where to buy some things

[mako]

Hi
I got to the country a 3 months ago, and been setting, (getting a place and a job)
already bought my tools (multimeter etc) to start playing,
but I havent found a shop that sells some things I need (in Sydney),
like high bright leds
microcontrollers
specific ICs (AVR, pic)
arduinos (cheap)
pcb makers?? (cheap!)

I already check Jaycar and dick smith, not much selection,

Do I have to order this things online? (where do you recommend?), cheap delivery and reliable (I have tried mouser and others for overseas in South America)

Also is there any one that have experimented with the beagle board?? Im getting one!

ok, thank you
hope to share my projects (open source robotics and other toys) soon!

cheers

[GeoffS]

I agree with you, there are few if any shops in Sydney that suit the hobbyist.

While Jaycar is just up the road from me, they have a limited range of useful stuff and what they do have is overpriced.
I've bought the bulk of my stuff via the internet, here's some vendors that might be of interest:

Sparkfun - it's way to easy to spend too much money there! Good range of microcontrollers, PIC, AVR, ARM etc. IC's and breakout boards for IC experimentation - very handy for old guys like me who can't solder SMD. Arduinos etc.

Pcbcart - excellent PCB maker for small quantities.

Seeed Studios - Similar sort of stuff to Sparkfun but also their own range of Arduino clones.

Digikey and Mouser as you've already mentioned. Great range. Service is prompt but with a minimum of $30 for shipping, it only works if you're buying above a certain value. (I like to aim for at least a 2:1 ratio - $2 of parts for every $1 of shipping   )

And of course there's eBay - lots of cheap reliable suppliers there but also lots of unreliable ones too.

[joelby]

RS and Farnell both have a wide selection and free shipping in Australia with no minimum order. The Toll delivery guy and I are good friends now!

[johnboxall]

Hello Mako

Welcome to Sydney and Australia.
As the others have mentioned, there are Farnell and RS, both who are good for components. Farnell are very good as they deliver for free and don't charge any extra if they need to import something from abroad. If you don't want to wait for a courier they will use Australia Post, but you need to specify this in the "special instructions" field when you place the order.

If you are looking for a range of Arduino gear, Sparkfun items and so on, please consider www.littlebirdelectronics.com. They also are in Sydney and have quite a large range of the things you have been looking for, and will also get Sparkfun gear in very very quickly if they don't have it in stock.

That goes for the rest of you as well 

[Hypernova]

Hello Mako

Welcome to Sydney and Australia.
As the others have mentioned, there are Farnell and RS, both who are good for components. Farnell are very good as they deliver for free and don't charge any extra if they need to import something from abroad. If you don't want to wait for a courier they will use Australia Post, but you need to specify this in the "special instructions" field when you place the order.

My friend the other day just put "leave at door" with the default Tool Priority, apparently that works too.

[mako]

Hey guys,
Thank you for your replies

I’m also in need of the most stupid thing ahahha but I haven’t  found it  
is the wires to connect one arduino to another arduino  or to a breadboard

I have only found wires with filaments inside, but I just need a single wire (1) with the plastic insulation around it,
how do you call this? and where to get them for a reasonable price, and quick!
(I usually buy this cable by one meter or more! not little cuttings)


sorry for the obvious question
ahhaha
 

pd, also if you know where to get the isolation that shrink with heat would be really appreciated, not little cuttings like they sell in dickS, or in hardware shops I’ve seen it as well but not in small thickness as for this cables to connect

thanks!

[sonicj]

i highly recommend iteadstudio. their duemilanove clone is exceptional!

sounds like you're looking for jumpers. these are about 1/6 the price of the sparkfun jumpers and much nicer imo. jumpers link

their female to female are also handy. link

cheers!
-sj

[ElektroQuark]

Are you related to iteadstudio?

[sonicj]

negative.

i do spend a lot of time looking at crap online though and they just happen to be one of my favorite sources for prototyping stuff.
-sj

[johnboxall]

pd, also if you know where to get the isolation that shrink with heat would be really appreciated, not little cuttings like they sell in dickS, or in hardware shops I’ve seen it as well but not in small thickness as for this cables to connect

thanks!

Jaycar stores have a decent range of heatshrink in stock.

[sonicj]

heatshrink

[ElektroQuark]

negative.

i do spend a lot of time looking at crap online though and they just happen to be one of my favorite sources for prototyping stuff.
-sj

Yeah, it happens