twerppoet said:USAF 1982-1986. Digital Flight Simulator Technician.
I miss the magic of component electronics; though even then the writing was on the wall.
can't help with an iPad app, but as a small time designer/hobbyist on a PC i use 'circuit wizard' from Maplins. has circuit simulation on schematic as well as pcb auto placement and routing. also virtual test instruments
for what it costs, it is very powerful, allows experiments for designs if you need to quell an itch, without needing to be breadboard up a design
check it out
twerppoet said:Ah, well, confession time. What I most miss is getting paid to troubleshoot and fix the stuff. I was good at it. I was never into design, beyond seeing what else I could make a toy/kit do. Usually a broken toy or circuit kit. I like fixing stuff.
twerppoet said:Sounds like you've got a challenging and interesting job.
As a technician I was always wishing engineers were required to fix equipment for at least two years before being allowed to design it. I'd spend a lot of time waxing eloquent (or something like) on the idea, usually right after I'd spent hours tearing apart some equipment, just to get to the one component that seemed to fail most often.
If you are designing something that's not throw away, please keep us poor suffering techs in mind.
Anyway, I've probably contributed to more OT drift that I should. Don't worry. If i really wanted to tinker more with electronics, I would. I'm just playing 'the good old days'.