Internet (or online) forums are basically discussion boards, enabling people to hold conversation on dedicated topics. It creates an environment, where users connect to an online community, debate on topics of the choice, exchange ideas, etc.
The first Internet forum was a result of a meeting between Dr. Larry Brilliant and Steward Brand. Initially, the idea was to develop a software to create a discussion forum for the items from Brand’s Whole Earth Catalogue. Brand took the idea a step further and made it open for discussion of any kind.
Nowadays there are hundreds of thousands of online forums on every topic one can imagine. We did some digging and wanted to find the best communities and discussions to help electrical engineers, radio amateurs, DIYers,… Here is our top list of resources to find fresh ideas, help with certain project you’ve been struggling with, or simply to have a good debate.
Who doesn’t know Martin Lorton, with his famous Youtube channel "mjlorton. The forum on his personal website really lives up to the reputation of its Youtube channel, with thousands of topics and active members. When approached with the question, what is the most frequently asked question on the forum, Martin replied: “The next question I get all the time is how to solar power various devices and appliances.”
From elementary electronics threads to threads for more advanced users. You can also find a discussion with answers to your DIY project question. Edaboard sure has it all.
The name itself describes it perfectly. With a number of project logs, information about components, and more, Electronics Point is a great forum for everybody who is looking for fresh ideas and a place to get help with projects they are struggling with.
Is anyone up for a good electronic course? Try All About Circuit.
A credible resource for all electronic design engineers. Electronic Design even features a reader's Q&A every two weeks, which gives its readers quality advice from their leading technical experts.
It’s probably pointless introducing EE, being so well-known and reputed in the electrical engineering world. Their forum really lives up by their general reputation with tons of quality threads and topics.
Front page of the Internet. Their Electrical and Computer Engineering just might become your front page for good.
‘Renewable Energy’, ‘Robotics & Mechatronics’, ‘Electronics Videos’,… These are just a couple of modern-day electronics debate threads and discussions. If you’re more of a sell-buy kind of person there is even a nice market under the ‘Buy, Sell and Trade’ section.
If you have a question about a specific product, you can find a lively debate on ‘SparkFun Product Questions’ thread. When you get all the info, head to the project's discussion and share your experience about what you managed to build recently with your latest acquisition.
Elektroda.com is the ‘Reddit’ of the global electronics community with over 3 million registered users. Featuring engineering forums, free tools, award-winning journalists, and more.
Internet forums are still huge in a community of electrical engineers, hobbyists, hackers, etc. That being said, Red Pitaya’s forum unites many people interested in building awesome projects, finding and propounding fresh ideas, and sharing their rich knowledge with others.