Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Brumby]

will have to think about your offer.

but maybe it would be wrong to fix my addiction by enabling someone elses?

and what if you turned out to be some kind of psycho.....or worse yet.....the kind of guy who would steal the bits out of one of bill and daves best counters to build a......(shudder).......clock. 

oh the humanity!

You can rest easy, i don't steal test equipment parts for clocks, only to fix other test equipment. Even then only when the donor is completely screwed, these guys will vouch for me i'm sure.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

[kj7e]

ok...you caught me.  the 7th counter down in the middle row is not a nixie.  hp5211a with individual neons for each digit.

but it is powered on.

please see the attached higher resolution pic.

I am not embarrassed to own a counter with neon digits.

however my secret shame IS to own a counter with tube logic. 

one of my old co-workers threatened to shun me when he found out about what he called "a 522 pinball machine".

My very first HP counter was a 524D, I can appreciate the 522.

[Specmaster]

ok...you caught me.  the 7th counter down in the middle row is not a nixie.  hp5211a with individual neons for each digit.

but it is powered on.

please see the attached higher resolution pic.

I am not embarrassed to own a counter with neon digits.

however my secret shame IS to own a counter with tube logic. 

one of my old co-workers threatened to shun me when he found out about what he called "a 522 pinball machine".

Thank you for sharing that, I've never seen one of those before. 

[neo]

will have to think about your offer.

but maybe it would be wrong to fix my addiction by enabling someone elses?

and what if you turned out to be some kind of psycho.....or worse yet.....the kind of guy who would steal the bits out of one of bill and daves best counters to build a......(shudder).......clock. 

oh the humanity!

You can rest easy, i don't steal test equipment parts for clocks, only to fix other test equipment. Even then only when the donor is completely screwed, these guys will vouch for me i'm sure.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Both.

[mnementh]

ok...you caught me.  the 7th counter down in the middle row is not a nixie.  hp5211a with individual neons for each digit.

but it is powered on.

please see the attached higher resolution pic.

I am not embarrassed to own a counter with neon digits.

however my secret shame IS to own a counter with tube logic. 

one of my old co-workers threatened to shun me when he found out about what he called "a 522 pinball machine".

I say that is a badge of honor, not a vice. Wear it with honor, sir.

will have to think about your offer.

but maybe it would be wrong to fix my addiction by enabling someone elses?

and what if you turned out to be some kind of psycho.....or worse yet.....the kind of guy who would steal the bits out of one of bill and daves best counters to build a......(shudder).......clock. 

oh the humanity!

You can rest easy, i don't steal test equipment parts for clocks, only to fix other test equipment. Even then only when the donor is completely screwed, these guys will vouch for me i'm sure.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

I took the red pill AND the blue pill. Now we are unanimous. 


mnem
"DOWN the rabbit hole? Any little girl can fall DOWN a rabbit hole, as easy as tea & biscuits. I DROVE down it full-steam, then back up the other end." mnementh dragonard, Skiffy Farscape/Dominion Chat

[Cubdriver]

help me!

Sweet pile-o-gear!!!   

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

that picture was supposed to be motivation for an intervention.

but it backfired.

guys who were supposed to help get the monkey off my back saw it as an opportunity to unload more 5245's in my basement.

will this madness never end?

ps  it was hot standing back there!

We'll be happy to intervene, we've done so for many before.  Umm, it just might not be quiiiiite the intervention you're expecting.   

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

I just won a WORKING 8300A for 120 freedom bucks shipped...

I love this feeling of endorphins flooding my body, such a great high.

So you got that one?  I was watching, but it ended at a bad time so I didn't bid.  Congrats!

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

will have to think about your offer.

but maybe it would be wrong to fix my addiction by enabling someone elses?

and what if you turned out to be some kind of psycho.....or worse yet.....the kind of guy who would steal the bits out of one of bill and daves best counters to build a......(shudder).......clock. 

oh the humanity!

Reading on the HP mailing list around five years ago about #*%(#$s who were doing that sort of thing is what prompted me to buy my first 5245L and started me down this orange glowing rabbit hole that goes ever deeper in the first place.  Those who do that sort of thing when skazillions of NOS nixie tubes are available from the former Soviet Union should be strung up by their thumbs in my opinion.   

-Pat

[neo]

I just won a WORKING 8300A for 120 freedom bucks shipped...

I love this feeling of endorphins flooding my body, such a great high.

So you got that one?  I was watching, but it ended at a bad time so I didn't bid.  Congrats!

-Pat

Thank you, should make a nice addition to my lab, i mean who doesn't need another voltmeter?

[Brumby]

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Both.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

I took the red pill AND the blue pill. Now we are unanimous. 

There is a trend here.

Should I be worried?

[neo]

will have to think about your offer.

but maybe it would be wrong to fix my addiction by enabling someone elses?

and what if you turned out to be some kind of psycho.....or worse yet.....the kind of guy who would steal the bits out of one of bill and daves best counters to build a......(shudder).......clock. 

oh the humanity!

Reading on the HP mailing list around five years ago about #*%(#$s who were doing that sort of thing is what prompted me to buy my first 5245L and started me down this orange glowing rabbit hole that goes ever deeper in the first place.  Those who do that sort of thing when skazillions of NOS nixie tubes are available from the former Soviet Union should be strung up by their thumbs in my opinion.   

-Pat

A great example of this is with my busted 8400A, i could take the tubes i desoldered from it and make a clock.... or i could act like i have a brain in my head and save them for future repairs since they are the defacto standard.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Both.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

I took the red pill AND the blue pill. Now we are unanimous. 

There is a trend here.

Should I be worried?

Always be worried.

[mnementh]

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Both.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

I took the red pill AND the blue pill. Now we are unanimous. 

There is a trend here.

Should I be worried?

 Worry about anyone who claims to be sane in here. 


mnem
Or "out there" for that matter. 

[Cubdriver]

ok...you caught me.  the 7th counter down in the middle row is not a nixie.  hp5211a with individual neons for each digit.

but it is powered on.

please see the attached higher resolution pic.

I am not embarrassed to own a counter with neon digits.

however my secret shame IS to own a counter with tube logic. 

one of my old co-workers threatened to shun me when he found out about what he called "a 522 pinball machine".

Sweet!  I have its big brother!




And just what the hell is wrong with tube logic?!?

(Apologies for the blurriness, the stupid iPhone doesn't like to focus in dim light.)

It's nice to find another kindred spirit!

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Both.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

I took the red pill AND the blue pill. Now we are unanimous. 

There is a trend here.

Should I be worried?

Get it right, guys - it's an ORANGE pill!!



-Pat

[nixiefreqq]

are you kidding me?

there i was.....sharing my feelings and admitting to my problem.  (they say thats the first step to recovery).

and at the exact same time YOU GUYS ARE BUYING MORE NIXIE STUFF ONLINE!

dammit........now i want a fluke voltmeter too.

ps (don't tell my wife....i will hide it under the stairs)

[nixiefreqq]

now that there is hot video.

those neon backlight digits sure do dance!

gotta' shut down the laptop before "she who must be obeyed" catches me watching counter porn.

[Cubdriver]

are you kidding me?

there i was.....sharing my feelings and admitting to my problem.  (they say thats the first step to recovery).

and at the exact same time YOU GUYS ARE BUYING MORE NIXIE STUFF ONLINE!

dammit........now i want a fluke voltmeter too.

ps (don't tell my wife....i will hide it under the stairs)

I just took a quick look at the 'bay and didn't really see any inexpensive ones.  Searched on 8100, 8120, 8200, 8300, 8375 and 8400.  (Of course, if there had been any inexpensive ones, neo, bitseeker or I would likely have pounced on them.   )  Put those in your search and one will be along; they seem to pop up reasonably often.  The 8300 and 8400 are the only ones still on my list, so you should be safe from me should any of the others appear...

And see??  We're already trying to help with your problem (in this case your lack of a Fluke meter with a nixie display).    

We're pretty awesome like that.   

-Pat

[neo]

are you kidding me?

there i was.....sharing my feelings and admitting to my problem.  (they say thats the first step to recovery).

and at the exact same time YOU GUYS ARE BUYING MORE NIXIE STUFF ONLINE!

dammit........now i want a fluke voltmeter too.

ps (don't tell my wife....i will hide it under the stairs)

I just took a quick look at the 'bay and didn't really see any inexpensive ones.  Searched on 8100, 8120, 8200, 8300, 8375 and 8400.  (Of course, if there had been any inexpensive ones, neo, bitseeker or I would likely have pounced on them.   )  Put those in your search and one will be along; they seem to pop up reasonably often.  The 8300 and 8400 are the only ones still on my list, so you should be safe from me should any of the others appear...

And see??  We're already trying to help with your problem (in this case your lack of a Fluke meter with a nixie display).    

We're pretty awesome like that.   

-Pat

It should be noted that short of a fully loaded 8300A at just the right time, i've just about rounded off my collection. For now.

[bitseeker]

and at the exact same time YOU GUYS ARE BUYING MORE NIXIE STUFF ONLINE!

dammit........now i want a fluke voltmeter too.

I just took a quick look at the 'bay and didn't really see any inexpensive ones.  Searched on 8100, 8120, 8200, 8300, 8375 and 8400.  (Of course, if there had been any inexpensive ones, neo, bitseeker or I would likely have pounced on them.   )  Put those in your search and one will be along; they seem to pop up reasonably often.  The 8300 and 8400 are the only ones still on my list, so you should be safe from me should any of the others appear...

Yep, got those in my search. However, y'all are safe for the time being since my 8100 works a treat and fits on my bench.

I almost pulled the trigger on that 8300 when the price went from $400 to $100. Looking forward to seeing more about it when it gets to neo's lab.

[BravoV]

Just bought an old bridge  ... Japanese kind  ... (more details attached below)

[bitseeker]

Looks to be in great shape. Nice find.

[BravoV]

Looks to be in great shape. Nice find.

Thanks, yeah, one of the main strong reason of the purchase was, its perfectly secured in the box sealed for years that keeps its still in this pristine condition.

[Specmaster]

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Both.

Did you take the red pill or the blue pill?

I took the red pill AND the blue pill. Now we are unanimous. 

There is a trend here.

Should I be worried?

Get it right, guys - it's an ORANGE pill!!



-Pat

Orange? speak for yourself, mine are red nixies in my Keithly 160, same colour as my LEDS are and that's a real nice warming glow. So I'm guessing that mine must be much rarer then and that's great news seeing as I don't like to conform to much. [emoji23][emoji23]

[URI]

Is considering adding a GPSDO and Frequency divider/multiplier to my incoming 5326B a sin 

It's not a sin, it's a must if you want to push uncertainty of your time-related measurements to a negligible level. 

Do consider acquiring a second one as a backup should the first one ever fail -if your counters/synthesizers alls depend on one reference this reference should be backed up because it's a single point of failure.   

With a third one you can compare two against one..   

[EDIT: I'm at step two..  ]