There are too many options to get started with electronics! From the soldering iron to get, software to use, and PCB fab houses to work with, there are too many to choose from. And this would lead to analysis paralysis. I am here to point you in the right direction on what you should start with in your journey to designing, assembling, and testing your own electronics.

When soldering you would need a reliable and quality soldering station to handle any job you throw its way. So I would recommend, as mentioned in the home lab article, getting a T12 soldering iron station. These can be either the genuine or cloned version. Either one would work since the soldering tips would be compatible. What makes these better is the heater and a thermocouple-based temperature sensor embedded to facilitate more precise temperature control.

Easy-to-use PCB design software has enabled millions of beginners and experts alike to quickly produce their own customized, high-quality printed circuit boards (PCBs). Once reserved for professionals or those brave enough to dabble with messy chemicals and complex lithography, boards can now be realized using easy home production methods, 3D printing solutions, or batch production services that can turn around finished products within days for mere dollars.