Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[BU508A]

Finally got around to it - building a dodgy vero board for the atmel micro for the Tek Logo and Wizard - I had to put it up on a Tek! Trying to decide whether I want to box it up properly or not. Does shimmer quite a bit.
Rob

Any idea who is still selling the programmed chip (or where can I download the binary) ?

Have you checked out this website?
https://vintagetek.org/vintagetek-demo-board/

-
Since the vintageTEK Museum is closed for the near future, we may not have access to our stock, so we must put the store on vacation indefinitely. Many of the manuals we sell in paper form are available on the tekwiki site at w140 dot com.
-

Have checked their evilbay store before and all sold out 

Yes, they sell (or sold) the ATMEL pre-programmed; they don't have the code posted anywhere. I'm certain SOMEBODY has extracted it and shared it somewhere; this project is decades old. But so far, I have not found it in the wilds of the intardnet.





mnem
 

Maybe ask https://www.youtube.com/user/jerobeamfenderson1 if he can make one?

XYscope software. This is looking very interesting.
https://www.teddavis.org/xyscope/

[mnementh]

Yes, and you can similarly epoxy mirrors to hard drive heads and drive them with small audio amplifiers to move a laser around with this; or you can spend the bucks on a used single-color theater LASER projector.

[EDIT] Oh, look... the cheap China-direct versions have REALLY come down in price: These would, I'm sure, be VERY easy to hack for total control: https://www.ebay.com/i/333231460196 [/EDIT]

mnem
*another project from the moldiest corners of my back burner*

[Cubdriver]

why am I reminded of the intro of Idiocracy ...

One of the finest bits of the finest films ever made.

Definitely, though I don't think they intended it to be a documentary of things to come.

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

when the quarantine is over

https://www.gunboard.de/uploads/monthly_2020_04/IMG_2262.MP4.ec9e5f20de3fd35b7a7ddce5c5e77352.MP4

 

The cows just made me lose it.  That was a riot!

-Pat

[Mr. Scram]

Yes, and you can similarly epoxy mirrors to hard drive heads and drive them with small audio amplifiers to move a laser around with this; or you can spend the bucks on a used single-color theater LASER projector.

[EDIT] Oh, look... the cheap China-direct versions have REALLY come down in price: These would, I'm sure, be VERY easy to hack for total control: https://www.ebay.com/i/333231460196 [/EDIT]

mnem
*another project from the moldiest corners of my back burner*

An unregulated Chinese laser toy designed to shine at people? Splendid!

[mnementh]

why am I reminded of the intro of Idiocracy ...

One of the finest bits of the finest films ever made.

Definitely, though I don't think they intended it to be a documentary of things to come.

-Pat

Orwell wrote 1984 as a cautionary tale; my father's generation of corrupt politicians used it as a blueprint.  The fact we're all living this movie is the result.

mnem
"You don't count brains by counting noses." ~mom

[mnementh]

Yes, and you can similarly epoxy mirrors to hard drive heads and drive them with small audio amplifiers to move a laser around with this; or you can spend the bucks on a used single-color theater LASER projector.

[EDIT] Oh, look... the cheap China-direct versions have REALLY come down in price: These would, I'm sure, be VERY easy to hack for total control: https://www.ebay.com/i/333231460196 [/EDIT]

mnem
*another project from the moldiest corners of my back burner*

An unregulated Chinese laser toy designed to shine at people? Splendid!

What could POSSIBLY go wrong..?!?     

mnem
 

[VK5RC]

Finally got around to it - building a dodgy vero board for the atmel micro for the Tek Logo and Wizard - I had to put it up on a Tek! Trying to decide whether I want to box it up properly or not. Does shimmer quite a bit.
Rob

Any idea who is still selling the programmed chip (or where can I download the binary) ?

Have you checked out this website?
https://vintagetek.org/vintagetek-demo-board/

That is where I got my pre-programmed micro - arrived sensibly packed and quite quickly. 👍
PS But it was pre-covid!

[grizewald]

No Datron 1281 for me. The auction went crazy in the last minute (as always) and ended at 12,611kr - way too rich for me.

Indeed it did, pretty close to my maximum bid 

Not to rub it in or anything, but it's now up and running in front of me and passes self test. Repair method was "poke at ROM pins with scope probe". I think it must have been a poor socket connection.

Turns out the seller once worked at the same place I do, and that's where the unit came from before he got it. Must be a sign that it was meant for me..

Damn. I believe you are more than entitled to one of these:



Great to see the circle complete though, it sounds like that meter prefers to stay with people it already knows. I hope it turns out to be every bit as accurate and stable as it should be.

[Brumby]

If you're gonna use one of those UV-C lamps, why not put it inside a cupboard to use as a decon chamber?

...

Sadly I don't have a suitable cupboard to use; if I did, I'd definitely make it.

Same here.  Any cupboards here are either occupied by TEA - or items relocated to make room for TEA.

(Damn those towels take up a lot of space............)

[bitseeker]

The 8505A is now ready for use. I checked and as required set the absolute zero on the Ohms ranges. I now have a more accurate DMM to set up and adjust the 190mV, 1.9V, and 19V transfer standards for other DMM's requiring them for calibration.

Venturing into 6.5 digit territory wasn't too painful after all.   

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Congrats on the 8505A, med. Looks like it was just the catalyst to rev up your inner voltnut.

[bitseeker]

Since replacing my old workbench, I didn't any longer have the the inrush-current limited extra outlet for my Philips variable isolation transformer. I wanted to use a Grundig (yes, Grundig, me!) one in a more practical housing, but that lacked a few features. So I ordered one of those combo meters, which arrived a week ago.

So, today's project: Replace the moving pointer voltmeter by a combined volt/amps meter. Clean up the very dusty inside, add an inrush current limiter, tighten the loose screws on the transformer.

Mostly (dirty) mechanical work, fastening the cap rail for the meter turned out to be quite a task.

Eventually it was finished. Yes this took most of the day! Still not the most beautiful, but it does its job.



At last I have that important piece of gear ready to use again.

Nicely done! What did you use for the inrush limiting?

[bitseeker]

No overkill here. 6 1/2 digit continuity tester during a power tool repair

Sometimes you want to know if it's open or just mostly open.

[bitseeker]

10 LET Meter_Collection = X
20 LET Shelf_Space = Meter_Collection
30 GOTO Ebay
40 Meter_Collection = Meter_Collection + Ebay_Scores
50 IF Meter_Collection >= Shelf_Space THEN GOSUB 70
60 GOTO 30
70 REM Put_Up_Shelving
80 GOTO IKEA
90 IF Screw_Count <= Hole_Count GOTO 80
100 Shelf_Space = Meter_Collection
110 RETURN

That was excellent Going to add it to the OP when I'm able to successfully save changes to it. I still get a database error. (Also have several TE links to add to the POI list.)

[bitseeker]

Indeed. I shall resume my masterplan of world domination unhindered by the non diseased masses then

BTW I'm backtracking on my earlier statement about not attending hamfests in the near future. The landscape of opportunity this has created could be a winner.

[bitseeker]

21:00 UTC is 22:00 BST so 22:00 here.

So in the early morning light now that Daylight savings has ended here I make it 6:55 AM it is Raining and cool. Think I might opt for Text chat in Bed 

Please tender my apologies as lots to do here while the weather holds.

No problem. I popped in for a bit during the pre-Time, but had to part before the discord really got going. Good seeing all the early birds.

Now, as it seems I'm on quite the monologue here, I shall bid you all adieu and gute Nacht!

[beanflying]

While @Bitseeker is sleeping and thinks he is Caught up time for another 15 pages 

No TEA for me today. Fusion Laser Cutter tweakage and finding a temporary home for 50m of T slot to make it with. Current Bed size is 620x1250 and 80W but tempted to bump it to 850x1250 and 100W 

[VK5RC]

Isn't there a syntax error IF.   THEN.     ELSE.
 ?
But my programming is s**t so don't believe me!

[McBryce]

Isn't there a syntax error IF.   THEN.     ELSE.
 ?
But my programming is s**t so don't believe me!

Yes, there's a few errors in it, but that also depends on which flavour of BASIC you reference. I'll correct some of them in my original post.

McBryce.

[beanflying]

US Tek heads want some junk for not much? eBay auction: #313041646807

[beanflying]

Unusual cheapish Tek Multimeter eBay auction: #174235552878



And HP for Balance Cheep Cheep BIN eBay auction: #313016495089

[med6753]

US Tek heads want some junk for not much? eBay auction: #313041646807

Thanks, added to watch list. Auction does end later today and I'll throw a bid then.

It even has probes with the PL-259 which will fit the CA plug-in.

[beanflying]

Fluke industrial design Winning again eBay auction: #293256939347

[med6753]

Even a coat of blue paint won't help that puppy. 

[beanflying]

Even a coat of blue paint won't help that puppy. 

Shipping it to one of the Israeli TE sellers to have it run over by a Tank would likely help the appearance