Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Wolfgang]

Wolfgang, how do you do the labeling on your custom box ? Look pretty neat.

You probably dont believe me, but it is transparency foil for overhead projectors (the young may ask: what is that ?).
I ran over a load of it on eBay some years ago for a very good price. It turned out it was stuff coming
from the former GDR (before 89, then). Overhead foils still available new today.

Processing is as follows:
- Take your drawing program and create the label 1:1
- mirror it so the letters will be on the protected *inner side* when attached.
- print it on a laser printer
- cut it. Holes may me punched with a carpet punch now or after attachment with a hobby knife.
- spray the back side (with the inverted letters) with spray adhesive
- attach and flatten

Thats it. You are not the first asking how it was done.

[bd139]

I still use that stuff 

Neat idea.

[Mr. Scram]

hambollocks.com is merely £7. Tempting.

Hmm, easily mistaken for a seller of post-pub grub.

I'll have mine extra crispy with a side order of chilli dipping sauce.

bd139 could start a side gig selling locks under the name Hambol.

[mnementh]

hambollocks.com is merely £7. Tempting.

Hmm, easily mistaken for a seller of post-pub grub.

I'll have mine extra crispy with a side order of chilli dipping sauce.

Still not showing me a downside, either way it gets used. 

mnem
*Snoozy-dwagon*

[Kosmic]

Wolfgang, how do you do the labeling on your custom box ? Look pretty neat.

You probably dont believe me, but it is transparency foil for overhead projectors (the young may ask: what is that ?).
I ran over a load of it on eBay some years ago for a very good price. It turned out it was stuff coming
from the former GDR (before 89, then). Overhead foils still available new today.

Processing is as follows:
- Take your drawing program and create the label 1:1
- mirror it so the letters will be on the protected *inner side* when attached.
- print it on a laser printer
- cut it. Holes may me punched with a carpet punch now or after attachment with a hobby knife.
- spray the back side (with the inverted letters) with spray adhesive
- attach and flatten

Thats it. You are not the first asking how it was done.

Ok that's interesting. Thank you for sharing!

[tggzzz]

Yes all of that, and also includes the (IMNSHO) cardinal sin of having a negative rail at the top of the page.

Nowadays have you noticed how many signal flows in schematics go from right to left?

Or how many schematics don't have a signal flow but every net has a unique name - so you can use ^f to trace out the flow.

[Wolfgang]

Check out this guy, http://lea.hamradio.si/~s53mv/zifssb/xband.html He made a 10ghz transceiver on diy FR4 board.

I really like stripline components. As soon as I have some time, I want to prototype some stuff on Fr408 board. The dielectric constant is not that bad.

I really like this guy S53MV, Matjaz Vidmar. He has made astounding machines with very little and simple components since the beginning of the 90ies in Slovenia.
He is a full professor with a PHD at the University of Lubljana, Slovenia, faculty of electric engineering.

From his designs, you can learn several things, among others, of course:
- modularize. Make separate units, test them independently, then combine them
- for homebrew, it does not need cutting edge components that are extremely hard to handle due to small size. If you are smart, even simple parts can work well.

Yes, he uses FR4 up to (in just one location, however) up to 10GHz. In order to reduce dielectric losses, he chose 0.8mm material instead of the normal 1.6mm,
the filters he made with it are rather broadband, and a few dB of filter losses were acceptable.

Another good thing with FR4 is that matching and reflections are not soo important because damping is so ample

Of course, FR4 and 10GHz can be done - if requirements are really relaxed (broadband, lossy, low accuracy and low power).
Narrowband, low noise, accurate, power stuff - better go for something else (PTFE, Rogers, ...).

[bitseeker]

I'll just leave this here.   Who wants to modify it appropriately..?  Never mind,  I did it.

Edit.....Bitseeker, this has to be added to our intro page. 

OK. I added it to the Glossary as an illustration for the term BUSTED. Of course, if there's a better option, let me know.

[neo]

Y'all are just TRYIN' ta make ne0's head explode, aren'cha?!? 

mn3m
"RF burns are the worst." ~ me

Why should my head explode? Anything over VHF only negatively affects me if i actually read it, or worse try to understand it or worse yet try to fix it!

[mnementh]

I'll just leave this here.   Who wants to modify it appropriately..?  Never mind,  I did it.

Edit.....Bitseeker, this has to be added to our intro page. 

OK. I added it to the Glossary as an illustration for the term BUSTED. Of course, if there's a better option, let me know.

We've had this one at helifreak.com like... forever. 

Also, I've attached a slightly less fuzzy version of the one mtdoc made. It's one of those memes that's been around since dialup and just will not die... 

mnem
"Define normal." ~ me

[mnementh]

Y'all are just TRYIN' ta make ne0's head explode, aren'cha?!? 

mn3m
"RF burns are the worst." ~ me

Why should my head explode? Anything over VHF only negatively affects me if i actually read it, or worse try to understand it or worse yet try to fix it!

Fine... fine... if you've got your SEP filters tuned that tight, then more power tooya!!! 

mnem
My head at least 3 times a week; it's how I keep from losing my mind.

[Wolfgang]

I'll just leave this here.   Who wants to modify it appropriately..?  Never mind,  I did it.

Edit.....Bitseeker, this has to be added to our intro page. 

OK. I added it to the Glossary as an illustration for the term BUSTED. Of course, if there's a better option, let me know.

We've had this one at helifreak.com like... forever. 

Also, I've attached a slightly less fuzzy version of the one mtdoc made. It's one of those memes that's been around since dialup and just will not die... 

mnem
"Define normal." ~ me

I agree with you for model helicopters. One is enough. But for real ones (I can fly an AStar) the picture is unfair. The people owing a fleet should be pitied and not hit. I suggest a HFA (Helicopter Flying Addict) therapy group.
These bastards drain your wallet several times faster than a lot of T&M equipment. This is why I dont have even one. Sniff.

[Housedad]

Sigh.  I just had another cup of TEA.  (Test Equipment Aquisition)

Bought a DE-5000 LCR on Ebay via slow boat from Taiwan/Japan:



https://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-Full-set-New-F-S-with-Tracking/161965781576?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

There is no way off this bandwagon, is there?

[mnementh]

I agree with you for model helicopters. One is enough. But for real ones (I can fly an AStar) the picture is unfair. The people owing a fleet should be pitied and not hit. I suggest a HFA (Helicopter Flying Addict) therapy group.
These bastards drain your wallet several times faster than a lot of T&M equipment. This is why I dont have even one. Sniff.

Dude... I drive a PT Cruiser. (The wife got the new Rav4)

I own 3 450-class collective-pitch helis and a couple dozen quads; what I have tied up in all of it costs less... WAY less... than just the re-certification inspection/paperwork on an R22. Anybody who can stake a fleet of ANY real rotary-wing craft gets zero pity from me.

That's not a hobby; it's a money-printing machine. For somebody who already has more money than they know what to do with.

mnem

[tautech]

Currently reading Siglent SVA1000X literature. Tautech will be happy 

Actually not ! 
Rather you lived just down the road and lend you mine.

There's not a lot online about them yet and unfortunately I don't yet possess the skills to use all it's VNA features to show what it can do or display the limits of capabilities. The antenna stuff worked shite hot as far as I was concerned and for that stuff it was better than a SA as you didn't need a RLB/DC.
There are a few vids on Siglent websites in the Resources section and operating tips, app notes etc.


Man just a few hours driving and intermittent EEVblog time over the last couple of days got me paaaaages behind but all caught up now. 
[/granddad mode]
Shite, now she's planning the next trip........this one to Perth as Santa ! 
Hell I'd better sell some product.................

[xrunner]

Sigh.  I just had another cup of TEA.  (Test Equipment Aquisition)

Bought a DE-5000 LCR on Ebay via slow boat from Taiwan/Japan:

Nice and useful piece of kit.

There is no way off this bandwagon, is there?

Quote from John Wick flick " You dip so much as a pinky back into this pond, you may well find something reaches out, and drags you back into its depths."

No - there is no way off - you can check out but you can never leave. 

[Wolfgang]

I agree with you for model helicopters. One is enough. But for real ones (I can fly an AStar) the picture is unfair. The people owing a fleet should be pitied and not hit. I suggest a HFA (Helicopter Flying Addict) therapy group.
These bastards drain your wallet several times faster than a lot of T&M equipment. This is why I dont have even one. Sniff.

Dude... I drive a PT Cruiser. (The wife got the new Rav4)

I own 3 450-class collective-pitch helis and a couple dozen quads; what I have tied up in all of it costs less... WAY less... than just the re-certification inspection/paperwork on an R22. Anybody who can stake a fleet of ANY real rotary-wing craft gets zero pity from me.

That's not a hobby; it's a money-printing machine. For somebody who already has more money than they know what to do with.

mnem

Model helis can be nice, too (DJI Phantom 4Pro+), but its not the same. The trick is to bring *me* in the air (120kg). R22 are suicidal in my weight class anyway. And the robbie cut has taken more pilots out than any other form of the Darwin award competions.   
If you love your life, stay away from those. 

[mnementh]

Sigh.  I just had another cup of TEA.  (Test Equipment Aquisition)

Bought a DE-5000 LCR on Ebay via slow boat from Taiwan/Japan:

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/161965781576    There is no way off this bandwagon, is there?

Nope. I bought the usual "Full kit" here; it includes the TL-21 & TL-22, but not the IR serial bug or wall-wart: https://www.ebay.com/itm/282040803373

I waited until eBay had a 15% off coupon (Labor Day) and it was $88 shipped. So far I'm impressed and a little overwhelmed.   

mnem
Resistance is futile  funtime!

[bitseeker]

Also, I've attached a slightly less fuzzy version of the one mtdoc made. It's one of those memes that's been around since dialup and just will not die... 

Updated. Thanks.

Sigh.  I just had another cup of TEA.  (Test Equipment Aquisition)

Bought a DE-5000 LCR on Ebay via slow boat from Taiwan/Japan:

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/161965781576    There is no way off this bandwagon, is there?

Nope. I bought the usual "Full kit" here; it includes the TL-21 & TL-22, but not the IR serial bug or wall-wart: https://www.ebay.com/itm/282040803373

I waited until eBay had a 15% off coupon (Labor Day) and it was $88 shipped. So far I'm impressed and a little overwhelmed.   

mnem
Resistance is futile  funtime!

That was a really good deal. Only about $13 more than I paid for the same set used.

[mnementh]

I agree with you for model helicopters. One is enough. But for real ones (I can fly an AStar) the picture is unfair. The people owing a fleet should be pitied and not hit. I suggest a HFA (Helicopter Flying Addict) therapy group.
These bastards drain your wallet several times faster than a lot of T&M equipment. This is why I dont have even one. Sniff.

Dude... I drive a PT Cruiser. (The wife got the new Rav4)

I own 3 450-class collective-pitch helis and a couple dozen quads; what I have tied up in all of it costs less... WAY less... than just the re-certification inspection/paperwork on an R22. Anybody who can stake a fleet of ANY real rotary-wing craft gets zero pity from me.

That's not a hobby; it's a money-printing machine. For somebody who already has more money than they know what to do with.

mnem

Model helis can be nice, too (DJI Phantom 4Pro+), but its not the same. The trick is to bring *me* in the air (120kg). R22 are suicidal in my weight class anyway. And the robbie cut has taken more pilots out than any other form of the Darwin award competions.   
If you love your life, stay away from those. 

I came to that contusion after seeing what makes them tick closeup at a local flying club in San Antonio. The reference was just in response to seeing some of the club's paperwork on an R-22 time-shared by 6 members. 

I'd likelier build a human-size quadcopter or a non-gyro-stabilized hoverbike and ride it like Colin Firze.

I fly acro quads... poorly. I'm a fan of freestyle; that's how I bring ME up in the air... at least until I win the lottery. 

mnem
This is NOT me... but I can dream of being this smooth one day.

https://youtu.be/UvhLrgvfy0w

[mnementh]

(SNIP)

Nope. I bought the usual "Full kit" here; it includes the TL-21 & TL-22, but not the IR serial bug or wall-wart: https://www.ebay.com/itm/282040803373

I waited until eBay had a 15% off coupon (Labor Day) and it was $88 shipped. So far I'm impressed and a little overwhelmed.   

mnem
Resistance is futile  funtime!

That was a really good deal. Only about $13 more than I paid for the same set used.

Yeah; this is the kind of purchase you wanna wait for that eBay coupon on... if you can find a stable listing/vendor like eina-japan.   

mnem
*Watching Solo with my son*

[Kosmic]

Of course, FR4 and 10GHz can be done - if requirements are really relaxed (broadband, lossy, low accuracy and low power).
Narrowband, low noise, accurate, power stuff - better go for something else (PTFE, Rogers, ...).

I agree with that. Finding a affordable manufacturer for those substrates is harder though (as a hobbyist). Around here the only economical source is Osh Park and they only make FR4 and FR408.

[Kosmic]

We've had this one at helifreak.com like... forever. 

Hey I was hanging over there and rcgroups a while ago. Still got three 600mm electric heli in the basement somewhere. Didn't fly them for years now. Was a lot of fun. I was at the point where I was learning to fly inverted. Then I got some kids and that was it

[med6753]

For anyone who's interested I documented the entire teardown and repair of the Tek 2465 DMS fan motor here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-2465b-oscilloscope-teardown/msg1861713/#msg1861713

[Housedad]

For anyone who's interested I documented the entire teardown and repair of the Tek 2465 DMS fan motor here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-2465b-oscilloscope-teardown/msg1861713/#msg1861713

reading with popcorn.    Thanks!