Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Finding Bargains On The Internet

One main factor when bargain shopping is to have some type of price limit per item. What we all love more than bargain shopping is when designers take their lines and make an affordable one for the rest of the public. Saving time and money is what internet bargain shopping is all about. Online bargain shopping is convenient and time efficient. For most, internet bargain shopping is a bit of a hassle but it seems like bargain shopping is hip these days. Some people act like bargain shopping is a competition and try to get and keep all the bargains to themselves.

You can find amazing deals online; many huge department stores promote their bargains there. Everyone is buying into online bargain shopping sites, whether you're just starting out with online shopping or looking to take bargain shopping to the next level. There are many articles, tips and how to's for shopping for bargains online, you can find these on the web. Online bargain shopping has never been any easier. After you've done your homework and research get on the web and start searching for those bargains. When shopping online you don't need to worry about the craziness of shopping in crowds, standing on lines and carry all those bags. An amazing electronic online bargain shopping experience awaits at every turn and click of the mouse.

When you are discount shopping and comparing prices make sure you check every resource possible. Shop only on those websites that you know are secure. You can check to make sure that they are using SSL certificates and they are pay pal verified. Many online sites will give a discount because they sell a lot of products and this means you are able to get better deals. Look for those sites that sell too many people and drop the price as you purchase more. To date online stores are very safe for people to shop online and those who enjoy receiving discount, coupons and promotions there is nothing to worry about. Yes, discount shopping websites offer many everyday items, but be careful when purchasing because sometimes the shipping is more than the product. Search dozens of website for bargains. You can find bargains and discounts for almost anything these days on hotels, airfare, electronics, appliances, jewelry etc. Save money when using discount coupon codes, these codes are easy to use, enter them while shopping and get a discount.

We hope we have helped to ensure your bargain shopping is both enjoyable and safe. Of course, bargain shopping is all relative. Bargain shopping is an acquired skill. The trick to bargain shopping is knowing where and how to shop. Shopping is the way to go. Bargain shopping is very common nowadays and so the experience is worth exploring in day to day. While bargain shopping is not new, the economy and changing demographics have put discounters at the forefront of retailing.

About the Author

David Marc Fishman is the owner of priceriot.com. Payless for products with our online auctions

What Are Gerber Files for Printed Circuit Boards, and Who Needs Them?

When an electronics design engineer has completed their circuit design for an application, the next step towards completing the product design is to enter the schematic details into a computer based schematic capture program. The schematic capture program, which is usually part of an Electronic Design Automation (EDA) or Computer Automated Design (PCB CAD) software design package, will create a net list from the completed schematic that details every electrical connection between each electronic component. This net list is used by the printed circuit board or PCB designer in the process of designing the printed circuit board with the EDA or PCB CAD software. The finished printed circuit board will provide the physical assembly and interconnection platform for the various electronic components required by the schematic.

The printed circuit board is made up of one or more conductive layers of copper plating that is etched to form the component pads and interconnection traces and one or more layers of insulating material such as epoxy-filled fiberglass to separate the conductive copper layers and to provide the mechanical strength for the board. A single layer board would have components on the top side of the board and connecting traces on the bottom side of the board. A double layer board could have components on the top side only or have components on both the top and bottom sides of the board along with connecting traces on both sides of the board. A multilayer board would have both top and bottom sides with components and traces along with a number of internal layers used for interconnections and for voltage and ground plane layers.

The EDA or PCB CAD program provides the detailed information about the completed board design in a series of data files for each conductive layer (top, bottom, and any internal layers). The Gerber File format, named after the Gerber Scientific Instruments Company, a pioneer in photoplotter manufacturing, is the standard format for these data files. The original Gerber format conformed to the EIA RS-274D standard and consisted of a command file for each conductive layer and a tool description file. The command file consisted of a series of short commands, each followed by a set of X and Y coordinates, which would provide a photoplotter with the information to create a graphic representation. These command files became known as the Gerber files. The tool desciption file, or aperture file, defined the trace line widths and dimensional data for all of the pads and geometric shapes on the layer.

These data files of computer generated information for the printed circuit board design are then sent to a printed circuit board fabrication company to have the physical boards manufactured. The Gerber files contain all of the information necessary for the computer controlled machines at the printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication houses to etch the copper layers to create the component pads and connection traces, drill all required holes, and cut the board to the required size.

Since a PCB may have from one to many conductive layers, the older Gerber format EIA RS-274D always assumed a set of command files (one for each PCB layer) and one "tool description" file, or aperture file. A standard for the "aperture files" was never established so every EDA or PCB CAD software product had its own version of the aperture file format. If the printed circuit board fabrication house could not read the aperture file format as sent, then the aperture information would have to be re-entered manually.

The newer Gerber format conforms to EIA RS-274X and this format includes the aperture information in the file headers as embedded information for each command or Gerber file. This newer format is often called X-Gerber. With all of the aperture information included within the header fo the file, each X-Gerber file provides all of the information required to fabricate the related portion of a PCB layer.

The file names for the Gerber files should be descriptive enough for the pcb fabricator to understand which board and board layer that each file applies to, such as membdtop.gbr as a file name. The standard process is to include with each set of files for a board design a special readme.txt type text file that defines each file name and its application for the board design. The board vendor will use this readme.txt text file as the starting point for the board manufacturing process. Gerber file extensions are often .GBR, .GBX, or .ART. Sometimes extensions such as .TOP and .BOT or .SMT and .SMB are used instead of the .GB_ type extensions. Often the file extension for a type of file (top, bottom, silkscreen, paste, inner layer) is controlled by the EDA or PCB CAD software package or is selectable within the package. This variation in the extensions makes the inclusion of the readme.txt file as a requirement in the overall file package for the board vendor.

The list of files for a board design will include the silkscreen for the top and sometimes the bottom layers if components are mounted on both sides, component placements for the top and sometimes the bottom layers, solder screen paste files for surface mount applications, drill drawings, solder mask files, panel drawings, pad master top and pad master bottom, etc.

For instance, for a double sided (2 layer) pcb, the Gerber files will consist of two positive Gerber layers (top and bottom), aperture file (if not in the RS-274X format), NC Excellon drill file, Drill Tool List file, Silkscreen file for each side with components, soldermask files for top and bottom, and top and bottom screen paste files for surface mount boards where applicable. A four layer board would have all of these files plus two inner layer files and a six layer board would have all of these files plus four inner layer files. At Innovative Circuits Inc., we interface with PCB fabrication houses for our own board designs as well as board designs provided by our customers for whom we are providing board assembly services. Thus we are very familiar with Gerber files and their purposes and functions. But we also realize that countless other people in other organizations who are involved in ordering raw boards or board assembly services will see or hear the term Gerber files without having any knowledge of the term, and this article if for them.

Jim Usery Sales and Marketing Director Innovative Circuits Inc. 311A S Parkway St Corinth, MS 38834 office 662-287-2007 toll free 866-887-7381 fax 662-665-9275 email jusery@icimfg.com

Visit our website at www.icimfg.com for more information about Innovative Circuits Inc. and the services and expertise that we provide to our customers, or for additional technical articles.

Copyright 2006. You may re-print the above information in its entirety in your publication, newsletter, or on your webpage. For permission, please email your request with "Reprint Gerber Files" in the subject line to reprint.ici@gmail.com and we will reply quickly.

About the Author

Jim Usery began his professional career at ITT Telecommunications in Milan, TN as an engineering co-op student from UT Martin in 1970. He has worked in various segments of the telecom industry for over 35 years, with positions in engineering, product management, sales, and customer support. Jim graduated in 1991 from the University of Alabama Huntsville with a Masters in Management and currently resides in the Memphis, TN area.

SHIELDING DEVICE OF THE CELLULAR TELEPHONE

USER'S MANUAL THE MINISTY OF PUBLIC SECURITY & ALTERTLY ECTCTRONIC EQUIPMENT QUALITY MONITORING CENTER NATIONAL ANTI-BLAST ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT QUALITY SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION CENTER THE SAFETY OF INFORMATION OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY MEASURES THE AUTHENTICATION CENTER SECRECT TECHNOLOGICAL SAFETY INSPECTION OFFICE OF COMMITTEE OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY

CATALOGUE 1. BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF EQUIPMENT 2. CHARACTERISTIC OF THE EQUIPMENT 3. THE TECHNOLOGICAL SCHEME OF THE EQUIPMENT & EQUIPMENT CONTENT. 4. THE SHIELDING IS BEFORE CONCERNING THE SKETCH MAP WITH THE INTENSITY OF FIELD. 5. THE EQUIPMENT UESED DEPENDALITY, SECURITY EXPLANATION. 6. INSTALL & OPERATION INSURCTIONS. 7. MAITAIN & REPLACE 8. LEGAL LIABILITY 9. PACKING LIST 10. ENCLOSURE

PAGE 1. EQUIPMENT OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS 一.. BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE EQUIPMENT. Main function of the equipment: This cellular telephone of shielding devices have adopted the special high science and technology way, can make the cellular telephone lose efficiency within the range of assessing from the shielding to cover automatically. The cellular telephone can be used in flammable and explosive place, the specialized quite place, the ordinary quite place extensively, the place where preventing the microwave from interfering, the secret place, the place where forbidding to operate the cellular telephone. This shielding device can make the cellular telephone to receive and send messages the function lose efficiency in the appoint range when it is at working, the cellular telephone is unable to allocate or dial in , thus achieve the goal of forbidding by force.

二..CHARACTERISTIC OF THE EQUIPMENT. With the fast popularization of the cellular telephone, it make people shroud in the radiation magnetic field and the high strength radio frequency. This kind of radio frequency radiation will be caused a threat to the regional security ( such as service station, gas station, the hospital, chemical warehouse, etc) increased day by day . SHIEDLING DEVICE OF CELLULAR TELEPHONE'S CHARACTERISTICS: This equipment is used in general Government, Army, the meeting room of the organ mainly, the confidential room, the secret room, the examination hall and the institution of the school, all enterprises, service station, gas station, hospital, chemical warehouse, the flammable place, the explosive place and specialize quite place, the ordinary quite place, the place where preventing the microwave from interfering, the secret place, the place where forbidding to operate the cellular telephone. This shielding device can make the cellular telephone's function which receive and send messages lose efficiency when it is at the working station. User will receive the information " user is out of service area temporarily" when user dial cellular under above-mentioned places. 1. small , light, and it is convenient to install. 2. operation is simple. As long as this shielding device is put through the power, it can be working. It is unnecessary to train attenbant. 3. undamaged to the cellular telephone The shielding device of the cellular telephone only makes it unable to send or receive the signal when the cellular telephone enters the shielding district, Once it left the shielding district, the cellular telephone will recover the normal function in a short time. 4. Run automatically, unnecessary special messenger safeguard. The shielding device of cellular telephone adopts the base standing type to design, high dependability. It can work automatically in succession for a long time under various kinds of environment. 5. Green environmental protection equipment, No injury to people & things. The shielding device of cellular telephone consumed few electronic energy, its' power is very small, it have not any injury to people and various kinds of electronics equipment. 6. Changes rapidly Usually, it can receive and dispatch the shielding result of the signal to all kinds of cellular telephone in starting the cellular telephone 3.5 seconds. Shut-down the cellular telephone 5-10 seconds later., all kinds of cellular telephone can resume receiving and dispatching the signal again.

三. THE TECHNOLOGICAL SCHEME OF THE EQUIPMENT & EQUIPMENT CONTENT

1 THE TECHNOLOGICAL SCHEME OF THE EQUIPMENT &WORKING PRINCIPLE Nowadays, People are to use CDMA, GSM, PCS & PHS which the system cover one area at the same time.. We adopted advanced shielding skill to make the cellular telephone signal not to be used in the range 0-30M of the shielding area. The shielding frequency of the shielding device of the cellular telephone is designed into the high frequency in several frequency bands shake module which the signals frequency bands is 869MHZ-894MHZ, 925MZ-960MHZ, 1900MHZ-1990MHZ, 1805MHZ-1880MHZ according to the frequency bands of the above several kinds of communication signals. Frequently, We can get the shielding frequency through the frequency division, jump frequency and the strain technology ,we can customize the shape peak nest space which the diameter is about 3-100M according to the power of the shielding device ,and make the cellular telephone lose efficiency in the place, then achieve to the purpose of shielding. in order to ensure the safety of dangerous area, we can put several shielding devices in the different position around it and make the safe shielding space cover the dangerous peripheral about 3M of area for the different scale dangerous area,.

2.EQUIPMENT CONTENT The cellular telephone's shielding device is made up of by the following several parts: a. OUTER COVER Is made by the thermostable material b. POWER Input voltage:160-240V, 0.5A, 50-60HZ It can work when the rectifier is connecting the shielding device and turn on the power. Please pay attention to avoiding the rectifier soaked with water or the situation of the extruding of by machinery etc. and causing damaging at the time of installation. c. POWER INDICATOR LAMP There have the indicator lamps on this equipment panel, when the red light is on, it shows it is in the work at this moment.

四. THE EQUIPMENT UESED DEPENDALITY, SECURITY EXPLANATION This project is adopted the technology which is our company can hold to prop up totally. We have the experiment data for the key technology. So, we can guarantee the technology. This project has got the qualification of the relevant department and met the standard of the relevant trade.

五. INSTALL & OPERATION INSURCTIONS

A. INSTALL STEP AND METHODS. 1.Hold the host computer at the wall, install the best height which is 180CM. 2. Put through the exchange power, the indicator lamp of the power is bright, the host computer begins to work 3.Adopted the "honeycomb" for the install position of the large place, The small space fetches the centre position of the long side.

B.PRECAUTIONS 1. put through the power. 2. The effective shielding range of the shielding device is around the area of the shielding device as the centre, so pay attention to choosing the location of the shielding device correctly while using, so as not to produce the shielding dead angle. 3.The shielding device should be placed in the good ventilating place, Try your best to avoid the big shape object to shelter it, avoid the strong heat source and strong electromagnetic source from it in order to keep the shielding device working for a long time 4. When the shielding device is on working, do not put other articles on it or dismantle the aerial from it .so as not to influence the effect of the shielding device and damage the host computer. 5. Should pay attention to being waterproof while using the shielding device outdoors 6. Should turn off the power in time when not using the shielding device , so as not to influence the normal use of the cell-phone 7. As the use area is larger than the area of the isolating effectively, Suggest you to adopt several shielding devices , " honeycomb type " installed. So as to ensure that makes the good result 8.Because it has no switch, pls take the power which have switch while using the shielding device. 9. Please place it far away from corrosivity gas and liquid , do dustproof dampproof work well, so as not to accelerate copies of equipment components and parts wear out. 10. While putting it in the field or outdoors, you should pay attention to set up protectors in the environment where have destructive animals , such as mice ant and so on. . 11. While using this equipment in the flammable and explosive place, it's service life is 5 years. Pay attention to safeguarding and maintaining, it can be used many times. After expiring , please discuss matters about upgrading with the distributor , and guarantee that checks and safeguards once per month

C. SAFEGUARDING AND MAINTAINING. 1.This shielding device is the equipment which will be safeguard and maintain by free of charge, and it is unnecessary to safeguard. 2. While wipe the surface of the shielding device, Do not using the chemical solvent , and avoid entering water into the machine 3. While unnecessary to use the shielding device, pls place it in the dry and ventilating place in order to avoid smog and harmful gas for a long time 4. This shielding device is guaranteed for one year, the free repair of three years 5. The shielding device's seal label is damaged or the shielding device have the mark which is opened, we will not offer the after-sale service and safeguard.

七.MAINTAINING AND REPLACE. 1. This cellular telephone of shielding device is guaranteed for one year, Pls contact the sales department to get in touch and obtain free maintenance with the locality if the shielding device will be damaged improperly artificially during the guarantee period. 2. Pls show the guarantee card when you maintain the equipment in the guarantee period. Then it will be maintained through the sales department contacting with us. 3. We will collect the paid maintenance cost according to the cost expenses without exception if this shielding device will be in the paid maintenance range through the technical appraisement of our company in the guaranteed period. 4. If it is the situation which is human factor caused the machine can not be working normally, for example, use improperly (open the power and start and open the chassis etc. without authorization ) above situation will be refused to guarantee in guarantee period artificially.

八. LEGAL LIABILITY 1. the right of interpretation The right of interpretation and the right of the copy for the user's manual is belonged our company. 2. the right of trad mark The name & trade mark of this cellular telephone shielding device which is belonged our company. 3. Liability for tort All to is it duplicate or use our company equipment name to go on copies of equipment without permission of our company, the identification is a tort and should bear all legal liability that cause PRECAUTIONS: 1. Please observe the laws of the country and regulations of the area when you using the cellular telephone shielding device. If there is the situation of using this equipment illegally, it will have nothing to do with our company. 2. Be sure to use the shielding device in the place where not allow to use the cellular telephone clearly in country's laws and regulations or the place where mark " forbidding using the cellular telephone " . If the dispute caused because of this, our company will not bear any responsibility. 3. Our company will not bear any responsibility if the depute caused because it is improper to install, use, safeguard. 4. Our company will not bear any responsibility if the depute caused because of the wrong place of installation or improper installation. 5. If there are dispute and direct or indirect loss caused because of this rule, our company does not bear any responsibility

九.PACKINGLIST You should check articles in the packing box as follows after this equipment gift box is disassembled. 1.shielding device 1 set 2.user manual 1 pc 3. cable 1 pc If there are discrepancies, please immediately inquiry. 手机信号屏蔽器 手机屏蔽器 信号屏蔽器 屏蔽器 计算机视频干扰器


About the Author

technology

Go East Young Man-Made in Taiwan and the China Syndrome Part 1

The US Markets are closed today so I thought this might be an opportunity to look beyond the US shores to another favourite market of mine-the Far East.For many years the Asian Markets have lagged far behind the US and Europe.I think we may be seeing the tentative shoots of recovery in certain markets.Japan is still a wildcard but I believe that 2007 may prove to be a good year for Taiwan. In 2006 a number of emerging mkts including some in Asia have hit all time highs but Taiwan still lags and is over 43% below its high from Feb 1990.Taiwan is home to some of the largest Tech and Electronics companies in the World. Companies that produce I-Pods and the Mini Mac as well as supply major IT companies such as Dell and Hewlett Packard-the link therefore to PC and Semi-conductors is inextricable-when these markets boom so does the Taiwanese economy.If you believe that these sectors are likely to start to move in 2007-(think Vista and PC's) then Taiwan is a good place to invest.For me the best way to play this is via the iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund(EWT-NYSE).This fund is broadly based and diversified but heavily weighted to Technology Companies. Another boost for Taiwan is that it is one of the major trading partners of China. The Chinese economy is still one of the fastest growing economies in the world and as the mass Chinese become more affluent then they will increase their expenditure on goods such as PC's and Technology-this can only be good for the Taiwanese economy and for the iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund(EWT-NYSE).I will be opening a position in this fund at the mkt tomorrow.I will also post Part 2 of this communication looking in a bit more detail at opportunities to gain some exposure to China such as Hong Kong Shanghai Bank (HBC) , Templeton Dragon Fund (TDF-NYSE) and China Medical Technologies (CMED-NYSE).

To read more articles on trading and investing please go to my blog Hedge Fund Trader at http://retirementtrader.blogspot.com

About the Author

Alan Gillies trades his own Pension fund he is experienced in Trading Stocks, Futures ,Options and Forex to read his blog on his trading tips and ideas go to http://retirementtrader.blogspot.com




Log Home Automation Revisited

Last year I authored an article entitled, "Log home automation? Excuse me?". ( http://www.logcabindirectory.com/articles/home_automation.htm) The article was picked up by scores of blogs and syndicated services and since then I've received tons of email asking questions about home automation and the company whose products I mentioned, X-10 (see: http://www.home-automation.us)

First, I will discuss the company; X-10 was a pioneer of online 'in-your-face' marketing. Anyone who was aware of X-10 in the early days of the Internet can remember the mind-numbing garish ads this company seemed to have pinned to every website in the universe. Heaven forbid if you opted in to any of their newsletter or advertising solicitations, as you would get blasted daily with offers and eleventh-hour deals.

That company, and the vast majority of regular Internet users learned the hard way how NOT to get involved with such marketing techniques. Companies who practiced these tactics eventually lost the support of their customers, and prospective clients learned to avoid these businesses. I don't blame X-10 for their unconventional approach to marketing. When the Internet was first made available to business, no one knew what would work or what was needed to attract customers. That was the 'Wild West" of online marketing. Good companies made some bad mistakes, but eventually most learned that good products promoted properly will yield positive results.

X-10 is a survivor of the "dot-com meltdown" and the early marketing blunders of online promotion. Today, they are a 30+ year-old company offering quality products, with excellent warranties and free shipping to USA addresses (orders over $50). Today they are one of the world's leading Web retailers and a manufacturer for several lines of best-selling consumer electronics products.

Revisiting Log Home Automation
Home automation is about making things easier and improving convenience; it is about what you want - and when you want it to happen. Home automation is 'green' and good for global warming.

Although my primary focus is log homes, what follows pertains to all houses whether they are constructed of log, brick or even manufactured. Home automation is about making things easier and improving convenience; it is about what you want and when you want it to happen. With X-10's ActiveHome Pro, your imagination is all that is needed to make your home "your automated castle." Using this system you can program your thermostat to turn on or off to suit your schedule and wake up to a hot pot of coffee, and have your lights turn on or off at preset times.

This electronic brain for your home is managed by a system-control package for Windows PCs, but your computer does not need to stay connected for the system to work after it has been programmed. Once you download your behaviors into the computer interface, you can plug it into almost any electrical outlet in the house and it will run unassisted. The software permits you to program the behavior of any number of devices in your house, and is quite robust, yet easy to use. Set-up of the hardware components is a breeze. Outfit lamps or appliances that you want to control with small inexpensive modules that allow the ActiveHome Pro computer interface to communicate via signals that are broadcast across your home's electrical wires.

You can even program the system to do tricks using the ActiveHome Pro software. A download plug-in is available from X10 (for $50) that allows modules to be controlled on an "if-then" basis. For example: If it's past dusk and the motion sensor module detects movement in the living room, then turn on the lights. Or, if you have some programming experience, you can download a free software development kit and write a control program that interfaces with your e-mail.

Your imagination is the only limitation with this home automation system. You can create the mood you want with a push of a button. Produce a romantic atmosphere with dimmed lights, soft music and your aroma lamp, and make it a night to remember. When you come home after dark the system will automatically turn on your lights providing you a safe and visible entry. Ensure a fun and worry free vacation by turning lights on and off at different times, making your house look occupied. When it comes to peace of mind, convenience and comfort are paramount.

Home Automation is 'Green'
Now you can control your home, get control over your expenses and conserve energy. With a home automation system you can manage countless small tasks that will add up to huge savings of both money and energy. Your smart home can be programmed to turn lights off with the dawning of the day, your television to shut off at night after you fall asleep and your furnace to power down at night or when you are away at work. Managing lighting, heating and air conditioning components and appliances can make a significant impact on your household expenses and contribute to fuel conservation.

Will home automation solve the "global warming" problem? Doubtfully, but any measures we take to reduce energy consumption is good for everyone who inhabits this planet whether they live in a log home or a straw hut. Imagine the impact if fifty-million homes in America turned off their furnace and a couple lights for a few hours every day.

In summary, home automation is not just a toy for affluent geeks, but a reasonable consideration for anyone who owns a home and wants convenience, increased security and to save money and energy. If you are contemplating home automation or security improvements, I recommend you investigate X-10's ActiveHome Pro system. A starter kit with the software, interface and several modules, remote controls and sensors costs just $100. Additional modules cost between $15 and $50 from X10 and other vendors. ActiveHome Pro was selected as the Editors' Choice by PC Magazine making it their top pick among all home automation systems!

About the Author

Tom Heatherington is the founder of the Log Cabin Directory, a human edited directory of log home and log cabin manufacturers, contractors, dealers, plans and information for the United States and Canada. Visit: www.LogCabinDirectory.com/

What Is Freelance Technical Writing?

Technical writing requires the ability to write clearly, plainly, and accurately about extremely complicated material. If you can do that--and quickly--then becoming a successful technical writer is well within your grasp.

The most common clients for freelance technical writers are educational firms, training companies and manufacturing/electronics/software companies. All of these demand a high volume of documentation-style writing, and thus a high volume of technical writers to produce that writing. However, the nature of technical writing indicates there aren't many opportunities outside these industries. Tech writing is only warranted when there's something sufficiently complex to explain in a standardized way, and a mom n' pop software company may not have the money or the need to hire even an entry-level tech writer. So if you want to freelance as a tech writer, you'll almost certainly wind up working on contract for one of the bigger companies.

As with copy editing and journalism, a high degree of familiarity with as many style guides as possible is mandatory for any good freelance technical writer. Technical reports are frequently only a small part of a company's wider technical literature. Writing all of a company's documentation in the same style is a good way to ensure consistent quality and readability over a long company lifespan. The most commonly used style guides are AP (Associated Press), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago. Strunck and White, although older, is still a classic, and commonly in use with certain firms. Pick up a copy of each and familiarize yourself with them. Knowing the popular style guides will improve your technical writing and you'll become more marketable to a wide variety of clients as well.

Once you know which style guide your client works with (and once your own style is clear enough to write effectively), you'll need to start thinking about how to approach your material. Contacting and interviewing SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) is often a huge part of effective technical writing. Without good technical information supporting your work, you won't know what you're writing about. Engineers, technicians and professionals who have to use the work you create won't know what you're writing about either. This leads to a severe loss of productivity and of money, and probably to the loss of your reputation at the company as well. So make sure you have enough data to write your report, and make sure you understand it as thoroughly as possible before you start planning your articles. No one expects you to know as much about, let's say, a supercollider as a nuclear physicist (especially not on a deadline), but knowing the basic theory and how to use most of the technical vocabulary is beneficial.

The one principal rule of good writing in any field is "know your audience." This statement is truer of technical writing than any other form of freelance writing. Your audience, in technical writing, is going to use the processes, machines, and equipment you write about. If your audience can't understand what you're saying or follow the flow of your argument, you've failed as a tech writer. Clients likely won't hire you for future contracts.

Think carefully about whom you're writing for. Do the users have a background in the theory behind the machine, or do they just need to know how to pull the levers and push the buttons in the right order? Will the users have ready access to troubleshooting facilities (i.e. assembly line workers with a machine shop on the factory premises); or will they have to go to some lengths to fix any mistakes they might make in operation (i.e. people who've bought a new operating system and have to drive an hour to whenever their computer needs service)?

Take some time to think about your end users, their likely qualifications, their questions, and their overall needs. Structure your articles to follow their probable concerns in the order they'll come up. If you need to, talk to some of your prospective end users and ask them questions about what they find problematic in their jobs. It'll help you think of their problems more when you're structuring your work, and that'll make your work that much better.

Once you have your basic structure and some idea of the logical flow of your report, all that's left is the description. Be as clear as possible while still keeping a readable style, and be as accurate as possible. Don't be afraid of footnotes and additional information--unless it's specifically prohibited by your client's style policy. As long as you're thinking of your audience, and you've done the appropriate research and structuring work, this part should be straightforward.

If you can synthesize information from SMEs, keep your audience well in mind, and describe complicated processes clearly and simply, then you have the basic skills to be a successful freelance tech writer.

Watch the classifieds and make inquiries at engineering and training companies. You have a skill that's in high demand. If you keep yourself in the marketplace (and are willing to accept a "trial period" with lower pay, in some cases), it's only a matter of time before you establish yourself as a tech writer. Over time you can develop a reputation that'll win you contract after contract and keep your technical writing career alive and thriving.

About the Author

Brian Konradt is the author of the book, "Freelance Poker Writing: How to Make Money Writing for the Gaming Industry," available at www.FreelancePokerWriting.com. Learn more about different writing careers at http://www.WritingCareer.com.