He could have found the same SMT diode as he was replacing had he tried...he rigged it because it was the same part (electrically) just a Through-hole part.
Just because a device is "dense" or heavily populated does not mean it cannot be repaired if done properly, if the schematic is provided (and accurate per revision) and you can still source the part it can be repaired. Even IC's can be removed it just takes different tools (i.e. solder pot, hot air pen, hot plate, etc).
I assure you there is no difference between troubleshooting old tech and newer stuff its just different. An IC is just that an "integrated circuit", meaning they just took what used to be an entire daughter board and made it on a silicon chip. I would actually argue that it could be easier in some cases to find an issue on newer stuff since if a chip is failed you just replace it (if you can get it, which is the real problem).
It's just like he said in the article use the datasheets if you don't have a schematic typically they are just using some circuit that someone designed 20 years ago and put in the datasheet as an example.
I understand the labor cost involved in fixing an item but I would argue the long term cost of replacement/improper disposal (even recycling...have you seen the little kids with the campfires of circuit boards in india/africa that are trying to reclaim the valuable metals...that is the cost I am talking about).
As an electronics tech I can tell you that I have worked on many complex circuits in the field and in production and I have never had a problem with the complexity...but I have had many issues with finding "one off" IC's and schematics.
Things are not always about money...sometimes its best to fix things just to fix them (and hopefully learn something at the same time).
Also, consumer electronics are built to fail. If they were not the manufacturers would require some IPC class, nobody wants quality though...they want cheap.
Just because a device is "dense" or heavily populated does not mean it cannot be repaired if done properly, if the schematic is provided (and accurate per revision) and you can still source the part it can be repaired. Even IC's can be removed it just takes different tools (i.e. solder pot, hot air pen, hot plate, etc).
I assure you there is no difference between troubleshooting old tech and newer stuff its just different. An IC is just that an "integrated circuit", meaning they just took what used to be an entire daughter board and made it on a silicon chip. I would actually argue that it could be easier in some cases to find an issue on newer stuff since if a chip is failed you just replace it (if you can get it, which is the real problem).
It's just like he said in the article use the datasheets if you don't have a schematic typically they are just using some circuit that someone designed 20 years ago and put in the datasheet as an example.
I understand the labor cost involved in fixing an item but I would argue the long term cost of replacement/improper disposal (even recycling...have you seen the little kids with the campfires of circuit boards in india/africa that are trying to reclaim the valuable metals...that is the cost I am talking about).
As an electronics tech I can tell you that I have worked on many complex circuits in the field and in production and I have never had a problem with the complexity...but I have had many issues with finding "one off" IC's and schematics.
Things are not always about money...sometimes its best to fix things just to fix them (and hopefully learn something at the same time).
Also, consumer electronics are built to fail. If they were not the manufacturers would require some IPC class, nobody wants quality though...they want cheap.