Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Housedad]

I miss flying.   I earned my Gliders license at 14  at Brown field in Sand Diego Ca. in 1972.  Earned my private pilot at 16.  Parents sold their plane (Cherokee 140 N6360W) When I Was 17.  I never flew again. Sigh. 

[Wolfgang]

I miss flying.   I earned my Gliders license at 14  at Brown field in Sand Diego Ca. in 1972.  Earned my private pilot at 16.  Parents sold their plane (Cherokee 140 N6360W) When I Was 17.  I never flew again. Sigh.

Flying is another addiction like TEA. It should be called FOA (flying object addiction). I did my PPL(H) when I was 54, and now I love to fly around in an AS350B3. Why dont you try to renew your license ? Its never too late for some fun.

[mnementh]

I've been a wannabe pilot ever since I read Stranger to the Ground as a kid; that drew me into some of Bach's more abstruse metaphysical stuff as well. Came close to buying into a Cessna at one point and an R-22 much later in life.

The Cessna put me off once I got into it as it was a lot more of a restoration project than I wanted to get into; and my potential partners were not the least bit confidence inspiring in mechanical aptitude, so I was pretty positive I'd be the only one actually mechanicking on it.

I was sorely tempted still... I've long been one of those people attracted to saving machines from the scrapyard... and this was right in the middle of my "resto-rod" period when I was bankrolling everything I did by rebuilding thrashed-out musclecars and a few late 40s-50s lead sleds, so the idea of learning yet another mechanicking discipline was viscerally exciting. It was when I discovered how fast even the simplest things siphoned money away... easily a factor of ten over hotrodding, and I was a shameless chrome/billet addict... that I fully grokked what my mother had tried to warn me; "A plane is a hole in the air you pour money into."

Later, the R-22 seemed like fun... until I spoke with a number of people who actually flew them and discovered just what an atrocius-handling little monster they are; one even told me flatly that he couldn't imagine a worse choice to learn to fly on. Every one I spoke with told me that my money was better spent on lessons in a "real helicopter" with enough power to get out of its own way and a proper synchronised cyclic. (IIRC correct term?) I was in my 30s then; and having a few "adventures" under my belt, I was actually aware of my own mortality, so decided to let discretion be the better part of valor.   

Fast-forward a few years and I fell into the 80" Piper Pawnee, and that's when I got back into RC aircraft; just before the boom in FPV. They too are "a hole in the air you pour money into"; fortunately they're a smaller hole, so only cost about as much as hot-rodding did back in the day... 

mnem
"Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I..."

[Wolfgang]

Good you stayed away from the R22. There is not a single plan B in this machine, and its one of the most unsafe helicopters worldwide. Robinson fought battles in court NOT to implement crash proof fuel tanks and only did so after FAA ordered it. Leave the "Robbie cut" to others.

[g0mgx]

So today I need to officially join the ranks of TEA.

I just bought my number 8 vintage TEK 'scope (to go with the 7 I already have that I dont use). These vintage 'scopes look great next to the 3 digital 'scopes I have..... and the 3 spectrum analysers..... and the signal generators....

How do I make the first step in recovery?

 

Why the bloody hell have I bought another one? I thought I had this licked.....

Mark
G0MGX

[mnementh]

Good you stayed away from the R22. There is not a single plan B in this machine, and its one of the most unsafe helicopters worldwide. Robinson fought battles in court NOT to implement crash proof fuel tanks and only did so after FAA ordered it. Leave the "Robbie cut" to others.

Some sobering discussion here... and may of the photos are still online. People who know them a lot better than me. Makes you wonder why Robinson isn't bankrupt from lawsuits; they are "The race to the bottom" incarnate.   

They're alive & well here in Houston; a couple months ago or so I remember seeing 5 of them on trailers caravaning down I-10. I assumed they were going to a show or a fly-in. Remember seeing individual ones on trailers several times right after Harvey, while downtown was still flooded as well. Probably going to get some AP for someone.

mnem
Children are my expensive habit now. 

[mnementh]

So today I need to officially join the ranks of TEA.

I just bought my number 8 vintage TEK 'scope (to go with the 7 I already have that I dont use). These vintage 'scopes look great next to the 3 digital 'scopes I have..... and the 3 spectrum analysers..... and the signal generators....

How do I make the first step in recovery?

 

Why the bloody hell have I bought another one? I thought I had this licked.....

Mark
G0MGX

Go elsewhere; someplace logic and common sense still have domain. This place is to TEAS as Cheers is to Al-Anon. 

mnem
"Here's tooya, doorknob."

[Ero-Shan]

So today I need to officially join the ranks of TEA.

I just bought my number 8 vintage TEK 'scope (to go with the 7 I already have that I dont use). These vintage 'scopes look great next to the 3 digital 'scopes I have..... and the 3 spectrum analysers..... and the signal generators....

How do I make the first step in recovery?

 

Why the bloody hell have I bought another one? I thought I had this licked.....

Mark
G0MGX

Welcome!

If you'd read the previous 740 pages you'd already knew that there is no recovery. By participating here you're doomed to worsen this condition. 

3 spectrum analyzers ... wish I had one to start with!

[Wolfgang]

Good you stayed away from the R22. There is not a single plan B in this machine, and its one of the most unsafe helicopters worldwide. Robinson fought battles in court NOT to implement crash proof fuel tanks and only did so after FAA ordered it. Leave the "Robbie cut" to others.

Some sobering discussion here... and may of the photos are still online. People who know them a lot better than me. Makes you wonder why Robinson isn't bankrupt from lawsuits; they are "The race to the bottom" incarnate.   

They're alive & well here in Houston; a couple months ago or so I remember seeing 5 of them on trailers caravaning down I-10. I assumed they were going to a show or a fly-in. Remember seeing individual ones on trailers several times right after Harvey, while downtown was still flooded as well. Probably going to get some AP for someone.

mnem
Children are my expensive habit now. 

The only tempting thing of an R22 is the price tag. You may consider it an expensive coffin. 

[Housedad]

It's here! It's here!  Finally!

My De5000 LCR meter arrived.  I just opened the box.  Haven't even taken it out yet.  I'm so happy because I've been waiting since September 30th., when I ordered it.    It got stuck in New York for 5 days. 

Opening that box was probably as therapeutic as the koo-koos who drill holes in their heads to let the demons out.   

[Housedad]

So today I need to officially join the ranks of TEA.

I just bought my number 8 vintage TEK 'scope (to go with the 7 I already have that I dont use). These vintage 'scopes look great next to the 3 digital 'scopes I have..... and the 3 spectrum analysers..... and the signal generators....

How do I make the first step in recovery?

 

Why the bloody hell have I bought another one? I thought I had this licked.....

Mark
G0MGX

Welcome!

If you'd read the previous 740 pages you'd already knew that there is no recovery. By participating here you're doomed to worsen this condition. 

3 spectrum analyzers ... wish I had one to start with!

Yes, keep buying and posting and in no time flat you'll be making insane posts like the fruitcake in the post above this one.

[bitseeker]

So today I need to officially join the ranks of TEA.

Welcome! You've come to the right place.

I just bought my number 8 vintage TEK 'scope (to go with the 7 I already have that I dont use). These vintage 'scopes look great next to the 3 digital 'scopes I have..... and the 3 spectrum analysers..... and the signal generators....

Sounds like a nice collection you've got going there.

How do I make the first step in recovery?

 

Why the bloody hell have I bought another one? I thought I had this licked.....

There's no recovery here. We just try to keep up with each other as a support mechanism. Misery loves company — we're that company.

[tautech]

So today I need to officially join the ranks of TEA.

I just bought my number 8 vintage TEK 'scope (to go with the 7 I already have that I dont use). These vintage 'scopes look great next to the 3 digital 'scopes I have..... and the 3 spectrum analysers..... and the signal generators....

This thread may interest you:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-tek-restoration-pictures-by-martin/

[tggzzz]

The Cessna put me off once I got into it as it was a lot more of a restoration project than I wanted to get into; and my potential partners were not the least bit confidence inspiring in mechanical aptitude, so I was pretty positive I'd be the only one actually mechanicking on it.

I was sorely tempted still... I've long been one of those people attracted to saving machines from the scrapyard... and this was right in the middle of my "resto-rod" period when I was bankrolling everything I did by rebuilding thrashed-out musclecars and a few late 40s-50s lead sleds, so the idea of learning yet another mechanicking discipline was viscerally exciting.

Unless you really know what you are doing, restoration aircraft seem like a short cut to being an oversized lawn dart.

It was when I discovered how fast even the simplest things siphoned money away... easily a factor of ten over hotrodding, and I was a shameless chrome/billet addict... that I fully grokked what my mother had tried to warn me; "A plane is a hole in the air you pour money into."

I'm sure yermum would never have used the more pithy "if it floats, flies or f***s, it is cheaper to rent than buy".

Later, the R-22 seemed like fun... until I spoke with a number of people who actually flew them and discovered just what an atrocius-handling little monster they are; one even told me flatly that he couldn't imagine a worse choice to learn to fly on. Every one I spoke with told me that my money was better spent on lessons in a "real helicopter" with enough power to get out of its own way and a proper synchronised cyclic. (IIRC correct term?) I was in my 30s then; and having a few "adventures" under my belt, I was actually aware of my own mortality, so decided to let discretion be the better part of valor.   

Gliders seduce the air into doing what the pilot desires. Helicopters beat the air into submission.

[tggzzz]

So today I need to officially join the ranks of TEA.

I just bought my number 8 vintage TEK 'scope (to go with the 7 I already have that I dont use). These vintage 'scopes look great next to the 3 digital 'scopes I have..... and the 3 spectrum analysers..... and the signal generators....

How do I make the first step in recovery?

Oh, that's easy. The first step is to admit the problem. The second step is to remove temptation and signal (to yourself) that you are on the road to recovery. That can be achieved either by culling the herd or by increasing the genetic diversity of the equipment.

If you have any problems with the latter, I'm not too far from Belper to offer help.

Why the bloody hell have I bought another one? I thought I had this licked.....

I once asked why I needed 3 scopes. The only accurate answer was "you've got to have 3 before you can have 4".

I now have 11 (plus 4 TDRs). Several are parts mules, one will never be used, one is in the repair queue waiting for me to finish both my Solartron 7075s. (There's another rabbit hole to disappear down!).

Now I'm sure you need to examine your cables, connectors, PCBs to see how good/bad they are. (People are beginning to remember me at hamfests since I use the very portable Tek1502 to test cables/connectors before buying them ) Is it worth considering swapping a TDR for an SA?

[Wolfgang]

The Cessna put me off once I got into it as it was a lot more of a restoration project than I wanted to get into; and my potential partners were not the least bit confidence inspiring in mechanical aptitude, so I was pretty positive I'd be the only one actually mechanicking on it.

I was sorely tempted still... I've long been one of those people attracted to saving machines from the scrapyard... and this was right in the middle of my "resto-rod" period when I was bankrolling everything I did by rebuilding thrashed-out musclecars and a few late 40s-50s lead sleds, so the idea of learning yet another mechanicking discipline was viscerally exciting.

Unless you really know what you are doing, restoration aircraft seem like a short cut to being an oversized lawn dart.

It was when I discovered how fast even the simplest things siphoned money away... easily a factor of ten over hotrodding, and I was a shameless chrome/billet addict... that I fully grokked what my mother had tried to warn me; "A plane is a hole in the air you pour money into."

I'm sure yermum would never have used the more pithy "if it floats, flies or f***s, it is cheaper to rent than buy".

Later, the R-22 seemed like fun... until I spoke with a number of people who actually flew them and discovered just what an atrocius-handling little monster they are; one even told me flatly that he couldn't imagine a worse choice to learn to fly on. Every one I spoke with told me that my money was better spent on lessons in a "real helicopter" with enough power to get out of its own way and a proper synchronised cyclic. (IIRC correct term?) I was in my 30s then; and having a few "adventures" under my belt, I was actually aware of my own mortality, so decided to let discretion be the better part of valor.   

Gliders seduce the air into doing what the pilot desires. Helicopters beat the air into submission.

Depends ... I good helicopter is a nice feel to fly. You may even try some aerobatics with it (see Red Bull). When I started to fly (I did it after retiring from an insurance IT business) I checked which helicopters came down often and why. This ruled out all the Robinsons, so at the base the machine left was an AS350B3. I looked it up, and the NTSB and others said its a very safe machine. When I asked to start my lectures on this one the people at the school thought I was slightly gaga; They were right. This machine was so overpowered (2.8tons MTW, just an instructor and myself, some fuel, no cargo) that it took and endless time to comfortably hover this beast. The good thing was that after some time you come to know what all the reserves are good for, and then you love them. So happy end, and still safe.

[tggzzz]

Gliders seduce the air into doing what the pilot desires. Helicopters beat the air into submission.

Depends ... I good helicopter is a nice feel to fly.

You're not going to convince me

You may even try some aerobatics with it (see Red Bull).

May? Where's the fun in that? Glider pilots do some aerobatic manouevres where the aircraft "departs from controlled flight" before going solo.

It really is quite fun deliberately entering three spins in a short flight, the first at 1500ft, the last at 1000ft. For those that haven't done it, the ground is rotating once every 3 s, you are descending at ~100ft/s, and to recover you have to deliberately dive at the ground to regain airspeed. A little counter-intuitive, the first time.

Or my daughter flew a loop (with instructor behind her) before going solo.

[Wolfgang]

Gliders seduce the air into doing what the pilot desires. Helicopters beat the air into submission.

Depends ... I good helicopter is a nice feel to fly.

You're not going to convince me

You may even try some aerobatics with it (see Red Bull).

May? Where's the fun in that? Glider pilots do some aerobatic manouevres where the aircraft "departs from controlled flight" before going solo.

It really is quite fun deliberately entering three spins in a short flight, the first at 1500ft, the last at 1000ft. For those that haven't done it, the ground is rotating once every 3 s, you are descending at ~100ft/s, and to recover you have to deliberately dive at the ground to regain airspeed. A little counter-intuitive, the first time.

Or my daughter flew a loop (with instructor behind her) before going solo.

now try this with a glider. Or rather: dont try this at home. . My problem was that I dont fit into a glider (120kg), otherwise it looks like fun

[mnementh]

* Somber moment*

I've been in that Squirrel Hill Synagogue; they used to have a youth outreach program with board games. I fancied myself a bit of a chess player, but learned Backgammon instead...

mnem
*Sigh*

[bd139]

I was involved in a youth outreach program back in the mid 1990s. This unfortunately had a negative result as I became the local Magic: The Gathering pimp. I get them all hooked on paper crack. It got so bad one of the local schools banned the game after a fist fight over it 

Not my finest moment that.

Talking of crack, I fucked up another calculator. It just saw me coming and died. I get through them like notepads. Literally all the calculators on the market now are shit. Very annoyed. About 15 years ago I had a nice collection of the things but nope decided that was a waste of time and space. Idiot!

[Specmaster]

 :wtf:Do you do to them things then? Buy a decent calculator and it ought to last a lifetime of "normal" use 

[bd139]

They get pretty heavily used by me. All those things you see people do in LTspice I tend to do by hand 

[Mr. Scram]

They get pretty heavily used by me. All those things you see people do in LTspice I tend to do by hand 

Does that hand interface with the calculator through a brick, by chance?

[Specmaster]

They get pretty heavily used by me. All those things you see people do in LTspice I tend to do by hand 

Does that hand interface with the calculator through a brick, by chance?

I was going to say a club hammer 

[bd139]

Honesty I think it’s the fact that all the calculators these days are made by a little Chinese company called kinpo as they are the lowest bidder. Half the keypad has died. Sooooo annoyed.