download. So it is advisable to wait several days after downloading software before scanning for viruses, and use the latest database copy available.
While this page is maintained fairly frequently, it is not practical to do this on a regular basis. Some of the links may be to sites that no longer exist, have moved, or are otherwise broken. If you find that a link you are interested in is persistently broken, we would appreciate it if you would contact us. (We may be able to help you with an alternative link, and it helps us keep the site up-to-date.)
If you know of any site which you think should be included in this list, then please contact us, and we will check it out.
There are a lot of PCB fabricators out there, and to list them all would be impractical. The two here represent our own first preference.
Production Quantities & Prototype
PR Circuits Limited are based in Shoreham, near Brighton in West Sussex, England. We have worked with this company extensively in the past, and can recommend them. As well as handling production runs, their Gold Prototype Service provides fully tested prototype PCB's, with short turnaround times. A form is provided for on-line quote. For more information, click on the link below.
Small Quantity & Prototype
PCB-Pool are based in County Clare, Eire and can offer one-off PCB's at reduced cost. This is achieved by 'pooling' your PCB with other customers jobs, so set-up costs are shared. Board testing is also offered at an additional cost based on board area. This can cost a lot less than the 'normal' approach, but depends on PCB technology, size and quantity. (Large quantities or large boards may be less economical.) They also quote on-line.
http://www.pcb-pool.com/uk_index.htm
EMC Advice and Information and services.
The best and most comprehensive source for EMC information, services and products we have found so far is the EMC Compliance Club web site You can subscribe to the 'EMC & compliance journal' for regular EMC news and information and browse the journal and its archives on-line. The articles by by Keith Armstrong of Cherry Clough Consultants are particularly interesting. The site also has links to various directives and standards.
The University of York offers workshops and courses in EMC related subjects. It also has links to York EMC Services Ltd who provide a range of EMC services, manufacture a range of EMC equipment. They have two test laboratories, one in West Yorkshire, another in Fife, and offer on-site testing.
Elmac Services are another company providing EMC consultancy and services, but are base in West Sussex. Check out their 'Papers' page for articles with design tips and explanations, on how to avoid EMC problems.
Compliance Engineering is an American on-line magazine covering EMC issues.
Many of the remaining links can be found on the other sites in this category, but they are included here for convenience.
The EMC Test Laboratories Association
http://emlib.jpl.nasa.gov/ mainly theoretical & research, but good links.
http://www.emclab.umr.edu/ University of Missouri-Rolla EMC Lab.
European Commission The official source for standards harmonisation.
While this is not directly related to PCB design or electronic engineering, many products require machined metalwork. The following link takes you to a Surrey based engineering workshop who we have used in the past, and can manufacture machined parts in small quantities if required.
PCB and related standards
The IPC provides standards for the production and design of circuit boards. They have also recently released a standard for surface mount component 'land patterns' (Footprints.), and the nomenclature of the same.
The nomenclature pages have been made available for free download in PDF format. As far as we are aware this is the first time that such a standard has been published. Previous standards defined package names, and methods for calculating pad shapes etc. but not naming the PCB land pattern. This has meant that every circuit designer, and software producer has used different names for the same patterns.
A viewer for the new standard patterns is available here.
JEDEC has long produced packaging standards for electronics components.
Military standards links
Now and again someone will refer to a military standard in a specification, and there are plenty of web sites which will sell you copies of these standards. This must be quite profitable as the vast majority are unclassified, and can be downloaded free from government web sites!
These are mostly in PDF format, and you usually need the document number to locate the standard you need. If you don't have the full document number, then often part of the number will suffice. For example, MIL-HDBK-217F can be found by just entering '217' in ASSIST.
There are some standards which cannot be downloaded, but this is usually because the standards have not yet been scanned, or may be obsolete. You should still be able to order printed copies from the web site if you really need them. (A printing and shipping fee may be charged for this.)
UK Defence Standards (DEFSTAN)
Williamson Labs
Shamelessly American, but still has plenty of useful stuff, including design advice, clearly explained in simple terms.
A PCB laminate FAQ
Want to know what FR4 really is? FELS is a large PCB materials supplier. The link takes you to their FAQ page.
http://www.felsweb.com/lam_faq.htm
Printing and Document viewing
To obtain copies of Ghostscript and GSview go to http://ghostscript.com/ and follow the links to the downloads for your system. You can also try http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/ .
PostScript® printer drivers and Adobe® Reader® are available from Adobe via their main web site
GC-Prevue
GC-Prevue is probably the industry-standard gerber viewer. You can use it to view and check your PCB. It is offered free from Graphicode.
OpenOffice Suite
We support the use of open source software. This web site was created using part of the OpenOffice suite. OpenOffice is fully functional and professionally produced. The project is maintained by a large community of volunteers, and is completely free, you don't even have to register. Downloads from this site can be virtually guaranteed to be safe, but you can order on CD if you like, in which case a charge will be made for handling.
Systems Software
Linux is a useful alternative to Windows, and is available in a variety of flavours (referred to as 'distros'), most are available for free download, with no strings. It has a reputation for being awkward to install, but this need not be the case, it depends on the distro you select. There are commercial distros, which are fully supported, much easier to install, and still very reasonably priced. The Linux web site has the information you need to choose which may be best for you.
There is a lot of useful software available for Linux free.
Also, we have found that it is virtually immune to Internet-borne nasties, such as ad ware etc. Why this is is not clear, but Linux is a Unix-like system, and designed as a multi-user system with security in mind from the start. Also it runs on a wide variety of machine types, and there are a number of Internet browsers and e-mail programs to choose from. This makes it difficult to find a security 'hole' to for hackers to exploit that will work with them all. So it's not 'easy money', which is the main reason for people doing this. Much better for them to concentrate on targeting a 'leaky' system that is used by the largest single group. (We offer no prizes for guessing which is the favourite target.) We have run tests on a 'spare' machine and visited, without benefit of a firewall, a large number of suspect sites without problems. It's very good for file and Internet servers too. To find out more, clock on the Logo.
Anti-Spam & Other Security Links
Sam Spade
From Blighty Design, this Freeware general-purpose Internet utility package has features to help in tracing the real source of spam e-mail and other forms of Internet harassment. Can also be useful in diagnosing network problems.
Junk Busters
New Scientist published the URL of this page as a source of ``more information than you could ever need'' about junk communications. The page contains advice on how to avoid spam e-mail. It even suggests a method of getting the spammer to pay you for every e-mail they send you! (Apparently this has been case-tested in the US, which is where most spam originates.) It also has many links to web sites on spam.
JUNKBUSTERS Junk Email (Spam) Headlines
The Real Spamcop Web site
This is the real and original Spamcop web site created by Julian Haight. A number of anti-spam services are available here.
SpamCop.net - Beware of cheap imitations
Anti-Spyware/Ad ware Search and Removal
Spyware and Ad ware are increasingly becoming a nuisance. Both can be installed on your machine without your knowledge, commonly as a Trojan, although sometimes it comes as a condition for using certain 'free' software. (Permission for this is often hidden in the EULA.) It is rarely simple to remove once installed. Spyware can send all sorts of information about you and your company from your computer without your permission, or knowledge.
Ad ware will place advertising banners on your display, usually as a browser add-on, or modifies your browsers address bar, favourites or other features. To make things worse, Ad ware is frequently 'buggy code' and may cause your browser to crash.
Spyware is often used to target advertising, so is sometimes used in tandem with Ad ware This is irritating enough, but can be used for more sinister purposes, such as key logging, so it could be sending your passwords and banking details to a third party.
Spybot Search and Destroy is Freeware which can search your machine for these nasties, and remove them. It will also block attempts to install such software. We use it regularly as a back-up to the usual fire-wall as an extra security measure, to find any that might still sneak through. It's database of known 'mal ware' is frequently upgraded, and you can run scans as a background process.
The web site contains links to other malware control sites.
Information About the Internet
The Internet standards are defined by RFC's (Request For Comments), though not all RFC's are adopted as standards. Some are plainly tongue in cheek, take a look at RFC 1149. (This one has not been adopted as a standard!) These links take you to three popular RFC repositories.
Why do my batteries keep dying?
Most people find that Nickel Cadmium and Nickel Metal-Hydride batteries never seem to last as long as they should. There are many opinions as to why this is so, and how to avoid early battery death. The following link takes you to a page with the most concise explanation of what is really going on, and how to really prolong the life of your batteries that we have yet found.
Diatribe due to the continuing Ni-Cd battery saga
Links to various Internet directories, many of which offer free listings.
This one is odd-man-out. It is not a directory of web services, but lists alternative numbers for 0870, 0845 etc, telephone numbers which are often charged at higher rates. (UK listings only.)
Industry Links
The following are links to general industry
related sources of information.
Lots of links from Everything PCB.
The PCB Design Directory, is quite difficult to find. (Maybe it needs a few search engine meta tags!) But it does have a lot of links to PCB design tools etc.
Copyright © G.I. Stalker 2005