Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[tggzzz]

Perhaps tangentially related to test equipment, but it is really mind boggling that we can still talk to the Voyager probes. The NASA/JPL Deep Space Network station in Madrid is, at this writing, receiving a downlink from Voyager 1. 159 bits/second data rate. 7.45 GHz carrier at a received power of -155 dBm.

https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html

That's still significantly faster than the first computer input devices I used: 5cps 5 channel paper tape teletypes.

[tggzzz]

The RF power involved is pretty amazing though. Big ass antennas. Lots of gain!

Indeed, except that gain is cheap and easy. Low noise and channel coding are what makes it possible

[med6753]

Clearly not Windoze Based Software  Not sure of what memory it is using may well have been magnetic?

Most likely core memory. FET based memory wasn't readily available until about 1972/3 timeframe.

Edit...GregDunn provided the answer. Yep, core memory. 68K.

[tautech]

@ tautech

That Tek dual beam scope is sexy. 

Martin has so much stuff, a few more little Teks here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-tek-restoration-pictures-by-martin/msg590298/#msg590298

[med6753]

@ tautech

That Tek dual beam scope is sexy. 

Martin has so much stuff, a few more little Teks here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-tek-restoration-pictures-by-martin/msg590298/#msg590298

Martin is my hero. Been following that thread ever since joining the blog. 

[tautech]

@ tautech

That Tek dual beam scope is sexy. 

Martin has so much stuff, a few more little Teks here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-tek-restoration-pictures-by-martin/msg590298/#msg590298

Martin is my hero. Been following that thread ever since joining the blog. 

Yep, me too. You have to admire his dedication to those classic Teks. 

[med6753]

@ tautech

That Tek dual beam scope is sexy. 

Martin has so much stuff, a few more little Teks here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-tek-restoration-pictures-by-martin/msg590298/#msg590298

Martin is my hero. Been following that thread ever since joining the blog. 

Yep, me too. You have to admire his dedication to those classic Teks. 

And a touch of professional jealousy. 

[tautech]

@ tautech

That Tek dual beam scope is sexy. 

Martin has so much stuff, a few more little Teks here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-tek-restoration-pictures-by-martin/msg590298/#msg590298

Martin is my hero. Been following that thread ever since joining the blog. 

Yep, me too. You have to admire his dedication to those classic Teks. 

And a touch of professional jealousy. 

Not here. Apart from the Telequipment D83 I had I've only owned one other Tek.....my first DSO and it broke. 

[med6753]

I stuck a tentative deal for a lot that will make your mouths water...more details Sunday after I pick it up. T.E.A....

Don't get to talk much, eh? But you tease real good.

T.E.A.S.E.   Test Equipment Addiction: Score Extreme  The act of securing a significant collection of test gear singled handedly.  This achievement is then compounded by then making interested parties wait before the detailed reveal.

LOL. I closed a tentative deal for getting the good on Sunday....AND OH MAN, how good it will be, 1st PICS will be here.

Since you're the new guy here your credibility is on the line. This better be good and not an idle boast. 

J/K.  Looking forward to what you got. 

[xrunner]

LOL. I closed a tentative deal for getting the good on Sunday....AND OH MAN, how good it will be, 1st PICS will be here.

I hope so but you got no street cred yet! I'll believe it when I see it. 

[Kosmic]

Welcome to the Triax club! And it's not the regular club either, with these brown boxes, but the even-more-of-a-headache two-lug club. Say goodbye to the wallet. The boxes are just accessories by comparison.

Did you manage to find some cables for your Keithleys ? I'm deliberating between 2 options, changing the connector for a 3 lugs connector or going the universal BNC way and filing one of the lugs.

[Kosmic]

I stuck a tentative deal for a lot that will make your mouths water...more details Sunday after I pick it up. T.E.A....

Make sure you take pictures! I love TEA score pictures 

[Martin.M]

hm.. I have buyed in the bay an HP 141S, and now is the general question where I can put it in the workroom..

[Cubdriver]

hm.. I have buyed in the bay an HP 141S, and now is the general question where I can put it in the workroom..

Time to add a dormer?   

-Pat

[med6753]

hm.. I have buyed in the bay an HP 141S, and now is the general question where I can put it in the workroom..

We need a drool emoji 🤤

[mnementh]

Perhaps tangentially related to test equipment, but it is really mind boggling that we can still talk to the Voyager probes. The NASA/JPL Deep Space Network station in Madrid is, at this writing, receiving a downlink from Voyager 1. 159 bits/second data rate. 7.45 GHz carrier at a received power of -155 dBm.

https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html

Actually watched this yesterday only a few more years of Power then onward in silence.

I was honestly hoping we’d have built something that overtook voyager and left it in the dust now. The fact we’re looking at 40 year old tech here is simultaneously amazing and depressing.

The RF power involved is pretty amazing though. Big ass antennas. Lots of gain!

Was reading something the other day about Aricebo having EIRP of something like 2TW! Can toast a satellite in orbit.

https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-09/nasa-scientists-answer-your-burning-questions-about-voyager-1

I remember reading a while back about people trying to recreate the uplink to one of NASA's probes (New Horizons?) so they could direct it to do more useful work, as it still had propellant and power long after they expected it to shrivel up and die. They actually had to crowd-source the funds to re-create the computers and radio gear that would talk to the thing.

2TW seems like a lot... but they were talking about toasting a satellite's radio frontend, not actually frying the satellite "Kapoww!" like in the movies. That's crazy talk, like the "orders of magnitude" incomprehension that made Reagan's Star Wars debacle such a... debacle.

mnem
I made that dot right there.

[Kosmic]

hm.. I have buyed in the bay an HP 141S, and now is the general question where I can put it in the workroom..

You should be able to build some custom made shelves in there! 

Up until now was building all my shelving and bench myself in wood. Was a bit lazy last week i'm currently expending the workshop and I bought some new one. But they are in steel and can support my boat anchors really well.

[mnementh]

hm.. I have buyed in the bay an HP 141S, and now is the general question where I can put it in the workroom..

We need a drool emoji 🤤

okay, done. bitseeker, could you please add to the Post Icons section?   

mnem
"Very helpful... very helpful indeed." Chibila thought to himself.

[mnementh]

[neo]

Can i claim it's related to TEA if it's to view schematics on? Aw, to hell with semantics this is making a post anyway.
32" 1080P TV* half off due to  tiny little scratch, smaller than my fingernail. 

*To be used as a monitor or to free up other monitors.

[Specmaster]

Of course and why the hell not make a post about it, to me its part and parcel of the same thing, its just part of what we'd be saying to each other if we met at the pub for a drink isn't it??  And this is our pub and what a pub it is, easily the best for miles. 

[mnementh]

@M&M sent you the model.

Keeping this tea related. My 8660C let me use the knob when i got it, now it won't allow the knob to alter the frequency 

Just a quick note on the way down during a most critical HALO jump:

*Printing...*

mnem
*Back to the SWMBO Xmas Laptop Deployment*

[Inverted18650]

Welcome to the Triax club! And it's not the regular club either, with these brown boxes, but the even-more-of-a-headache two-lug club. Say goodbye to the wallet. The boxes are just accessories by comparison.

Did you manage to find some cables for your Keithleys ? I'm deliberating between 2 options, changing the connector for a 3 lugs connector or going the universal BNC way and filing one of the lugs.

Filing it down may be a SIN! I know user TiN makes some nice custom Triax and so does YT'er MarcoReps (I do not know is forum Username)...hopefully they will come to the rescue.

[beanflying]

Just a quick note on the way down during a most critical HALO jump:

*Printing...*

mnem
*Back to the SWMBO Xmas Laptop Deployment*

Time to start 3DPA 

[sixtimesseven]

Just bought Vision Engineering Mantis Microscope for 300$

I got it from a local dental workshop. With 2x, 4x and two 8x lenses plus protection glasses. I guess this is the first version since it still has 12V halogen lamps. There is also a bit of dust on and in it but nothing major.