Triggered by the ongoing discussion, an opinion piece.
Sometimes I'm only saved by being too finicky/undecided.
Like with the LCR-meter bids some weeks ago, which I reported.
Or with the Question of which RF level/power/mV-meter to get...?
HP, as they go higher in Frequency and are well supported due to numbers...or R&S, because I do not
need beyond 2GHz, like to have the options of a direct probe AND a through-head AND a normal one?
Or with the thing about the RF generator, which I want (HP8648C or D (with VFD!), because of space,
but with ALL options.
Really, does anybody understand the differences between the umpty-something SM?? signal generators from R&S? Well, I have decided that they are too big and thats it.
What are YOU all complaining about?
For a loong time, my professional career continued undisturbed, making use of a old 465, around 4 good multimeters, same for power supplies. Most things picked up at a yearly Hamfest (UKW-tage), and very occasional contacts to such dangerous people like Singer, Rosenkranz and Transomega (defunct). Then came EBay. Now I feel compelled to aquire a full-fledged multimeter calibrator in order to support the continued wellbeing of the cohort of electronic wretches that came into my care by that way.
Lost beloved and beautiful 'I do not want to live in a bloody laboratory!' wife.
Dismissed prospective dates even before they had the chance to do this to me, because auction..
Spending my sunday afternoon glued to the screen and having a watchlist full to the brim.
And the other parts of the internet aren't safe either! Most of you probably know the website where some guy compares the power switches of varied versions of HP instruments he owns. Whoa, there calls crazy! Bookmark and stay away!
Once I was able to derive a thrill from looking at a Tek catalogue. Now I'm on their mailing list.
Even the most private websites are plastered with ads trying to sell me a scope, a soldering station, a TEM chamber, a whatsitsname with blinkenlights. Oh yeah, and a portable gamma ray source. Have you ever just envisioned yourself as the proud owner of such a thing? Do not follow this path! Seriously, when the guy from Huber&Suhner shows up at your home adress, you know that you are fucked!
And I even find more excuses, because that one time I followed up a problem from work, or in this project, where we could not have done otherwise. And so on. Then I came here, for HELP. Oh my, I got holpen.
But please, stop complaining and blaming it on Ebay. I KNOW that you can do better than flaunting that occasional boat anchor around. Nobody here will chide on you about the accellerator in your basement!
We will know it anyway the moment the Air Liquide truck pulls up to your home, to top off your magnets.
BTW, there's a mobile ex-mil electronics test and repair station for sale. Complete set of two trailers (bring your own prime mover, please).