Contents
Popular PCB Forum
Some of the popular PCB forums are
forum.Arduino.cc/index.php?topic=458289.0
element14.com/community/community/pcb_prototyping/forums
forums.autodesk.com/t5/eagle-forum/bd-p/3500
forum.allaboutcircuits.com/#electronics.3
live.altium.com/#signin
These are the main forums on which you can sign in and create an account. You can post the blog or write and upload articles. Post your comment on any blog/article or like the comment/blog/article, etc.
Method to use PCB Forum
To get precisely your problem, you first enter the keyword of your problem in the search tab bar. Then enter. The search results will show you relevant results. Check out the results and click on the closer solution to the problem.
If you get two or more options that have more relevancies, check the solution/blog/article/comment that has the most likes. Or higher reviews.
This will help you to find the best solution to your problem.
People can ask for expert services from professionals. These professionals can give the solution free, or they can ask for money, but usually, a solution or a piece of advice is free.
► Altium Forums
Some forums have a live chat like the one with ALTIUM. You can chat live with the expert and get a solution.
The above snapshot is the ALTIUM forum user login
► ALL about Circuits Forum
The above is the All About Circuit’s forum
► Arduino Forum:
The above is the All About Circuit’s forum
The majority of these PCB forums are concerned with PCB, Circuits, and general electronics. As we can see from the above snapshots, the general topic is considered for forum discussion.
These general topics include the short circuits in PCB, Flexible PCB strip designs, PCB track, and How to add the logo in the Gerber of PCB.
One can also develop a website to share personal experiences and details and use the platform as a learning source.
► PCB Forum—EEV Blog Forum:
The above is the snapshot of the EEV Blog website.
This blog also has exciting things about electronics, circuits, and PCB/PCBA.
► Repair and Maintenance:
Commonly, the electronic equipment gets faulty; then, the user is very afraid to solve/repair the fault.
Then they search on the internet for a service manual or datasheet or application note or something similar. But when they are unable to find any resource, they go to the public PCB forum or YouTube video to check for any relevance to their repair/troubleshooting problem.
► PCB Forum—Example:
The best example is the HP brand. This brand/manufacturer, when selling electronic and electrical equipment they, do not usually provide a “Service Manual.” The service manual is a comprehensive file/folder containing schematics, PCB, Parts used, Blueprint, wiring diagram, error codes, LED indicator meaning to check for the Indicator LED status, Calibration procedures, etc.
Commonly HP manufacturers do not supply such information and keep it confidential. Also, the part numbers of HP/Agilent are dedicated and cannot be traced on the internet.
In such a case, the user has to contact the HP supplier in his country/region. Then they ask for high service fees, and in most cases, they say to purchase or replace instead of repair, which is costly. Hence, people/users go to such forums and find solutions repair procedures, etc.
Conclusion
Generally, the dedicated electronics hardware, including professional PCBs and PCBA developed by specific brands like HP/ Agilent/Key-sight, Rohde & Schwarz, and Tektronix, require a high level of engineering skills when it comes to repairing and maintenance as the hardware service manual and part numbers are nearly impossible to find on the internet. Hence if the product is under warranty, immediately contact the supplier; otherwise, check the online blogs/forums where people have shared their success of repair/services on the internet.
