Skills you will need - Revision history

Dirknerkle at 15:14, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T15:14:27Z

Dirknerkle at 15:13, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T15:13:18Z

Dirknerkle at 15:12, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T15:12:29Z

Dirknerkle at 15:11, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T15:11:04Z

Dirknerkle at 15:07, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T15:07:48Z

Dirknerkle at 15:02, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T15:02:37Z

Dirknerkle at 15:01, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T15:01:52Z

Dirknerkle at 15:00, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T15:00:31Z

Dirknerkle at 14:58, 29 January 2020

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Dirknerkle at 14:57, 29 January 2020

2020-01-29T14:57:31Z

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 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''8 - You will probably need to learn how to solder'''</span>, especially if you want to assemble electronic circuit boards or kits to save money. (The cost savings can be huge!) This isn't as daunting as you may assume and in fact, assembling electronic gizmos usually quickly becomes a favorite part of the hobby for almost every DIY'er. It's an absolute hoot when you put something together, fire it up for the first time and discover that it works! The very first time you build your own piece of gear, you'll understand the incredible allure this hobby has on participants and you'll ''really'' be hooked!
-*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''9 - Construct things for safety.'''</span> If you intend to build display structures that people can enter or walk under, you'll need to build them structurally sound to prevent possible injury. Again, your hardware/home improvement center has plenty of books on construction techniques. It goes without saying that you'll need to know how to use various household tools -- hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches, drills, saws, ladders, etc. and possibly many power tools such as band or chop saws, circular or jig saws, drill presses, routers, or even welding equipment. The bigger you go, the more skills you'll need to learn.
+*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''9 - Construct things for safety.'''</span> If you intend to build display structures that people can enter or walk under, you'll need to build them structurally sound to prevent possible injury. Again, your hardware/home improvement center has plenty of books on construction techniques. It goes without saying that you'll need to know how to use various household tools -- hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches, drills, saws, ladders, etc. and possibly many power tools such as band or chop saws, circular or jig saws, drill presses, routers, or even welding equipment. The bigger you go, the more skills you'll need to acquire.
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''10 - Don't expect other DIYers to bail you out at the last minute because you got into the hobby way over your head.'''</span> Many newcomers to the hobby don't take the time to learn basic electrical, networking, assembly or construction concepts or plan far enough ahead and consequently become extremely frustrated when crunch-time rolls around. You will quickly acquire a great many friends and acquaintances in this hobby, but understand that they're just like you during crunch time and they're trying to get their own displays operating -- they're running around the yard testing things, plugging things in, fixing plugs or repairing light strings the same as you. This is why you need to acquire your own set of skills so you can be self sufficient. And on this note, here's the results of a survey we took at the end of 2019 of what our experienced users said about their help sessions with "newbies."
 [[File:2019survey.png | 1200px|center]]

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''7 - If you plan to use WiFi or Ethernet-based controllers (E1.31, primarily for smart pixels), you will need to know how to configure computer networking.'''</span>, You'll have to learn about IP addresses and use common network software tools such as ping or telnet as well as opening ports, configuring network routers and wireless access points. If you've never done animated lighting before and you plan to START with some of these jazzy, pixel-type displays, expect to have an ''extremely'' challenging DIY experience. Using WiFi networking in this hobby is not even remotely similar to powering up your tablet or phone and connecting automatically to your home network. Don't expect other DIY'ers to help you diagnose and solve your networking problems. They may try to help, but it's YOUR network. '''YOU''' have to take ownership of your own network. Remember, '''this is a do-it-yourself''' hobby...
-*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''8 - You will probably need to learn how to solder'''</span>, especially if you want to assemble electronic circuit boards or kits to save money. (The savings can be huge!) This isn't as daunting as you may assume and in fact, assembling electronic gizmos usually quickly becomes a favorite part of the hobby for almost every DIY'er. It's an absolute hoot when you put something together, fire it up for the first time and discover that it works! The very first time you build your own piece of gear, you'll understand the incredible allure this hobby has on participants and you'll ''really'' be hooked!
+*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''8 - You will probably need to learn how to solder'''</span>, especially if you want to assemble electronic circuit boards or kits to save money. (The cost savings can be huge!) This isn't as daunting as you may assume and in fact, assembling electronic gizmos usually quickly becomes a favorite part of the hobby for almost every DIY'er. It's an absolute hoot when you put something together, fire it up for the first time and discover that it works! The very first time you build your own piece of gear, you'll understand the incredible allure this hobby has on participants and you'll ''really'' be hooked!
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''9 - Construct things for safety.'''</span> If you intend to build display structures that people can enter or walk under, you'll need to build them structurally sound to prevent possible injury. Again, your hardware/home improvement center has plenty of books on construction techniques. It goes without saying that you'll need to know how to use various household tools -- hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches, drills, saws, ladders, etc. and possibly many power tools such as band or chop saws, circular or jig saws, drill presses, routers, or even welding equipment. The bigger you go, the more skills you'll need to learn.

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''7 - If you plan to use WiFi or Ethernet-based controllers (E1.31, primarily for smart pixels), you will need to know how to configure computer networking.'''</span>, You'll have to learn about IP addresses and use common network software tools such as ping or telnet as well as opening ports, configuring network routers and wireless access points. If you've never done animated lighting before and you plan to START with some of these jazzy, pixel-type displays, expect to have an ''extremely'' challenging DIY experience. Using WiFi networking in this hobby is not even remotely similar to powering up your tablet or phone and connecting automatically to your home network. Don't expect other DIY'ers to help you diagnose and solve your networking problems. They may try to help, but it's YOUR network. '''YOU''' have to take ownership of your own network. Remember, '''this is a do-it-yourself''' hobby...
-*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''8 - You will probably need to learn how to solder'''</span>, especially if you want to assemble electronic circuit boards or kit to save money. This isn't as daunting as you may assume and in fact, assembling electronic gizmos usually quickly becomes a favorite part of the hobby for almost everyone. It's an absolute hoot when you put something together, fire it up for the first time and discover that it works! The very first time you build your own piece of gear, you'll understand the incredible allure this hobby has on participants and you'll ''really'' be hooked!
+*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''8 - You will probably need to learn how to solder'''</span>, especially if you want to assemble electronic circuit boards or kits to save money. (The savings can be huge!) This isn't as daunting as you may assume and in fact, assembling electronic gizmos usually quickly becomes a favorite part of the hobby for almost every DIY'er. It's an absolute hoot when you put something together, fire it up for the first time and discover that it works! The very first time you build your own piece of gear, you'll understand the incredible allure this hobby has on participants and you'll ''really'' be hooked!
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''9 - Construct things for safety.'''</span> If you intend to build display structures that people can enter or walk under, you'll need to build them structurally sound to prevent possible injury. Again, your hardware/home improvement center has plenty of books on construction techniques. It goes without saying that you'll need to know how to use various household tools -- hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches, drills, saws, ladders, etc. and possibly many power tools such as band or chop saws, circular or jig saws, drill presses, routers, or even welding equipment. The bigger you go, the more skills you'll need to learn.

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''7 - If you plan to use WiFi or Ethernet-based controllers (E1.31, primarily for smart pixels), you will need to know how to configure computer networking.'''</span>, You'll have to learn about IP addresses and use common network software tools such as ping or telnet as well as opening ports, configuring network routers and wireless access points. If you've never done animated lighting before and you plan to START with some of these jazzy, pixel-type displays, expect to have an ''extremely'' challenging DIY experience. Using WiFi networking in this hobby is not even remotely similar to powering up your tablet or phone and connecting automatically to your home network. Don't expect other DIY'ers to help you diagnose and solve your networking problems. They may try to help, but it's YOUR network. '''YOU''' have to take ownership of your own network. Remember, '''this is a do-it-yourself''' hobby...
-*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''8 - You will probably need to learn how to solder'''</span>, especially if you want to assemble electronic circuit boards or kit to save money. This isn't as daunting as you may assume and in fact, usually quickly becomes a favorite part of the hobby -- the building of electronic gizmos! It's an absolute hoot when you assemble one and fire it up for the first time and discover that it works, and the first time you do this, you'll understand the incredible allure this hobby has on participants and you'll ''really'' be hooked!
+*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''8 - You will probably need to learn how to solder'''</span>, especially if you want to assemble electronic circuit boards or kit to save money. This isn't as daunting as you may assume and in fact, assembling electronic gizmos usually quickly becomes a favorite part of the hobby for almost everyone. It's an absolute hoot when you put something together, fire it up for the first time and discover that it works! The very first time you build your own piece of gear, you'll understand the incredible allure this hobby has on participants and you'll ''really'' be hooked!
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''9 - Construct things for safety.'''</span> If you intend to build display structures that people can enter or walk under, you'll need to build them structurally sound to prevent possible injury. Again, your hardware/home improvement center has plenty of books on construction techniques. It goes without saying that you'll need to know how to use various household tools -- hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches, drills, saws, ladders, etc. and possibly many power tools such as band or chop saws, circular or jig saws, drill presses, routers, or even welding equipment. The bigger you go, the more skills you'll need to learn.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''6 - You'll need to have a pretty solid logical, diagnostic-thinking ability'''</span> because you'll be constructing your own customized electronic light display. There is no manual for this because every DIYer's situation is different, but most DIY gear does have some form of assembly and/or user guide available. However, there is a logic to electricity and how electronics works and it's up to you to learn it. <span style="color:#FF0000">'''''On your own.'''''</span> For example, what might be wrong if you plug a table lamp into a socket, turn it on and it doesn't light up? Think it through...
-*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''7 - If you plan to use WiFi or Ethernet-based controllers (E1.31, primarily for smart pixels), you will need to know how to configure computer networking.'''</span>, You'll have to learn about IP addresses and use common network software tools such as ping or telnet as well as opening ports, configuring network routers and wireless access point. If you've never done animated lighting before and you plan to START with some of these jazzy, pixel-type displays, expect to have an ''extremely'' challenging DIY experience. Using WiFi networking in this hobby is not even remotely similar to powering up your tablet or phone and connecting automatically to your home network. Don't expect other DIY'ers to help you diagnose and solve your networking problems. They may try to help, but it's YOUR network. '''YOU''' have to take ownership of your own network. Remember, '''this is a do-it-yourself''' hobby...
+*<span style="color:#0000FF">'''7 - If you plan to use WiFi or Ethernet-based controllers (E1.31, primarily for smart pixels), you will need to know how to configure computer networking.'''</span>, You'll have to learn about IP addresses and use common network software tools such as ping or telnet as well as opening ports, configuring network routers and wireless access points. If you've never done animated lighting before and you plan to START with some of these jazzy, pixel-type displays, expect to have an ''extremely'' challenging DIY experience. Using WiFi networking in this hobby is not even remotely similar to powering up your tablet or phone and connecting automatically to your home network. Don't expect other DIY'ers to help you diagnose and solve your networking problems. They may try to help, but it's YOUR network. '''YOU''' have to take ownership of your own network. Remember, '''this is a do-it-yourself''' hobby...
 *<span style="color:#0000FF">'''8 - You will probably need to learn how to solder'''</span>, especially if you want to assemble electronic circuit boards or kit to save money. This isn't as daunting as you may assume and in fact, usually quickly becomes a favorite part of the hobby -- the building of electronic gizmos! It's an absolute hoot when you assemble one and fire it up for the first time and discover that it works, and the first time you do this, you'll understand the incredible allure this hobby has on participants and you'll ''really'' be hooked!