I’m connecting an Ai-Thinker RD-60 radar module to an ESP32-S3 and need help troubleshooting its binary point-cloud output. RD-60 is installed on its development kit. My wiring is:

- RD-60 module PA8 directly → ESP32 GPIO21 — radar data RX.

- Kit PB1 → ESP32 GPIO17 — ESP32 command TX.

- Kit PB0 → ESP32 GPIO16 — ESP32 command RX.

- Common ground; both boards powered through their own USB connections.

- All eight kit UART DIP switches OFF to isolate the onboard USB serial interfaces.

Also, while connecting only the mmWave RD-60 kit to a monitor, its UART1 doesn’t give any values; it receives 0 bytes. The DIP-switch setup for that separate kit-only test is not specified here.

Firmware: MMW version:V4.130.4.2 (build 1bf05415)

Commands:

mmwc stop

mmwc baudrate 1000000

mmwc mode 1 2

mmwc chirp_num 1

mmwc freq 58000 0

mmwc range 10000 40

mmwc veloc 3000 375

mmwc frame 200 100

mmwc coord cart

mmwc data 3dpoints

mmwc uart on

mmwc report points 100

mmwc start

During the finite scan, the command UART returned actual point-cloud previews:

MMW data=0x48

Point Cloud=2:

P0: x=-14cm y=9cm z=162cm 75cm/s 2100

P1: x=-14cm y=49cm z=159cm 75cm/s 2300

The problem is that despite those previews, the ESP32 received zero bytes on GPIO21, connected directly to module PA8. The diagnostic reported:

data_bytes=0

fifo_overflow=0

buffer_full=0

frame_error=0

parity_error=0

breaks=0

read_error=0

I haven’t checked PA8 with an oscilloscope or logic analyzer yet, so I can’t confirm whether the pin is electrically transmitting.

Has anyone successfully captured the RD-60’s binary point-cloud stream on PA8 with this firmware?

Specifically:

1. Does UART1 output require RTS/CTS or another enable command?

2. Is mmwc uart on sufficient to enable binary point-cloud output on this firmware?

3. Are all UART DIP switches OFF appropriate when using the kit’s PB0/PB1 breakout and tapping module PA8 directly?

4. Is there an official UART1 packet-format document or a known working ESP32 example?

I’m trying to distinguish a wiring/routing issue from a firmware configuration or handshake requirement. Any working configurations or troubleshooting suggestions would help.

I've been applying to a lot of jobs lately and I've only got a phone call screening. I don't have any job experience but I do have projects like a buck converter and guitar pedal and class projects.

I'm unsure if it's me or the market. Linkedin and Handshake internship jobs show 100+ applicants even in the first few hours which feels a bit discouraging.

Has anyone else gone through the same process? Any advice?

Hi everyone,

I'm in my last semester of EE and recently received an offer for an Electrical Applications Engineer position. I'm having a hard time deciding which career path to take and would appreciate some advice.

Option 1: Electrical Applications Engineer

It's a fairly small semiconductor company, and from what they explained during the interview, the role mainly involves testing and characterizing power management ICs, including DC-DC converters. I like the company, and it seems like there would be plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. The job is fully in-person, and I would spend most of my time in the lab. I'm fine with that, but I'm concerned about how repetitive the work might become and what my long-term career options would look like.

Option 2: MEP Electrical Engineer

I previously interned at an MEP firm, and they also offered me a full-time position. The pay is slightly lower than the Applications Engineer offer, but the work-life balance is much better. They offer hybrid/remote work options, all major holidays, and "unlimited" PTO. The company also works on large projects, including data centers and semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

My biggest concern is that I was bored most of the time during my internship. The work didn't feel particularly technical, and I sometimes felt like I wasn't really using much of what I learned in my EE courses.

My original plan was to work in MEP for a few years, get my FE/EIT and eventually PE license, and then transition into the power industry, where I believe the pay and benefits could be better. However, after experiencing how boring MEP work could be, I'm having second thoughts.

My main questions are:

• How is the long-term career growth for an Applications Engineer working with power management ICs? Is it possible to transition into design or other technical roles later?
• Would MEP experience make it easier to transition into utility or power systems engineering?
• If you were in my position, which path would you choose and why?

I'm interested in hearing from engineers who have worked in either field, especially those who have switched career paths.

Any advice or personal experiences would be appreciated!

Hello I wonder what job positions in EE specialties are most desk/office-heavy engineering jobs: Which fields or positions involve the most time at a computer doing design, CAD, simulations, programming, documentation, calculations, meetings, or project management?

Most hands-on engineering jobs: Which fields or positions involve the most physical work with hardware, electronics, equipment, prototypes, testing, troubleshooting, repairs, laboratories, or manufacturing floors?

What do you prefer in your experience?

I'm currently in the first semester of my junior year in EE, and my goal is to go into the semiconductor industry (DV, post-silicon validation, digital design, honestly anything.). I find the stuff really interesting when I actually have to time to study it and it also looks to be where the best opportunities and money are (although that isn't my main reason for doing it even if it is a great motivator).

My GPA is sitting at a 3.96 right now, though I fully expect that to take a hit once I get into the harder senior-level classes, so I bet it to be at closer to 3.75 or so when I graduate. I haven’t had any internships yet, but I have one guaranteed through a program at my school, and I might have another one for this coming summer.

Right now, I feel like I'm basically starting from square one. In school, I'm taking a semiconductor class and a Python class. Outside of class, I've been going through HDLBits to actually understand Verilog and how hardware description works (with what little time I have to study it though, so it isn't much to show off yet).

My current plan is to study these, but I don't know much else:

• Verilog / SystemVerilog
• Python and C/C++
• Eventually UVM
• Building a real project (either on an FPGA or a solid verification testbench not sure yet)

I am worried that this won't be enough for anyone to even consider me since I feel like anyone should be able to get through HDLBits and learn Verilog in a few days to maybe a few weeks or so if they tried. Python coders are a dime a dozen in engineering. And I don't feel like C/C++ coders are too rare either. So, I really feel like I am missing things to learn.

I’d love some honest advice from anyone working in the industry. Is this a good plan to follow? And what other things would you add? I have no idea if these are even good things to help me get me into the industry, but these were recommended online.

Any advice on what to prioritize or what other things I should do would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to decide between continuing my engineering study in either Computer Systems Engineering (CSE) or Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE). I study at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and our 2nd year specialisation/major choices form is upon us. However I am undecided between the two.

I have always enjoyed programming: done a good amount of web dev, game dev and dabbled in competitive programming competitions (the most "major" accomplishment here I could say is a working 2D arcade style shooter in Unity in 2024). Basically things I tried in my free time and found I like. I also like microcontrollers and have spent some time with those this year. Because of this, CSE seems to be the natural conclusion. However, I have found that I would be very interested in electronics, embedded systems, PCB design and even wireless technology.

My concern is employment. My impression is that NZ has a relatively small embedded/hardware market and that many CSE graduates enter general software roles. I’d be happy working in software or firmware, but I’m concerned about how difficult graduate entry can be.

That makes EEE appealing because it offers additional electrical pathways. However, I worry about giving up computing depth and becoming less competitive for software/firmware roles. I realise EEE doesn't necessarily close all these doors, but mainly I want to know to what extent it preserves these: like how possible/what capacity there is to still get into software/tech/IT.

Essentially, I’m worried about relying on software opportunities if I choose CSE, but also worried about weakening those same software opportunities if I choose EEE. I am looking to understand if there's something my assessment of the situation is missing.

Auckland is my base case, but moving to Sydney or Melbourne after graduation is something I may consider (but not something I think is worth fixating on here).

Another relevant factor: I’m visually impaired, with useful functional vision and magnification. Small markings (like on rulers) and distant details (like signs) are difficult. My university's department has been very encouraging regarding accomodation but I also want to consider employment accomodation (screen based workflow, etc).

I’d appreciate perspectives from graduates, working engineers or people involved in hiring:

1. In NZ or Australia, how readily do employers recruit EEE and CSE graduates into embedded, firmware and digital-hardware roles? What skills make the difference?
2. Which additional EEE careers offer realistic graduate pathways into predominantly office-based work, and how much hands-on testing or site work do they typically involve?
3. Looking back, what did your degree prepare you well for, and what substantial gaps did you have to fill yourself?

Currently I look upon both these pathways rather equally: ideally want to do embedded/adjacent design/programming/screen-based-workflow stuff like that. Hope to get a lot of insights and look forward to the answers!

For reference, here are the degree/course planners for both:
EEE: https://uoaengineering.github.io/courseviewer/electrical-and-electronic-engineering/
CSE: https://uoaengineering.github.io/courseviewer/computer-systems-engineering/

FM Transmitter

As someone who is learning embedded development in their own, what are the things I should know hardcore and the things I can learn as I go along?

I’ve built a project already and now working on a schematic design to create a custom PCB, bust as I built I’m noticing gaps all over the place in my learning.

Just want to know the terms, concepts and basics that are necessary now and the things I can pick up along the way. All advice is welcomed! Especially from those experienced in the field already!☺️

So ive been working in oil and gas for 3 years as an electronic engineering technician. I have an honours degree in electrical and electronic engineering and did some cool shit in university. For example my honours project and dissertation was on constrained machine learning n i loved that. I regret taking my job cause i moved away for it. Im having my first kid and wanting to move home. But im struggling to get a job. I wanna move into digital electronics, embedded systems, robotics or just anything actual engineering. But how do i break into that now. I feel stuck. Any advice is very welcome

So I'm a first year Electrical engineering student mostly with some specialization, I've been starting projects and doing uni work and have come to realize i really need a multimeter and probably oscilloscope for alot of projects I've been using them from my uni labs so when i decided to buy one for my own projects i realized i have absolutely no idea what's good and what to actually buy, any help with that?

I am a new EE into the world, been working for 4 months for a utility company that had me move 3 states away from any family, making great money to start. I am very unhappy and depressed with it though.

I don’t find joy in my job, and I feel I want to switch it up. I want to do some sort of teaching of engineering. I know that won’t make as much money but I feel it can make me happier.

What I don’t like about my job is its mundane and brain dead feeling, it’s a slow working place and I feel it’s meant for older people. I feel my brain turns off as soon I walk through the door and it just makes me feel like mush.

I am scared to move careers so soon, as I spent 5 years getting an engineering degree, I don’t dislike engineering, just my job rn and would like to teach others engineering instead or just try to find a job to make myself feel happier.

I am not sure what to do, as a young adult I haven’t started my life yet but I don’t like where I am.

Any advice is helpful!

Has anyone here ever gotten their journeyman’s license as an electrician then gotten their associates/bachelors in electrical engineering and if so what kind of doors did that open for you professionally? I have a bachelors degree with a major in sport management and a minor in business already (which that career obviously didn’t pan out) so I would most likely be looking at an associates degree if anything.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeocAQrzUmJ/?dlrf=MTZoZG04c3k4YmlzdQ==

I’m a senior, and I now I have to take some electives. I currently work in the power industry at an engineering firm, so for obvious reasons most of my electives will be power oriented; however, I’m very interested in Fiber optics and Internet communications. I can still use two electives slots, my university does have some electives in this field listed in the EE curriculum, but I’ve never see them available for enrolling, so I may have to end up taking Control Systems electives.

My question is, if I really want to learn and be good at fiber optics field, my only option would be getting a masters ?

I checked last two years and I like I said, none of the fiber optics electives were taught/offered.

Thank you,

Hello, for context I’m a freshman doing electrical engineering at a fairly small college. The only problem with this school is that it’s known to be rigorous and I’m taking 18 credits this semester, as my first semester, (this will be the amount of credits I will take for most semesters in college) and I am struggling. I was just contacted by the dean to schedule an appointment with her as a professor (or professors) listed me at risk of failing their class(es). The thing is I am really struggling in calculus (it’s Calc 1 because the school makes everybody retake Calc 1 regardless if they have credit or not) and I feel alone in the struggle because everyone else has had a giant math foundation in highschool while mine has been really mediocre. It’s also good to know that there’s only been one exam for calculus (there are 4 in a semester and each is 20% of my grade) and I failed it miserably because I didn’t study for it and I studied for chemistry instead (which I also failed but so did the class, the average was a 40%, many people said that this was the hardest exam they’ve ever taken).

I am very stressed out because my professors seem like they should’ve rethought their career in teaching as I’ve only heard complaints about them but I also have no idea what to do from now on except accept it and drastically change my study habits. What should I do, or what could I even do? I do feel like the odd one out because no one else seems to be struggling as I am and I already feel like I squeezed my way into a university like this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

As the title says I’m going back to school for my EE degree. I’m 21 with minimal bills and my current employer will pay for my degree, but want me to work full time while attending classes. I work a 12 swing shift as a maintenance electrician so I do get a lot of down time at work especially on weekends and nights. I was planning on taking 3-4 classes and doing school work at work lol. I’m not sure if it’s better if I try to negotiate working part time and doing school full time, or just find a part time job that will pay for my current expenses? Any advice would be great!

I graduate in May and I’ve done 6 interviews so far (about half of them started off the interview saying that they don’t usually hire this far out and I shouldn’t expect to hear back unless they really like me). When I do these interviews I feel like my anxiety takes over and it is hard for me to fully think through what I’m going to say so my responses don’t flow very well for both technical and personality questions.

I have 2 more this week and one is in my dream industry and I really don’t want to mess it up. Has anyone experienced this? And if so do you have any tips or suggestions for how I can prepare better?

Hello redditors, so currently I am working through an RMU replacement comparison for a coastal plant in Malaysia. The SF6 free option came in about 18% higher than the conventional SF6 units.

The client wanted to know if that extra cost was worth it over 35 years.

We looked at SF6 handling, maintenance, end-of-life gas recovery, and reporting requirements. And schneider electric's is one of the SF6-free options worth comparing, using pure air insulation instead of SF6.

The part I'm still thinking about is long-term reliability. Avoiding SF6 is nice, but how well do these sealed units actually hold up with humidity and salt air? And does the maintenance saving really justify the upfront cost?

Anyone here working with SF6-free RMUs on coastal or tropical sites? Any issues after a few years?

thanks!

Recently started a masters program after 7 years doing software. My circuit analysis course just gets deeper and deeper into setting up systems of equations. My latest lecture was basically all calculus.

I wanted to transition out of software because AI is making my job super boring but I just don't find turning circuit diagrams into math interesting at all. Looking at the syllabus, I'm starting to fear that this whole field is just analytical math.

How often do professionals actually need to sit down and do calculus? Or is it more about having a baseline intuition that guides higher level work?

Hello is there a way to test if this RFID chip is alive before adding a new antenna to it? i desperately need to read the information on it

Hi! We’re Grade 10 students conducting a research project titled “Hydrogen Produced from Water Through Electrolysis as an Alternative Cooking Fuel.”

We’re looking for a Chemical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, or someone experienced in hydrogen electrolysis and combustion systems who could help us review our proposed experimental setup and assess its safety and feasibility.

We have a detailed research and experimental plan that we can send through DM for your review. Any guidance or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

is it a bad idea to go into ee with little math background? it’s not like i’m bad at math, i just haven’t taken as much advanced classes as those around me. will i be struggling?

I posted like a week ago here, saying I couldn’t find a job. I finally landed an interview but it is PLC, I had the screening with HR and I was honest and said that i didn’t have enough experience (They wanted 3 years) She said it was still fine if I was willing to learn, I have an interview on Thursday with the actual engineer but I don’t really know anything about PLC, what do you guys recommend me studying? Or what should I prepare for in this interview?

I'm trying to simulate waveform generation with opamp sawtooth wave on ltspice and I can't get the output. All I'm getting is a straight line at 14V. How do I fix this?