Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Neomys Sapiens]

Heads up, someone grab this bargain before I do:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEKTRONIX-P6021-AC-CURRENT-PROBE-010-0237-03-w-011-0105-00-TERMINATION-1/124208154316

Whoa, $200 for a P6021 is hardly a bargain.   I've paid less for an A6302.   (And what's up with $48 postage for a 1 pound package?  Surely that's a red flag for a shady seller.)

I've sniffed P6021's out for a couple of decades and sure it's a bit dearer than some I've nabbed in the past but this was the best condition one I've seen for a long time for that price.
$200 buy now is a good deal for these today as these are a very capable 15A 60 MHz current probe.

Concur with both statements.

[xrunner]

UPS lady just dropped off the FG503, gave her a package of skittles (gotta keep her happy). Quick look shows some sort of weird over spray or coating on the front face. Looks like it's been there a long time. It comes right off (you can see where I cleaned it off a spot on the dial), so not worried about that. Dusty inside.

A quick function check shows decent outputs (square, sine, and triangle), but at one point the sine output stopped working. It started again after I rotated the function switch several times. We know what that problem probably is. I do have the manual including cal procedure. Will get into it tomorrow and go through it with a fine-tooth comb.

[mansaxel]

Well, every TV set sold in the UK in my entire life has come with a different 'UHF' connector and it is one of the nastiest, cheapest chunks of crap to have even thrown its hat into the connector arena. These:



They make the canonical UHF connector look like a pinnacle of engineering achievement by comparison. Their continued existence is only explicable by the "eat shit" theory - "Eat shit! 500 billions flies can't be wrong!".

They're truly horrible. Known by the name "antenna connector" in Sweden. Another name is "Belling-Lee". In my aerial setup, they exist only in outlets at the end of the line. The rest is compression-type watertight F plugs, including the antenna intake box, where all ham and broadcast antennas converge, using BNC for all the ham stuff.

Redid all outside and inside wiring a year ago, using pro grade 75Ω coax (RG-6 dimensions) and said F plugs, which did wonders to the TV picture.

F with good connectors, is, for permanent installs, eons better than PL259 shite. 

I suspect the ham equipment manufacturers stick to "UHF" (in quotes, since 40MHz isn't "ultra"... ) because badly screened banana plugs look familiar to the aging ham. I've been pondering swapping them for N jacks on all my gear, but on the FT-817, you can't take any jack, it has to fit, and properly at that. Which means I need to source a good and expensive one, and then go into that miniature machine with a soldering iron.. 88,7kg Gorilla alert.

[Cerebus]

"UHF" (in quotes, since 40MHz isn't "ultra"... )

I suspect the proper pronunciation is "Uuuuu..Hffff", the same noises made by any 50yr+ man was he bends to pick up something from the floor and exhales on straightening again^*, because like the 50yr+ man the "UHF" connector has run out of breath before it evens gets halfway there.

^* (We all start doing it one minute after we hit 50, dunno why, but we do. If you're 49¹/₂ enjoy the next 6 months becuase it's the last time you can surreptitiously pick up something you're dropped.)

[xrunner]

I suspect the ham equipment manufacturers stick to "UHF" (in quotes, since 40MHz isn't "ultra"... ) because badly screened banana plugs look familiar to the aging ham.

Some ham radios have come with N connectors, but most don't. Any ham radio that had N connectors would most likely have had an adapter put on by the owner, to convert to UHF, so would have defeated the purpose anyway. 

[med6753]

Well, every TV set sold in the UK in my entire life has come with a different 'UHF' connector and it is one of the nastiest, cheapest chunks of crap to have even thrown its hat into the connector arena. These:



They make the canonical UHF connector look like a pinnacle of engineering achievement by comparison. Their continued existence is only explicable by the "eat shit" theory - "Eat shit! 500 billions flies can't be wrong!".

it certainly looks better than the "F" connectors used on 75 ohm video equipment here. Talk about cheeeep. 

I actually rather like the newer axial compression-type F connectors, but wholeheartedly agree that the old crimp on or twist on ones were utter caca.



-Pat

I have not seen those axial compression F connectors. Didn't know it existed. As far as I know my cable co still uses crimp on F's but at least they upgraded to RG-6.

[0culus]

Got the fresh nixies installed in the second 3440A voltmeter.  I will of course keep the old ones...the two problematic tubes might be able to be rejuvenated but I need to get a high voltage DC supply before I can try it.

nixiefreqq: I tried very hard to include some high quality RPN porn in this one, but getting the optimum exposure on the nixies precluded it from being visible. Apologies! 

[Neomys Sapiens]

You are not done yet. You will have to cover GR900 too. 

Did someone say rabbit hole? 

Noooo. No rabbits to be seen here. But that TEA was good as long as it wasn't empty. Care to brew another pot?

[Cubdriver]

Got the fresh nixies installed in the second 3440A voltmeter.  I will of course keep the old ones...the two problematic tubes might be able to be rejuvenated but I need to get a high voltage DC supply before I can try it.

nixiefreqq: I tried very hard to include some high quality RPN porn in this one, but getting the optimum exposure on the nixies precluded it from being visible. Apologies! 

Beautiful!!   

One of these nights I'll get back onto Discord, but probably not tonight - long day and I'm shot.  3440A display looks great!

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

I actually rather like the newer axial compression-type F connectors, but wholeheartedly agree that the old crimp on or twist on ones were utter caca.



-Pat

I have not seen those axial compression F connectors. Didn't know it existed. As far as I know my cable co still uses crimp on F's but at least they upgraded to RG-6.

I first saw them about ten years or so ago when the cable guy did some repairs and reterminated the drop to the house.  He showed me the connector and crimping tool and I thought it was pretty sweet.  Bought one a few years later at The Home Despot, and have been using it since.  Between one of those clothes-pin strippy things and the compression connectors, terminating RG6 with F connectors is a snap.  Clip the stripper on and spin it a few times around the cable, then pull the cut insulation pieces off, fold the shield wires back over the outer jacket and stuff it into the connector until it bottoms.  Pop the connector into the compression crimper, squeeze and it's done.  The process takes about as much time as it took me to type this out, if not less.

Stripper - preps end of cable stripping 1/4" of all but the center from the end, and an additional 1/4" of the outer jacket.


Stripper detail - the black set of blades preps the cable end.  The connector nose fits into the hex recess at the right to hold it steady as the cable is pushed into the point it bottoms.


Compression crimper - the spring loaded actuator is held closed by the bail.  The turret that the bail is attached to has several stop depths to do different connectors (I've also done video RCA plugs with it); the knurled screw on the ram adjusts the compression stroke to bottom the connector sleeve when the handle is squeezed shut.


Connector (sans cable) in the crimper.  It's not currently adjusted to fit this one, but if it were all set up and there was a cable in the connector, a quick squeeze at this point and you're done.


-Pat

[AVGresponding]

Don't need them unless it's an active probe

Ah, ok.

Well, every TV set sold in the UK in my entire life has come with a different 'UHF' connector and it is one of the nastiest, cheapest chunks of crap to have even thrown its hat into the connector arena. These:



They make the canonical UHF connector look like a pinnacle of engineering achievement by comparison. Their continued existence is only explicable by the "eat shit" theory - "Eat shit! 500 billions flies can't be wrong!".

Also, the self assembly ones are almost always made out of aluminium. The sockets they plug into, you ask? Mild steel, maybe nickel plated. What could possibly go wrong?

[tggzzz]

Well, every TV set sold in the UK in my entire life has come with a different 'UHF' connector and it is one of the nastiest, cheapest chunks of crap to have even thrown its hat into the connector arena. These:



They make the canonical UHF connector look like a pinnacle of engineering achievement by comparison. Their continued existence is only explicable by the "eat shit" theory - "Eat shit! 500 billions flies can't be wrong!".

They're truly horrible. Known by the name "antenna connector" in Sweden. Another name is "Belling-Lee". In my aerial setup, they exist only in outlets at the end of the line.

They seem to work adquately for VHF/UHF at the TV end of the cable.

That's more than can be said for the revolting "Bulgin / Belling Lee" mains connectors. When they were introduced, I remember thinking how wonderful the IEC "kettle lead" connectors were by comparison.

Some inverse-porn at https://www.plugsocketmuseum.nl/Bulgin1.html , but for those of a delicate dispostion, this example should be sufficient:

[tggzzz]

^* (We all start doing it one minute after we hit 50, dunno why, but we do. If you're 49¹/₂ enjoy the next 6 months becuase it's the last time you can surreptitiously pick up something you're dropped.)

Worse is the stage of thinking "is there anything else I can do while I'm down there". I'm not there yet, but I have seen it in others.

I'm well into my 7th decade but don't huff like that. Perhaps it is because I'm pleased to say I can still fit into a Tshirt I bought in 1973. I don't, because it is getting fragile and I might want to flog it.

[tggzzz]

nixiefreqq: I tried very hard to include some high quality RPN porn in this one, but getting the optimum exposure on the nixies precluded it from being visible. Apologies! 

That's what the gamma curve is for

[McBryce]

Ok, but why did they leave the device floating with no ground?

McBryce.

Is there a separate gronding terminal on it? Then I would suppose that they did this to avoid the dreaded ground loops. But as it is a consumer device, the user can't be trusted to connect an external ground correctly. So it would be legal only if it were in fact a class II device and the (external) ground comes in use on the secondary side only.

Nope. No separate grounding post or terminal and no mention of grounding it in the manual either. They really wanted the chassis to float. However, the owner of this one has it mounted in a 19in rack, so it's definitely grounded via that.

McBryce.

[BU508A]

Well, every TV set sold in the UK in my entire life has come with a different 'UHF' connector and it is one of the nastiest, cheapest chunks of crap to have even thrown its hat into the connector arena. These:



They make the canonical UHF connector look like a pinnacle of engineering achievement by comparison. Their continued existence is only explicable by the "eat shit" theory - "Eat shit! 500 billions flies can't be wrong!".

it certainly looks better than the "F" connectors used on 75 ohm video equipment here. Talk about cheeeep. 

I actually rather like the newer axial compression-type F connectors, but wholeheartedly agree that the old crimp on or twist on ones were utter caca.



-Pat

In my early days I've used the connectors from Kathrein which are imho rather good:

EMK 21:


EMK 62:


For the F-connectors nowadays I'm using the EMK 20 from Kathrein:

[Brumby]

Well, every TV set sold in the UK in my entire life has come with a different 'UHF' connector and it is one of the nastiest, cheapest chunks of crap to have even thrown its hat into the connector arena. These:



They make the canonical UHF connector look like a pinnacle of engineering achievement by comparison. Their continued existence is only explicable by the "eat shit" theory - "Eat shit! 500 billions flies can't be wrong!".

They're truly horrible. Known by the name "antenna connector" in Sweden. Another name is "Belling-Lee".

Ahh.... the ubiquitous "Belling-Lee"!!!  This connector became the standard antenna connector in Australia when coaxial cable became popular.  Yes, we've had it for decades.

It's capability as a connector is, quite frankly, subject to the quality of construction more than any other criteria ... and, as has been demonstrated over and over and over again, the cheapest possible versions appear in all manner of equipment.

They ... are ... horrible.

The biggest issue is their ability to retain geometry.  Any side pressure and the socket tends to open up - both the outer shroud and the centre pin - each of which are usually split to allow for some contact pressure.

I once got cable and the set top box was connected to my TV with a high quality RG6 patch cable supplied by the cable installer.  The side pressure opened up the socket in my TV and made a reliable connection impossible.

Even to this day, TVs in Australia still come with this connection.

[Cerebus]

You are not done yet. You will have to cover GR900 too. 

Did someone say rabbit hole? 

Noooo. No rabbits to be seen here. But that TEA was good as long as it wasn't empty. Care to brew another pot?
(Attachment Link)

I propose Wallace, demigod of tinkering,  as the patron saint of TEA.

[bd139]

I would agree. Evidence to present:

[BU508A]

+1 for Wallace (and Gromit, of course!)

    

[med6753]

Meh, OK.  Majority rules.

[Cerebus]

^* (We all start doing it one minute after we hit 50, dunno why, but we do. If you're 49¹/₂ enjoy the next 6 months becuase it's the last time you can surreptitiously pick up something you're dropped.)

Worse is the stage of thinking "is there anything else I can do while I'm down there". I'm not there yet, but I have seen it in others.

I'm well into my 7th decade but don't huff like that. Perhaps it is because I'm pleased to say I can still fit into a Tshirt I bought in 1973. I don't, because it is getting fragile and I might want to flog it.

The number of times that you've told us about that T-Shirt; next thing we know, you'll be saying "I'm <whistling sound> ninety you know" in a Lancashire accent every ten minutes. 

[tggzzz]

+1 for Wallace (and Gromit, of course!)

    

Never forget Gromit, of course.

My dayghter, aged 8, held a Gromit when Aardman Animations brought some to my workplace.

I have only touched one of the original 1933 King Kongs. Philip Jenkinson brought it to my uni when he gave a talk. It was about 18" high, and somewhat threadbare.

[tggzzz]

^* (We all start doing it one minute after we hit 50, dunno why, but we do. If you're 49¹/₂ enjoy the next 6 months becuase it's the last time you can surreptitiously pick up something you're dropped.)

Worse is the stage of thinking "is there anything else I can do while I'm down there". I'm not there yet, but I have seen it in others.

I'm well into my 7th decade but don't huff like that. Perhaps it is because I'm pleased to say I can still fit into a Tshirt I bought in 1973. I don't, because it is getting fragile and I might want to flog it.

The number of times that you've told us about that T-Shirt; next thing we know, you'll be saying "I'm <whistling sound> ninety you know" in a Lancashire accent every ten minutes. 

Nah. I know The Krek Way to Speak Brizzle.

[med6753]

^* (We all start doing it one minute after we hit 50, dunno why, but we do. If you're 49¹/₂ enjoy the next 6 months becuase it's the last time you can surreptitiously pick up something you're dropped.)

Worse is the stage of thinking "is there anything else I can do while I'm down there". I'm not there yet, but I have seen it in others.

I'm well into my 7th decade but don't huff like that. Perhaps it is because I'm pleased to say I can still fit into a Tshirt I bought in 1973. I don't, because it is getting fragile and I might want to flog it.

The number of times that you've told us about that T-Shirt; next thing we know, you'll be saying "I'm <whistling sound> ninety you know" in a Lancashire accent every ten minutes. 

Well, I'm in my 6th decade and still wear same T-shirt size as my teen years too. But I don't own any that old nor do I make a big deal of it.

But I do have to agree that I don't huff and puff when I tie my shoes but shit does hurt once in a while.