General Information and Tips

This is a collection of general information. If you have a tip about hanging icicle lights so they hang straight or know a trick to keep viewers from walking around the display area let us know and post it here.

Qwiki Tips: Tips to help make your display brighter and better!

7 Steps to Selecting a Controller

Sequencing Tips

How Dimming Works

Pinouts: Standard Cable and port pinouts

Cables and Connectors: Coop connectors and pinouts

Curious Inventor's Soldering Basics Video tutorial that contains useful guidance on soldering, soldering tip hygene and technique.

Curious Inventor's SMT Soldering Tutorial Video tutorial that contains guidance on SMT soldering techniques.

SparkFun SMT soldering tutorial PDF tutorial show techniques and methods for SMT soldering.

Microchip PIC References: Books and other online references for learning how to use/program Microchip PIC Microprocessors.

Beginners_Guide_To_Programming_A_PIC: Beginners Guide To PIC Programming

WayneJ's video series on PIC programming: This is a series of videos on "How to program a PIC" using a Microchip Programmer hosted by Do It Yourself Christmas Forum member WayneJ.

DIYC Electronic Tools: General, Basic and Advanced Tools for this Incredible Experience.

Troubleshooting/Solutions When things go wrong, these solutions to common problems could get your going again quickly

How to make a dipole FM transmitter antenna: Easy step-by-step construction of this valuable tool