Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[med6753]

Looks like after I get back from vacation next week I'll be lurking Ebay.......so all you HP owners...raise your prices now. 

[Specmaster]

Personally, I'm very happy and pleased with my 1.3GHz counter even if it does have an unlit LCD display and it seems to be very accurate with my limited means of testing it, a signal generator and another (inferior counter 25MHz) and checked against 2 scopes with frequency measurement functions. Its more than good enough for my use anyway, I don't have an OCD that I need to feed regularly thank god for that as well, life's far too short to fall into that bottomless hole. Just wastes so much time that I'll never get to say nothing of the investment in £ that my kids will not be able to recoup when the time comes 

[bd139]

Indeed. I’m only doing it because of the requirement to actually check stuff I build so I don’t get Ofcom on my doorstep 

It’s ok if you’re receiving only but transmitting is a no no if you don’t have credible traceability.

[0culus]

@med, so I was curious after your post about the sig out thing, and I tried it using my 7904A with the 5335A counter. Funnily enough, it doesn't work reliably with the 5335A set to 50 ohm, but it works fine otherwise, as long as AC coupling is selected. 

[tautech]

And I think I need to step up my game and get some better frequency counters. Hello HP and hello time nut. 

I have a 5335A with all options, and a 5350B. The 5350B (in absence of a working GPSDO) runs off the oven ref out of the 5335A, which gives me a pretty darn good reference. In turn, I have my 53310A hooked up to the ref out of the 5350B which passes the reference signal.

...once I get moved (hopefully in a few weeks time) into my new place, a GPSDO + distribution amp is high on my list.

Whoa! I ain't ready to dive in that deep...yet. 

Don't you have a SDG med ?
They count to 200 MHz.

[Mr. Scram]

5334B with channel C and OCXO. Silent, 50 ohm termination, does everything.

Cheap option: Looks like they frequently get sold as spares repair showing “no osc” but the external oscillator is switched in on the back 

Paid $80 equivalent for mine. Adding channel C myself for around $20 and external OCXO for $20 in parts.

I would stay away from the A version. It has a battery in it which leaks.

Not the TF930?

[bd139]

TF930 is fine you don't need math. I do (+/- IF offset)

[med6753]

And I think I need to step up my game and get some better frequency counters. Hello HP and hello time nut. 

I have a 5335A with all options, and a 5350B. The 5350B (in absence of a working GPSDO) runs off the oven ref out of the 5335A, which gives me a pretty darn good reference. In turn, I have my 53310A hooked up to the ref out of the 5350B which passes the reference signal.

...once I get moved (hopefully in a few weeks time) into my new place, a GPSDO + distribution amp is high on my list.

Whoa! I ain't ready to dive in that deep...yet. 

Don't you have a SDG med ?
They count to 200 MHz.

What's an SDG?

[Mr. Scram]

TF930 is fine you don't need math. I do (+/- IF offset)

Using the USB connectivity and doing the math on a computer may be an option.

[tautech]

What's an SDG?

SDG2042X

[bd139]

TF930 is fine you don't need math. I do (+/- IF offset)

Using the USB connectivity and doing the math on a computer may be an option.

It would indeed but that’s too much hassle when I can just press two buttons and enter the offset

I’ve built a couple of “virtual instruments” with the DG1054Z and DG1022Z. They both have SCPI and Ethernet. However sometimes you don’t want to bother with that crap

[med6753]

What's an SDG?

SDG2042X

Don't have one. 

[bd139]

What's an SDG?

SDG2042X

If it’s anything like the “counter” that graces the Rigol units then you might as well hire a monkey with an abacus and shove the BNC up his clacker.

[med6753]

I'll bet the monkey would like that. 

[tautech]

What's an SDG?

SDG2042X

Don't have one. 

OK, sorry thought you did.
Does your Tek AWG count ?

[bd139]

I'll bet the monkey would like that. 

Depends what his impedance is!

[0culus]

What's an SDG?

SDG2042X

If it’s anything like the “counter” that graces the Rigol units then you might as well hire a monkey with an abacus and shove the BNC up his clacker.

Now there's an image. 

[mnementh]

bd's HR Dept...       

mnem

[med6753]

What's an SDG?

SDG2042X

Don't have one. 

OK, sorry thought you did.
Does your Tek AWG count ?

I have a Tek 2465DMS with built in counter that goes to 150MHz....although the scope goes to 300MHz.



A Fluke 1900A good to 85MHz.



And this Chinese counter supposedly good to 2.4GHz but it easily gets confused sometimes. But when it does trigger properly seems to be reasonably accurate.



That's it for my time nuttery. Yep, it's lame. 

Oh....the Siglent SDS 1052DL also has frequency readout.

[med6753]

Tautech, I have no idea what you're referring to. 

[med6753]

Holy shit....call on the scanner. "In excess of 50 people fighting in a back yard".      Happy drunken 4th of July. 

Edit.....everyone beat feet before the cops arrived. 

[Specmaster]

@med, try connecting that counter via a smallish ceramic cap, I don't see any AC/DC coupling switch and my first counter needed to be connected via a cap to make it function correctly sometimes.

[Kosmic]

What's an SDG?

SDG2042X

If it’s anything like the “counter” that graces the Rigol units then you might as well hire a monkey with an abacus and shove the BNC up his clacker.

 

[tautech]

Tautech, I have no idea what you're referring to. 

So this Tek AWG you posted is not yours then.

[nixiefreqq]

Looks like after I get back from vacation next week I'll be lurking Ebay.......so all you HP owners...raise your prices now. 

bd is right about the 5334b.  it does a lot and they are often found for peanuts.  adding the c channel is a piece of cake.  you may have to hunt afterward for a high stability oscillator if not already equipped.

the 5335a is a sexy piece of gear and does display more digits (with interpolation).   you can't beat it for the number of digits it will resolve per second.  but the fan is loud and because of its size shipping will be more.

a 5300b system with a 5303b will go to 512Mhz in a small form factor.  but there is no internal high stability oscillator option.  the 5300a system has beautiful dot leds......but only 6 digits (the 7 segment 5300b has 8 ).

BUT there is nothing wrong with the 5328a with a 512 Mhz c option.  they are plentiful, often cheap, and reliable as gravity.  they usually have a high stability oscillator (unless someone stole it).    had 4 of them at one time.  two reasons they did not stick around.....

1. they are BORING.

2. they are not nixie.

EDIT  unless you are looking for a real challenge avoid the 5345.  it is an amazing device....counts to 500 Mhz without prescaling.  BUT they weigh a ton,  you need at least 3 chassis to keep one working (had 3 and a box of spare boards), and the really cool plug ins are expensive as shit.  they develop intermittent plated thru vias on the mother board and are chock full of aging gold ecl chips that run on magic fairy dust.