From msg66 at msstate.edu Fri Oct 1 14:59:41 2010 From: msg66 at msstate.edu (Matthew Galloway) Date: Fri Oct 1 14:59:54 2010 Subject: [ece1002] Quiz 5 Message-ID: Hello ece1002, Sorry for the problems that you all have had with quiz #5. The problem should be fixed. I have talked to Dr. Bruce about what to do and I am going to extend the hours available to Sunday October 3, 11:59 PM. I have also extended the attempts from 2 to 4. Please respond if you have any questions. Matthew -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101001/15804910/attachment.html From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Thu Oct 7 13:11:07 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Thu Oct 7 13:11:12 2010 Subject: [ece1002] quad charts and presentations In-Reply-To: <6563120.185381286474365473.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> Message-ID: <10746826.185461286475067801.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> As you prepare your article summary quad charts and start planning your oral presentations, I would like to encourage you to look at the grading rubric that Matt and I will use to grade your presentations. It can be found under "Grading Rubrics" and is called "oral presentations". Enjoy. jwb ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101007/11e7e1c1/attachment-0001.html From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Thu Oct 7 13:13:35 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Thu Oct 7 13:13:37 2010 Subject: [ece1002] HW#3 assigned Message-ID: <21868100.185491286475215138.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> HW#3 has been assigned. It is due on 10/20. HW#3 covers chapters 10, 11, and 12 in the text. Don't wait until 10/19 to start. We have alot going on after fall break. Enjoy your fall break. JWB PS: Remember that today is THURSDAY........ ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101007/8f4f9352/attachment.html From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Thu Oct 14 20:26:36 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Thu Oct 14 20:26:43 2010 Subject: [ece1002] lab tool kits In-Reply-To: <29416255.206101287104445653.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> Message-ID: <8314244.206231287105996146.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> A reminder that you can (and should) go by and purchase your lab tool kits from Matt. Let's try to get these picked up before the end of next week. $35 cash, exact change is nice. Sixty of you "Reserved" a tool kit. They are here. Get them by Thursday next week. Next Friday (10/22) I will sell any remaining tool kits to anyone who wants them. When you get your tools, please do not turn on your soldering iron. It turns out that the first time you use your iron is critical and will determine its longevity. Let me show you how to love your soldering iron so it will love you back. Just get your tool kit and set it aside until we need it in a few days. If you are buying your own stuff, you will need * a 25-40 W electronics (read: small tip) soldering iron 110V AC powered. No battery or butane irons allowing. * an extra soldering iron tip -- a small one * electronics rosin flux (go to Radio Shack for this) Do not get the plumbing version of flux. It is laced with acids. * tweezers * needle-nose pliers * wire cutters, preferably "end-cutters". The side-cutters are cumbersome. Again Radio Shack will have a selection of cutters * desoldering braid (Radio Shack once more) -- the smallest braid you can find is probably the best. Everyone will probably want a plastic tool/tackle box to hold their stuff in. Besides it feels pretty cool to walk into Simrall with toolbox in your hands. Wal-mart is good place to find a toolbox. JWB ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Thu Oct 14 20:31:03 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Thu Oct 14 20:31:10 2010 Subject: [ece1002] multimeters In-Reply-To: <6131737.206211287105841608.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> Message-ID: <19953797.206281287106263259.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> Several of you have asked about multimeters. For ECEs, our most used tools are (i) our computer, (ii) our calculator, and (iii) a multimeter. You don't really need one in ECE1002, but it can make things easier. You will definitely start using one in later courses. If you want a multimeter, Radio Shack has some that are OK. The analog ones get the job done, but you will not be happy with it for very long. The digital ones are easier to use, you will be faster at collecting data, and they offer lots of features at a lower price. Radio Shack, Fluke, or otherwise, you absolutely want a multimeter that measures * voltage: AC and DC (RMS is not necessary, but nice if you go into power) * current: AC and DC * resistance * continuity testing Extra (optional) features, but very nice to have * RMS measurements * diode testing * capacitance * frequency * temperature (via thermocouple) * serial (usually RS232) connectivity to your laptop You do _NOT_ need or want a "clamp" type meter. Expensive and only good for large currents and/or high-voltage. Here are some Radio Shack model numbers that look reasonable: #22-182 -- a bare minimum meter. I used a very early version of this multimeter during my undergrad. Then, I retired it to my electronics toolbox in the garage for use around the house. It eventually bit the dust. Now, I use my "good" meter for everything. #22-813 -- never used one but it looks solid for the price. This is probably where you should really start looking. The 22-182 is a bit too flimsy. The #22-813 has a reasonable range at a good price. #22-811 -- this one adds capacitance and frequency to the feature set. I use both of these features quite often in computer engineering. I wouldn't buy a meter without them now. Nice features at a reasonable price (assuming it will hold up). Fluke meters (see below) will measure the same stuff at 2x the price, but I know a Fluke will last -- even when abused. If you want a robust multimeter, some nice ones (but pricey) are the Fluke 115, Fluke 117, or the Fluke 177. (Available online, and they actually sell these at Sears in the tool section.) A good Fluke meter will last you your entire career if you treat it right. After you use a nice meter, you never want to use a crappy one again. A good multimeter might be a nice thing to ask Santa Claus for. Happy hunting. JWB ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Fri Oct 15 13:15:47 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Fri Oct 15 13:15:55 2010 Subject: [ece1002] ECAN macros? Message-ID: <32549008.208641287166547746.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> I've looked at the ECAN macros and they seem fine. Did anyone ever diagnose what was wrong with them? Or did everyone just replace the macro with a register assignment and keep on going? Finally, does anyone have a simple CAN program that doesn't work with the macros but does work when they are removed so I can track it the problem? thanks. jwb ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 From msg66 at msstate.edu Tue Oct 19 12:37:13 2010 From: msg66 at msstate.edu (Matthew Galloway) Date: Tue Oct 19 12:37:27 2010 Subject: [ece1002] Homework Submission Guidelines Message-ID: Hello ECE1002, I have been having a lot of submission errors in homework. There have been too many students submitting a link to a file and not the file itself. I have been emailing students when this happens and giving them a second chance. Starting with Homework #3 I will no longer do this. Any homework that is submitted incorrectly will be graded as a *ZERO*. For those of you who have submitted links instead of an actual file, I will briefly discuss the steps in submitting homework correctly. First, click on "Add Attachments" in the homework submittal page. This will open a new window. Click on "My Computer." Once again, a new window will open and you should be able to locate the file you wish to submit. Click on the file you wish to submit and click on "Open." The windows should all close and you will be back at the homework submission page. The file you selected should be uploaded and you should see it above the "Add Attachments" icon. Please double check by clicking on the link that what you have selected is indeed the file you wish to submit. *To students who have already submitted homework 3: Please make sure that you have followed the guidelines stated above. You still have time to remove what you have submitted and resubmit your homework.* Also, every homework so far has had clear instructions on what your file should be named and that it should be a pdf. If you do not know how to convert a file to a pdf please search Google. There are a ton of easy and free programs that will convert files to pdfs. Lastly, I would like to give you a piece of advice. While attending school at Mississippi State University, act like your job is being a student. When you graduate and work in industry you will be required to conduct yourself in a professional manner. It will benefit you greatly to begin to practice that professionalism while you are a student. Think of your professors and teaching assistants as your boss. Any correspondence like email should be done in a professional manner. Please do not use text language like LOL or TTYL. Also do not use emoticons. The way you conduct yourself while in school will be greatly noticed by professors. If you hope to attend graduate school or conduct undergraduate research you will want professors to think highly of you. Also, the people you interview with and your future employers will be impressed if it is apparent you already know how to conduct yourself in a professional manner. I promise that I am not fussing or upset with any of you. Everything I listed above is something that I had to learn as well. I really want you all to be successful students while you are here. If you have any questions please email me or stop by my office during my office hours. Matthew -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101019/b2955862/attachment.html From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Tue Oct 19 20:17:01 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Tue Oct 19 20:17:11 2010 Subject: [ece1002] ECE1002 on Wednesday 10/19 In-Reply-To: <10883296.220941287537366384.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> Message-ID: <14773244.220961287537421886.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> A reminder that our ECE 1002 class will meet at HPCC at 1300 on Wednesday 19 October. We will meet in front of the HPCC building. http://www.msstate.edu/web/maps/index.php?building=0168 Remember: * No backpacks * Wear closed toe shoes, and * try to carpool over there to ease traffic and parking We should be done by 1450-1500. Don't be late. We will start our tours just a few moments after 1300. You do not want to miss it. There are some very cool ECE things to see. jwb ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101019/92d4562e/attachment.html From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Wed Oct 20 08:02:37 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Wed Oct 20 08:02:48 2010 Subject: [ece1002] IEEE Mississippi Section meeting Message-ID: <14105998.221861287579757595.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> The IEEE Mississippi Section (the professional one, not the MSU student branch) will hold this month's meeting here in the Golden Triangle. (Meetings are usually in the Jackson area, but they have one meeting up here about once per year.) The tour should be interesting. This is a working steel mill, so you will absolutely need to wear closed toe shoes to this one. I suspect workers there are required to wear steel toe boots to get onto the floor. Finally, these are the professional IEEE members so I would not dress too slouchy. You may want a job from these people one day. jwb PS: In case it is not obvious, your dinner at the Golden Horn will be on you. This is a local steakhouse kind-of-joint, so expect prices accordingly. You'll probably spend about $20. The food there is pretty good. ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101020/29714459/attachment-0001.html From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Thu Oct 21 10:32:30 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Thu Oct 21 10:32:33 2010 Subject: [ece1002] ECE1002 TODOs Message-ID: <27699788.227091287675150663.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> #1 ============ Today is THURSDAY, and you know what that means..... This week's quiz will count twice. Quiz topics : circuits (from the last several weeks, HW#3, etc.) and cool toys we saw yesterday at HPCC & CAVS #2 ============ You need to pick up your reserved lab tool kits from Matt by the end of today! Starting tomorrow, lab tool kits will be sold to anyone who has the moolah in hand! #3 ============ We will resume our article presentations on Monday. So come prepared to speak and/or grade your colleagues via your clicker. Enjoy homecoming weekend! jwb ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101021/b6498e52/attachment.html From msg66 at msstate.edu Thu Oct 21 22:19:16 2010 From: msg66 at msstate.edu (Matthew Galloway) Date: Thu Oct 21 22:19:29 2010 Subject: [ece1002] Friday Office Hours Message-ID: If you have reserved a lab kit and have not picked it up, I will be in the student lounge from 10 - 11 on Friday. Please email me if these times do not work for you. Matthew -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101021/f90b76d1/attachment.html From msg66 at msstate.edu Fri Oct 22 10:24:53 2010 From: msg66 at msstate.edu (Matthew Galloway) Date: Fri Oct 22 10:25:07 2010 Subject: [ece1002] Friday Office Hours Message-ID: I received emails from students saying that they could not make the office hours from 10-11. I will move them to 2-3 this afternoon. Sorry for the late notice, Matthew -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101022/fa08b718/attachment.html From msg66 at msstate.edu Tue Oct 26 13:17:08 2010 From: msg66 at msstate.edu (Matthew Galloway) Date: Tue Oct 26 13:17:20 2010 Subject: [ece1002] Lab Kits Message-ID: Hello ece1002, As Dr. Bruce mentioned in class on Monday, all of the remaining unclaimed lab kits are now available to all students. If you have not purchased a lab kit please visit me in the student lounge during my office hours. The kits are $35 and I have seven left. I will be selling them on a first come first served basis. This kit is a GREAT deal. Junior and Senior students who hang out in the lounge have been lusting over them. If you do not purchase one you will be responsible for purchasing the necessary components on your own. You will need to go to Radio Shack (located in the shopping center across from Wal-Mart) and purchase a soldering iron, solder braid, flush cutters, tweezers, and electrical flux. I will try and send out an email with some items from Radio Shack that look like they will suffice. Matthew -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101026/6bfdef06/attachment.html From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Wed Oct 27 15:15:36 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Wed Oct 27 15:15:41 2010 Subject: [ece1002] soldering & ECE1002 TODOs In-Reply-To: <23282488.14651288209686353.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> Message-ID: <22728634.14891288210536555.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> Remember to take your ECE1002 quiz tomorrow @ 5PM. Topics: CIRCUITS and SOLDERING For the circuits material, look over the text, lectures and HW on circuits. For soldering, you will want to read and study the soldering guide handed out in class and the soldering training kit instructions. FIND AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR SOLDERING AT HOME! The patio or driveway is a great place. The kitchen & dining room (anyplace food is prepared or eaten) is NOT! Before Monday, you need to tin your tip and start the iron seasoning process. You will probably want to watch some of the soldering videos again to refresh your memory. Remember that the first few times you heat up your iron will greatly determine how well and how long it will last. Once you have tinned your tip a few times, you can start on the soldering kit. Follow the instructions in order. The joints they lead you through get progressively harder and more importantly. Read the instructions carefully. Finally, Matt has a few more tool kits for sale. He also has a few brass shavings for sale @ $4. (We call them "brillos" but they are not. DO NOT BUY KITCHEN BRILLO AND USE IT!!!!!!!) Matt also has a few extra flux pens @ $5. When these are gone, they are gone. Bring your toolboxes and soldering kits to class on MONDAY. We will go to the lab. Get out there and melt some lead. JWB PS: If you purchased your own equipment, you must have a AC-mains-powered electronics soldering iron. NO battery-powered "as seen on TV" irons -- they don't work very well, if at all AND NO butane/gas-combustion soldering irons -- the fire marshal will not allow them in MSU buildings. ------------------ J.W. Bruce, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 406 Hardy Road, Simrall 335 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9571 Office: (662) 325-1530 FAX: (662) 325-2298 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.ece.msstate.edu/pipermail/ece1002/attachments/20101027/71ff48b2/attachment.html From jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu Sun Oct 31 21:42:01 2010 From: jwbruce at ece.msstate.edu (J. W. Bruce) Date: Sun Oct 31 21:42:12 2010 Subject: [ece1002] monday ECE1002 class Message-ID: <27493067.1821288579321985.JavaMail.root@zimbra.ece.msstate.edu> Remember that we will be soldering in class this week. So please bring your toolboxes with your seasoned (tinned) soldering iron to class. YOU MUST BRING YOUR SOLDERING PARTS KIT TOO. Come prepared to solder... (Don't wear your Sunday-best clothing in case you spatter some solder on yourself.) Report to the auditorium at 1PM. Don't be late because we will disperse to other locations very soon thereafter. Thanks. jwb