Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[bd139]

TBH you guys have it easier over there. The amount of stuff on the market is amazing. Just to have something like that available to you is something we never will see.  . I'd actually move to the US if they got rid of the guns, the litigation culture and sorted the healthcare out 

You mean our Dear Leader doesn't bother you? 

He is ephemeral, especially with all those guns and the history you have 

[bd139]

if they got rid of the guns, the litigation culture and sorted the healthcare out 

I think you're describing Canada right there 


Edit: I mean the reverse of your statement. Thoses things are mostly sorted out here. We have other problems though

Yep main problem is I'm lactose intolerant so the poutine is off 

[Brumby]

Do it. I fell down the voltnut and timenut holes at the same time. 34401A, OCXO, GPSDO in house 

OK.  Seeing there is such an enabling atmosphere here - what GPSDO would anyone recommend for a tightwad that would want to put it up against their HP8656B....?

[Kosmic]

if they got rid of the guns, the litigation culture and sorted the healthcare out 

I think you're describing Canada right there 


Edit: I mean the reverse of your statement. Thoses things are mostly sorted out here. We have other problems though

Yep main problem is I'm lactose intolerant so the poutine is off 

 

[bd139]

Do it. I fell down the voltnut and timenut holes at the same time. 34401A, OCXO, GPSDO in house 

OK.  Seeing there is such an enabling atmosphere here - what GPSDO would anyone recommend for a tightwad that would want to put it up against their HP8656B....?

Bought one of these - very happy with it. Not much more expensive than the Chinese BG7TBL variants and slightly more predictable.

http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=107&products_id=301&zenid=f4d72b3542740e7c2a7480c34e3c8994


Not getting 34401A calibrated yet. Got this back from Calmet...

"Due to some upgrades to our system and training of staff, we are not currently in a position to offer this service. However we can either subcontract the item for you or if it is not required yet, we will be in a position to adjust and calibrate your DMM in October."

That smells of "shit's fucked"

[Specmaster]

Getting anxious about slipping into the time nut rabbit hole, which is tempering my enthusiasm.

Just think of all the beautiful glowing trailing 0s (or 9s). Becoming fixated on the slowly changing last digit induces a state of peaceful meditation.

Orange displays are especially restful, especially if the digits also move backwards and forwards.

This place is full of such a supportive group of enthusiasts...!  Just overflowing with encouragement.  I keep hearing "Drink the Kool-Aid".....

You are all bastards.  *thinks* So why do I spend so much time here...?

Must be our magnetic personality I guess oh and not to forget the 1st class therapy sessions [emoji1787]

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

[mansaxel]

BSPT, UNC, UNF, BA...................

BA is metric. It just does not know it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Association_screw_threads

[Specmaster]

Honestly it's absolutely fine and the camera does make it worse with the flaring and also it spends 99% of its time in volts mode so it's not an issue. But but but but it could be better 

Why would it be a display fault if it only happens in ohms mode. Save your CC and look elsewhere for the problem.

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

[Kosmic]

Honestly it's absolutely fine and the camera does make it worse with the flaring and also it spends 99% of its time in volts mode so it's not an issue. But but but but it could be better 

Why would it be a display fault if it only happens in ohms mode. Save your CC and look elsewhere for the problem.

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

Got the same symptoms in different mode and it's intermittent. Pretty sure a new VFD display would fix the problem.

[med6753]

All this fussing, whining, bitching, and moaning over these VFD's. 

I have a solution. Get Ruby Red LED's. 

(In process of recapping 485 PSU. I'm in deep.  )

[bd139]

Why would it be a display fault if it only happens in ohms mode. Save your CC and look elsewhere for the problem.

Mostly because it sits in volts mode idling and the individual segments are worn out.

All this fussing, whining, bitching, and moaning over these VFD's. 

I have a solution. Get Ruby Red LED's. 

(In process of recapping 485 PSU. I'm in deep.  )

Yep those LEDs never go wrong... 

Mmm Orange



Mmm fucked!

[med6753]

All this fussing, whining, bitching, and moaning over these VFD's. 

I have a solution. Get Ruby Red LED's. 

(In process of recapping 485 PSU. I'm in deep.  )

Yep those LEDs never go wrong... 

Mmm Orange



Mmm fucked!

Perhaps so....everything eventually craps out.  But at least you can still get replacements. 

You can give me a "touche"...it won't hurt. 

[bd139]

All this fussing, whining, bitching, and moaning over these VFD's. 

I have a solution. Get Ruby Red LED's. 

(In process of recapping 485 PSU. I'm in deep.  )

Yep those LEDs never go wrong... 

Mmm Orange



Mmm fucked!

Perhaps so....everything eventually craps out.  But at least you can still get replacements. 

You can give me a "touche"...it won't hurt. 

Yeah we're all going to crap out one day for sure 



 

Apart from the price  but I don't pay VAT on that 

[xrunner]

 

Apart from the price  but I don't pay VAT on that 

Are you looking for enablers? I'd say hell yea order it today. 

[bd139]

Maybe 

Was just about to throw £100 out on cal and this isn't a lot more. Plus I figure I can sell the old one and make up half the cost because it's better than someone else's one 

Edit: now a point here that has to be considered. People regularly bitch about spending more than that on a phone screen after it gets dinked or cocks up and these buggers cost a lot more than a flagship phone to start with and the displays are cheaper. My XR for example is nearly £200 

Oh plus the HP displays routinely last 15+ years turned on all day

[Mr. Scram]

Edit: I mean the reverse of your statement. Thoses things are mostly sorted out here. We have other problems though

Moose don't count. 

[Mr. Scram]

Bought one of these - very happy with it. Not much more expensive than the Chinese BG7TBL variants and slightly more predictable.

http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=107&products_id=301&zenid=f4d72b3542740e7c2a7480c34e3c8994


Not getting 34401A calibrated yet. Got this back from Calmet...

"Due to some upgrades to our system and training of staff, we are not currently in a position to offer this service. However we can either subcontract the item for you or if it is not required yet, we will be in a position to adjust and calibrate your DMM in October."

That smells of "shit's fucked"

I love how they offer to charge you for bringing the thing to someone else. Bonus points for honesty though.

[Kosmic]

Edit: I mean the reverse of your statement. Thoses things are mostly sorted out here. We have other problems though

Moose don't count. 

[med6753]

Edit: I mean the reverse of your statement. Thoses things are mostly sorted out here. We have other problems though

Moose don't count. 

Tim Horton's Coffee!  We have them down here too.     (And moose too) 

[Kosmic]

Hehe thought it was only in Canada   

[Kosmic]

Maybe 

Was just about to throw £100 out on cal and this isn't a lot more. Plus I figure I can sell the old one and make up half the cost because it's better than someone else's one 

Edit: now a point here that has to be considered. People regularly bitch about spending more than that on a phone screen after it gets dinked or cocks up and these buggers cost a lot more than a flagship phone to start with and the displays are cheaper. My XR for example is nearly £200 

Oh plus the HP displays routinely last 15+ years turned on all day

You could try those cheap display from eBay. Some peoples had success with them. Worst case you send a picture back to the seller and get refunded.

Last time I tried to order from Keysight they were charging so much in extra that the 15$ part ended up being 80$

[bd139]

50/50 and you have to desolder the old one to find out.

Keysight are fine here. Delivery is free on parts. No extra fees. I've ordered $2 of knobs before. Only dodgy bit is the local sales rep enters the PO and then someone random calls you from Spain to take your card details. A lot of the time they forget to charge personal purchases VAT as well 

[med6753]

Hehe thought it was only in Canada   

It's just been in the past few years that Tim Horton's started opening shops down here. My other Canadian friends have told me for years how good their coffee was. This shop is in Staten Island in NYC and yes, the coffee is great! 

[med6753]

The re-cap of the 485 PSU is done. That pile of parts believe it or not represents almost $65 USD.  Large value tants ain't cheap plus I had to use axial aluminum caps due to height restrictions. They tend to be more expensive than radial caps.

Now to replace the Trigger level/slope control and fire it up.

[mnementh]

*tzzzzt!!!* 

Got lucky again. Found a broken Boonton power sensor (51100) on ebay. I have couple of meters and i'm always looking for cheap sensors and cables. The Boonton 51100 is a Thermistor based sensor and I only have diode based sensor here. Decided to send a cheap offer since the sensor was described as non working.

     0dBm      10dBm   

I Took a chance on this one since those sensors need to be configurated and calibrated correctly with the meter to work. After proper calibration with my Boonton 4300, the sensor is working fine 

w00t!      How cheap an offer? Was it      cheap...? 

mnem
*toddling off to ded*

was 15$ cheap 

Don't think it's worth a "Jammy Git" since it was just the sensor and not the whole instrument. Still a good deal for one of those sensor though.

Consider it in comparison to an HP 84xx series sensor, which sell "As-Is for Parts" regularly for $100-150...     well-earned indeed! 

mnem
*hiding out from the suck*