Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

Thats a nice scope, well done, you won't go far wrong if you listen to bd139, he has had so many scopes on his bench  That other cap is OK thats a good low ESR reading on that one, well done.

[DC1MC]

Dear TEA members, try to convince me to buy or not buy this scope:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/223008893234

In the renowned Israelian tradition it was used as support for a Merkava tank and suffered some mechanical stress. The seller started it, and it seems to my amazement that it still turns on. It also offered a small discount.
No, there is no trolling or joke, I have a TDS 724A with a cracked attenuator, and for year I couldn't find one under 100EUR shipped to Germany, all my attempts, including here, failed.
So I was thinking that if at least one of the ceramic attenuators are OK, I can bodge one of two scopes and sell the other one for parts.
I know that in US for this kind of money you'll get the same model with all the possible options  and eventually some scratches or a missing feet as defects, but here in Meerkel's land it's a bit difficult 

So bring it on, I want to hear your opinion.

 Cheers,
 DC1MC

[0culus]

it was 0,26 ohms.
I have to buy a knob for him.

with thanks to BD139:

Looking good! Hey I managed to get a pretty good price on that Tek plugin you expressed interest in from my pic. Send me a message if you still want it.

[bd139]

Dear TEA members, try to convince me to buy or not buy this scope:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/223008893234

In the renowned Israelian tradition it was used as support for a Merkava tank and suffered some mechanical stress. The seller started it, and it seems to my amazement that it still turns on. It also offered a small discount.
No, there is no trolling or joke, I have a TDS 724A with a cracked attenuator, and for year I couldn't find one under 100EUR shipped to Germany, all my attempts, including here, failed.
So I was thinking that if at least one of the ceramic attenuators are OK, I can bodge one of two scopes and sell the other one for parts.
I know that in US for this kind of money you'll get the same model with all the possible options  and eventually some scratches or a missing feet as defects, but here in Meerkel's land it's a bit difficult 

So bring it on, I want to hear your opinion.

 Cheers,
 DC1MC

I would not touch that with a 10m long pole with poop on the end myself. Think it was more an IDF Caterpillar was used to transport it for disposal 

[DC1MC]

Well, yes, but then there are no other options.

[Ice-Tea]

Wouldn't touch it. That series have displays that age badly, and this unit doesn't seem to be an exception, to the contrary. It has a few other weeknesses and by the looks of it I wouldn't be surprised if it has them all.

The seller even says it doesn't boot all the way through. Stay clear.

[bd139]

Just bought myself some more Wera goodness. Needed to get to £20 in my amazon basket. In by £0.04 

[DC1MC]

Of course it doesn't boot, it was almost smashed, the 724A has an EXCELLENT display, bright and scharf, and in the end it also have a VGA connector.

Come on, TiM bought a smashed calibrator

 DC1MC

[0culus]

Just bought myself some more Wera goodness. Needed to get to £20 in my amazon basket. In by £0.04 

Hahaha that's AWESOME! 

[capt bullshot]

Dear TEA members, try to convince me to buy or not buy this scope:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/223008893234

So bring it on, I want to hear your opinion.

Looks like you'd require a small angle grinder (Flex for the Germans) to open up the case. Wouldn't buy that for money, if someone brought it to me, I'd offer him a beer

[bd139]

A warm beer 

[med6753]

That's brilliant med, well done with your homebrew standards. How is the lady bearing up now after her nasty experience?

She's home and off duty for an unknown period right now. She's hurting a bit but doing OK. Thanks for asking. 

[med6753]

Dear TEA members, try to convince me to buy or not buy this scope:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/223008893234

In the renowned Israelian tradition it was used as support for a Merkava tank and suffered some mechanical stress. The seller started it, and it seems to my amazement that it still turns on. It also offered a small discount.
No, there is no trolling or joke, I have a TDS 724A with a cracked attenuator, and for year I couldn't find one under 100EUR shipped to Germany, all my attempts, including here, failed.
So I was thinking that if at least one of the ceramic attenuators are OK, I can bodge one of two scopes and sell the other one for parts.
I know that in US for this kind of money you'll get the same model with all the possible options  and eventually some scratches or a missing feet as defects, but here in Meerkel's land it's a bit difficult 

So bring it on, I want to hear your opinion.

 Cheers,
 DC1MC

I would not touch that with a 10m long pole with poop on the end myself. Think it was more an IDF Caterpillar was used to transport it for disposal 

$350 USD for that pile of junk? And all you really need is the attenuator assembly out of it? Is it REALLY worth that much to you? 

[bd139]

Is this TEA material? Distance-nuttery?

Just ordered one of these dudes at last. Can sling the cheap jumpy one now 

[med6753]

Did some more DMM calibrations today. It's tedious and you have to watch for some hidden "gotchas" like an upper range throwing off a lower range. You have to go back and check and re-check until all ranges fall into place. But it's rewarding because the stuff is now in spec....except for one.

Fluke 8050A: Needed tweaks on all ranges and this one was most affected by upper range throwing off a lower range. But in the end this guy is in excellent cal and right on the mark.

Fluke 8600A: Had to go back and look at this one again. This one is starting to show it's age. Had to compromise on some settings because in certain respects falls just 1 minor digit out of spec. Not a big deal but something to be aware of.

Fluke 8810A: When I bought this one a few weeks ago I fiddled with the cal and while it was within spec I was unhappy with it. Well today I figured out the secret to get this guy dead nuts. 

Right now I have retiree brain fade so that's enough for today.        

[med6753]

Is this TEA material? Distance-nuttery?

You'll have that category all to yourself. 

[tautech]

Is this TEA material? Distance-nuttery?

You'll have that category all to yourself. 

Oh, so you don't have a lathe. 

[med6753]

Is this TEA material? Distance-nuttery?

You'll have that category all to yourself. 

Oh, so you don't have a lathe. 

Not that I am aware of. 

[bd139]

I'm going to buy a lathe at some point. I want a small unimat though as I don't need massive parts.

Every time I want to put myself off I google "lathe accident". I don't recommend googling this. Seriously grim stuff out there.

[Specmaster]

Is this TEA material? Distance-nuttery?

You'll have that category all to yourself. 

You know, I can't help but think that maybe mnem might have a prior claim to that as well.

[Specmaster]

Is this TEA material? Distance-nuttery?

You'll have that category all to yourself. 

Oh, so you don't have a lathe. 

Not that I am aware of. 

Ok then, lets put it another way, do you have a poor mans lathe....its called a drill 

[bd139]

Indeed. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve used the drill and a file in the last couple of years 

[med6753]

Is this TEA material? Distance-nuttery?

You'll have that category all to yourself. 

Oh, so you don't have a lathe. 

Not that I am aware of. 

Ok then, lets put it another way, do you have a poor mans lathe....its called a drill 

Yes as a matter as fact.....2 of them. 

[0culus]

Discovered that my Icom IC7000 that I bought when I got my ham license (relatively cheap fortunately) won't tx now that I have a power supply that will feed it. Some kind of protection circuitry is tripping inside.  Maybe the radioshack UHF/VHF antenna I have is crap?

[bd139]

Try it into a load first if you have one. Might be high VSWR tripping. That could be antenna, feed, output filters, anything.

First thing I do is stick an ohmmeter across the antenna. Then find it’s some shite PL259s screwing me. Amphenol or bust now.