I am working full-time in an Electronics related field and at the same time studying for M.Sc. in Electronics through Distance Learning. Being a Distance Learner I have a very few practical classes on the basis of which to develop understanding about Electronics.


Can virtual training softwares like PSpice, SwitcherCAD, Tina Pro 6, etc. fill up the void?
Also suggest some more software packages for turning my PC into an Electronics Lab?

You need hands on training too. simulation alone will just get you an overview

What software is considered the best for total network performance monitoring. I am in search of a software that will monitor our switches, routers, firewalls, and the overall performance of our network. This is a network running Win 03 as the OS, and has around 60-80 servers. Any suggestions? What are the pros and cons of such software?


Lots of commercial products will do this. But they tend to be expensive to buy and expensive to scale because of licensing.

Look into an open source solution. Try the link below:

I live In Michigan. I need to store some items in one of those self serve storage units. I have a stereo and some electronics. Can they be stored in a unit(garage like door) without heat!

There should be no problem storing your electronics in a storage unit. The only concern would be moisture. If it is one of those garage door type units then moisture can get inside and damage the components when power up again.

If you have not choice. Try making them water proof as possible and when you remove them for use, leave them at room temperature for a few days. This should evaporate any of the trapped moisture.

I am currently a technical writer for a software company in the mobile technologies industry. I am young and early in my career and see growth in the pharmaceuticals sector in my career time, and so would like to switch into technical writing for a biotech/pharmaceutical company. I think the software industry is slowly dying. How do I go about making this transition? Will my experience in software technical writing automatically translate, or will employers be seeking any additional skills? Thanks in advance for your help!

Frankly, I will advise you to stick to software. But, if you want a career progression, you can either try your hand at getting some certifications for pharmaceutical writing or shift to the position of a business analyst in your current domain of mobile technology.

Software is one field that is dependent on the whole economy. So the chances of your not getting work in the software industry are directly related to economic conditions.

Pharmaceuticals offer good work, but they wont ever pay you as much as you can earn by going onsite for a year or two through an IT company.

With regards to your question, if you have knowledge of pharmaceuticals, you will not face much of a problem and you will be able to shift domains. Otherwise, you will be better off getting a certification in pharma domain and then shifting to pharma. And yes, your experience as a Technical Writer will definitely count.

- I am a Tech Writer and I also blog at http://tech-writeups.blogspot.com

What is the best training for becoming an electronics engineer? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective electronics engineer?

Training…….
Go for engineering.. Study and get selected to a reputed engg college and opt for electronics engg, simple.
Bye…