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Greetings from South Africa!

Joined
Jun 26, 2010
Messages
67
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Hey all, student from South Africa here!
My interests are (and always have been) electronics and computers. I enjoy electronics first and built circuits from a very young age (first was ~10 years ago).
I have developed my interests a lot in electronics over the years, focusing on building electronic projects, from electromagnetic levitation to laser shows, using the Arduino microcontroller or developing my own with AVR chips.
Computer programming is also a big interest, I have done it for 5 years now, and have published 4 iPhone apps. I was one of the winners of a Python programming course/competition which gave me a boost of self-confidence and interest in this field.
As with my other interests, I enjoy bridging the hardware and software together to create awesome things (made a laser cutter, more on that in a while :yh:) and real low level code (recently worked on some bit-banging, done a bit of assembler) and high level stuff such as PHP, C++, Python, ect.

Over the past few months I have developed a new hobby: lasers. Over the years lasers have always interested me, although I never really took notice to them that much. I owned a few cheapo lasers such as 5mW 650nm (red) ones, and recently got a 10mW 632nm greenie, which helped boost the hobby.
I was reading up on LPF on some DVD burner laser projects and got hooked on lasers.
I have lots of ideas, and read LPF every day or so (literally) to see what happens. LPF is a brilliant community, I have never posted anything (before this of course) and have became very familiar with pretty much everything to do with lasers (the science, driver circuitry, ect.) (I'm not very familiar (yet) with gas lasers though :undecided:) and the way the community works in every detail, and am paranoid on laser safety. I have a few laser projects complete and will be posting about them in the next few days.
My electronics knowledge has been very useful in my experimentation with lasers, like the driver circuits and such.

I know this is a long introduction of myself, but I just want to let people know a bit about me. It is the least I can do after observing the community for so long.

Thanks for reading.
 
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You should normally keep your age to yourself when you buy lasers. Now everyone knows your 15. Its going to be hard if you plan on buying lasers off these forums now.
You need to be legally 18 too purchase and use these.

On the other hand,
Welcome to the forums!
 
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Thanks Matrix for the welcome!
I guess I should have thought about posting my age. However, there's nothing I can do now.
 
It is great to see somebody else on the forum who is also from South Africa! I'm also into electronics, although I think your a bit ahead of me! (Nice to know I am not alone!!!!!) I started with electronics when I was around 13 years old. Welcome to the forum!
 
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I started electronics when i was around 13 aswell. I started when i saw householdhackers youtube videos, also kipkay. Now pretty much everyday im headed to radio shack starting some project. :D
 
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You're lucky to have RadioShacks in the US. Electronic components are difficult to come by, but I found a new shop that sells pretty much everything (LEDs, resistors, transistors, ICs, ect.) so I'm happy :)
 
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true but still it doesnt help much. you still will need to pick some stuff up online depending on what ur making. they dont litterally have everything. but they are still helpfull.
 
I agree on your point, however with my electronics hobby I do not need any new microcontroller or specialised components.. When I do, I order it from another local electronics shop. Things are getting better in SA when it comes to these hobbies, although laser stuff is not common. I have to order that internationally.
 
Yeah, I wish we had a local shop or something that sells everything, like laser diodes..... I just keep all my dreams to myself :yh:
 
welcome.gif
to the Forum....
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and the Forum Rules..
http://laserpointerforums.com/tou.htm

If you plan on buying anything on the Forum....
PLEASE read this first...

6 Steps To Prevent You From Getting Scammed

and PLEASE don't forget to read to this....

39 Reasons NOT to Buy From Wicked Lasers

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Get Some Safety Goggles Now!

Don't forget to put your location in your Profile if you
haven't yet done so. This way we know where you
are from.

Enjoy your stay...


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
i recently found a shop that sells old videos games from atari all the way too wii u.

but a shop with laser diodes and modules.... we can only dream.
 
^Imagine the ad's on TV: "Just go to your nearest Lase-Tech store today and get 50% off a 9mm diode and G-2 lens"!
:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:
 
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