Path: ...!weretis.net!feeder8.news.weretis.net!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: Cursitor Doom Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design,sci.electronics.repair Subject: Re: Favourite Test Equipment Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2024 23:41:25 +0100 Organization: A noiseless patient Spider Lines: 226 Message-ID: <9p761jpndkn8kf3ajisdsrn75nto748pcn@4ax.com> References: <7r901j139ac3124qmpu7gcthadb9ura30g@4ax.com> <2ii51jlfc7bi57h2p1vbhfaqcfbakm0qim@4ax.com> <38l51j1m5k6a0um64bpiblu91omekn5cu8@4ax.com> <51o51jpmd781pt6o0rgjbdfg8b45fspncn@4ax.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Injection-Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2024 22:41:27 +0200 (CEST) Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="e4f789ce053fe1bf110c2874b3bf2044"; logging-data="3207891"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org"; posting-account="U2FsdGVkX18imn+SXyx+bKPgLfLNHzNXOAdUE5sValA=" User-Agent: ForteAgent/8.00.32.1272 Cancel-Lock: sha1:fVzyLnthlxE9I6Ux1XfcCsCHRQ8= Bytes: 12985 On Sun, 07 Apr 2024 11:11:51 -0700, John Larkin wrote: >On Sun, 07 Apr 2024 18:23:38 +0100, Cursitor Doom >wrote: > >>On Sun, 07 Apr 2024 09:40:03 -0700, John Larkin >>wrote: >> >>>On Sun, 07 Apr 2024 09:50:50 +0100, Cursitor Doom >>>wrote: >>> >>>>On Sat, 06 Apr 2024 14:48:38 -0700, John Larkin >>>>wrote: >>>> >>>>>On Sat, 06 Apr 2024 22:21:45 +0100, Cursitor Doom >>>>>wrote: >>>>> >>>>>>On Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:15:43 -0700, john larkin wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>>On Fri, 05 Apr 2024 17:33:12 +0100, Cursitor Doom >>>>>>>wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>>On Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:49:30 GMT, Jan Panteltje >>>>>>>>wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>On a sunny day (Thu, 4 Apr 2024 11:56:23 -0000 (UTC)) it happened Phil Hobbs >>>>>>>>> wrote in >>>>>>>>>: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>Klaus Vestergaard Kragelund wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> On 01-04-2024 09:01, Jan Panteltje wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> On a sunny day (Sun, 31 Mar 2024 18:41:18 +0100) it happened Cursitor Doom >>>>>>>>>>>> wrote in <9k7j0jlnbhs8qfg5m17pium0835meean83@4ax.com>: >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi all, >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm starting to get a bit fed up with having my test equipment blow up >>>>>>>>>>>>> just when it's needed. This is the drawback with vintage gear; if it's >>>>>>>>>>>>> not used frequently then it can go *bang* the next time you switch it >>>>>>>>>>>>> on. It makes for good practice in repairing stuff, but wastes a lot of >>>>>>>>>>>>> time which could be better spent doing other things. >>>>>>>>>>>>> I think it's time I modernised my test gear. I was just wondering if >>>>>>>>>>>>> anyone has any recommendations they can share. Is there a particular >>>>>>>>>>>>> piece of test equipment you couldn't live without? Something you're >>>>>>>>>>>>> particularly impressed with? I'd be interested to know so I can >>>>>>>>>>>>> perhaps acquire said item and thereby reduce the number of explosions >>>>>>>>>>>>> I experience. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> CD. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> My 10 MHz Trio dual trace analog scope is from 1979 or there about, I >>>>>>>>>>>> blew up a channel once myself in the first week >>>>>>>>>>>> when I accidently touched a booster diode in a TV I was repairing with >>>>>>>>>>>> it, fixed it locating the problem with the other channel. >>>>>>>>>>>> Later I cracked the graticule when a soldering station fell on it from >>>>>>>>>>>> the table (scope stands on the ground) >>>>>>>>>>>> Made a new graticule. >>>>>>>>>>>> So, and still working perfectly, OK for all things I build with micros. >>>>>>>>>>>> For RF to about 1.6 GHz I use RTL_SDR USB sticks and the spectrum analyzer I wrote. >>>>>>>>>>>> and for AC DC measurements I have some made in China digital meters and an analog one. >>>>>>>>>>>> also a Voltcraft clamp-on meter for current when you do not - or cannot >>>>>>>>>>>> interrupt things with the meter impedance. >>>>>>>>>>>> Also have a Voltcraft soldering station. >>>>>>>>>>>> Blew up one of my digital meters a while back (volts on the resistance >>>>>>>>>>>> scale) but fixed it again (replaced resistor). >>>>>>>>>>>> Many other test equipment I designed and build, like amplifiers LF and >>>>>>>>>>>> RF, SWR meter, radiation meters, gamma spectrometer, >>>>>>>>>>>> GHz stuff for satelite, transmitters low and very high power, what not, >>>>>>>>>>>> a frequency converter to use the RTL-SDR sticks and so the spectrum >>>>>>>>>>>> analyzer on higher and lower frequencies. >>>>>>>>>>>> Have a SARK100 SWR analyzer too. >>>>>>>>>>>> Things last forever here... >>>>>>>>>>>> Scope used on a regular basis.. >>>>>>>>>>>> RTL-SDR stick 24/7. >>>>>>>>>>>> Digital meters used every day. >>>>>>>>>>>> Use my self designed lab power supply every day.. >>>>>>>>>>>> What more do you need? >>>>>>>>>>>> Learn to use the stuff, understand what's important, and that is it >>>>>>>>>>>> When I started in electronics as a kid I did not even _have_ a meter, still stuff worked. >>>>>>>>>>>> Build my own scope at some point back then when I somehow got the parts >>>>>>>>>>>> Not much pocket mony as a kid. >>>>>>>>>>>> UNDERSTAND your systems, what electrons do. >>>>>>>>>>>> Showing of with boat anchors may impress people, especially the clueless... >>>>>>>>>>>> But it does not help you one bit. >>>>>>>>>>>> Anything with an accuracy better than 1 percent in most cases is just >>>>>>>>>>>> like apes screaming load trying to impress other apes. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Very true about specifically the 1% statement. Sidebar, at an earlier >>>>>>>>>>> employment, we needed to equip a new lab. Guys wanted GHz scopes. When >>>>>>>>>>> asked if the ever looked at edges faster than 1ns, no one did. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>It’s true that there are a lot of relatively undemanding jobs in >>>>>>>>>>electronics. You can get on fine with a 200-MHz scope if all you’re doing >>>>>>>>>>is PIC and Pi and ham radio and analog TV. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>Bull, >>>>>>>>>I have been using my Trio 10 MHz dual channel for digital TV too >>>>>>>>>see >>>>>>>>> https://panteltje.nl/panteltje/raspberry_pi_dvb-s_transmitter/ >>>>>>>>>GHz output.. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>Its is about UNDERSTANDING the systems >>>>>>>>>You cannot repair a TV set in a short time if you do not UNDERSTAND every part of the circuit and its function, the whole system >>>>>>>>>neither with a 10 MHz or with a 10 GHz scope. >>>>>>>>>Fault finding had been my job most of the time, sometimes with 'the show must go on' >>>>>>>>>or rocket must launch or whatever. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>In an environment a million times more complex than your back-room with boat anchors. >>>>>>>>>And always delivered.. unlike some that dropped out or broke down. >>>>>>>>>It is indeed about what is between the ears as you mentioned. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>It’s also true that you can often make do with what you have—the most >>>>>>>>>>important test instrument is the one between your ears. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>In the before times, doctors were much better with stethoscopes than they >>>>>>>>>>are now. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>But I’d sure prefer a cardiologist who could use tomography and ultrasound >>>>>>>>>>over the best stethoscope guy. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>Only useful if you can read the screens, these days they train AI to find cancer in the scans..... >>>>>>>>>Yes I worked in an Uni hospital too. >>>>>>>>>How many people die each year because of medical errors? >>>>>>>>> https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html >>>>>>>>>Remember Jim Thompson stating 'they are giving me ... but I had a warning I was not supposed to get that' >>>>>>>>>Few days later he was dead. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>Jim had pancreatic cancer, which is notoriously tricky to diagnose due >>>>>>>>to the misleading symptoms it gives rise to. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>He talked constantly about wine. That can kill your pancreas. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>There are people who drink bottles per day. >>>>>> >>>>>>Oh yes, he loved his wine alright. As I recall, you sent him several >>>>>>cases of the stuff over the years. But no amount of peace offerings >>>>>>could placate Jim if he felt you'd disrespected him. Anyway, all >>>>>>credit to you for at least trying to heal the rift, even if it came to >>>>>>naught. >>>>> >>>>>I think I sent him two bottles of Frog's Tooth, not cases. >>>>> >>>>>I get the Frog's Tooth free. The vintner is also our sales rep for >>>>>pick+place gear, and he throws in a bottle or a case with every big >>>>>order. >>>>> >>>>>JT was a little touchy at times (never me!) but we didn't actually >>>>>have a rift. I think that serious electronics designers always get >>>>>along pretty well. Circuit design is a sport that we play. >>>>> >>>>>I miss JT. He was fun. I often drive on Thompkins Street and it >>>>>reminds me of him. >>>> >>>>I think the passage of time has mellowed your recollections, John. >>>>Shortly after he died, you called him a crabby old man! >>> >>>But he *was* a crabby old man. That's no big deal. He probably would >>>have enjoyed the description. He died bravely. >>> >>>There was >>>>something about you he clearly didn't much like. >>> >>>There was some teasing involved. We got along fine in emails. >>> >>>No idea why, since >>>>you've never come across as anything but well-mannered and helpful as >>>>far as I can tell. >>> >>>I can be crabby too, but that's a common hazard on an unmoderated >>>public forum. >>> >>>>Jim gave me a hell of a rough time when I first arrived here back in ========== REMAINDER OF ARTICLE TRUNCATED ==========