Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

I'm still on Fire Fox and Windows Version 1909, I used that registry hack to the policy to keep on 1909 as long as is possible, done 2 windows updates since then and only the critical bits get updated and none of the new parts of 2004 release installs 

[AVGresponding]

no discord tonite, it is no fun on an edge network.

  It will be less fun without your presence.

Re: 5.5 digit meters etc, the 7150 is the same as the 8840/42 as regards low current measurement; no uA range, so 10uA resolution on the lowest mA range.
Also I was wrong on the 8842 regarding 10uA res, it has a 20mA range so max res is 1uA.
Still well short of the 1nA on the 1905a, or even the 100nA or 10nA res of a lot of handheld DMMs.

[bd139]

Or skip ‘em all and buy a 34401a 

Doing my 2020 and 2021 project and kit budget now 

[AVGresponding]

Or skip ‘em all and buy a 34401a 

Doing my 2020 and 2021 project and kit budget now 

It's budget dependant of course. A working 34401 will set you back £200-300 minimum, depending on your luck.
That would have purchased most of my pile'o'meters, and though it would be nice to have an HPAK in my meter collection, for that kind of money I'd rather find a nice Keithley.

[bd139]

And the rest at the moment. I’m not sure I’d want to pay too much for one. If you throw £350-400 on the table, the going price, it’ll get you a hooky one that may cost you a display at £150 within a year then at least £100 for cal. So £650. You can get a brand new Keysight jobby with warranty for 200 quid more than that which doesn’t have a rapidly drying up spares supply.

[Specmaster]

The problem for me with the 34401 is that like so many things these days, its getting to complicated for its own good and is bound to be expensive at some point in its life for its owner. So on that basis, I'm inclined to agree with bd, if you can afford it, buy it new, use it for a couple of years and flip it on again while there is some value left in it before the rot sets in.

[bd139]

Yeah exactly. If it’s a 50 quid junker you’re down a couple of curries and that’s it. I think I prefer that end of things these days 

[mnementh]

They even provide APIs now!

I still use pencil and paper when planning world domination. Take that suckers.

hmm, bd139 has just ordered 5 notebooks and 200 pencils. Better keep an eye on him after what happened last time.

mnem
Whatever happened to World-President Yam...?

[med6753]

I'm still on Fire Fox and Windows Version 1909, I used that registry hack to the policy to keep on 1909 as long as is possible, done 2 windows updates since then and only the critical bits get updated and none of the new parts of 2004 release installs 

It finally came across on my laptop. I let it go ahead and install. Once done I deleted the icon off the desktop and deleted it off the task bar. Continued to use Firefox and ignored it. Yea, the way MS puts it in your face and almost forces you to use it sucks (and prevents you from deleting it) but there's no ill effects if you use another browser.

[Specmaster]

Yeah exactly. If it’s a 50 quid junker you’re down a couple of curries and that’s it. I think I prefer that end of things these days 

Yep, thats one of the reasons I brought the BM867 new, was that I could then use that to help transfer some standards over to the cheaper eBay bargains such as the 1905A and the 4503, both obtained at stealing prices and then with the recently calibration on the BM867, use that to check them against known values 

[med6753]

Here's the 560 plug-in extension in action. That's the Type 2B67 Time Base plug-in. It has a good sweep but refuses to trigger. Hopefully will be an easy fix. This arrangement is awkward as hell but the only way to get to the component side of the plug-in.

I'll have to use it to fix the Type 3A6 and Type 3B3 too.

[mnementh]

No, these latest problem children are FTTH (Fiber To The Home) gateways.

Oh, APC connector (green shell SC connector). The only places you'll see them are over-engineering situations or cable TV networks. I've got the wonky adapters to 'scope them and we've got some at work, (including on one of our OTDR machines) but generally, I try to avoid them.

Do you have an idea whether the box is "just" an Ethernet device or does it do some PON on the WAN side? Since it's apparently is only one fiber (implying BiDirectional WDM) I'd be tempted to suspect Ethernet, but...

My suspicion, as it appears to have both fiber and DSL connection, is that it is Bell Telecom's (one of the 3 major carriers here) attempt at a universal gateway device for SOHO, etc. Aside from that, no idea; I haven't had any time to really dig into it.     But knowing Bell and their ilk... it is entirely possible that the fiber is downlink only, and they're using a DSL connection in tandem for uplink. That sounds exactly like the kind of BS marketeering they'd employ to try and stay relevant without really upgrading jack shit. 

   I CAN see by looking through the vent holes that it does appear to have a standard SFP socket on the mainboard, so compatibility should be pretty broad; all that should be needed would be a firmware update (maybe just a tickbox in the config) if you wish to change XCVR types. 

Your description of the APC connector is quite apt; remember, this device IS intended to be handled by... *gulp* consumers. 

mnem

[tggzzz]

The problem for me with the 34401 is that like so many things these days, its getting to complicated for its own good and is bound to be expensive at some point in its life for its owner. So on that basis, I'm inclined to agree with bd, if you can afford it, buy it new, use it for a couple of years and flip it on again while there is some value left in it before the rot sets in.

If you have some cheapies that are out of cal plus some stable sources, one option might be to rent a decent DMM for a month, and go from there.

When I last looked, decades ago, it appeared that renting things for 10 months equalled the purchase price. Has anybody got more recent and/or specific information? The rental houses give sale prices but don't show rental prices.

[mnementh]

   I have always wanted to get myself a reasonable ultrasonic cleaner that was large enough to take a PCB of a reasonable size and I have been jockeying with an eBay seller for a while trying to get 2 Litre one that was big enough at an affordable price. I make an offer, and he kept counter offering, so I decided to wait awhile. He recently dropped the prices to marginally above my best offer, so I struck, but me, being me, still went for an offer and this morning he accepted it and now I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of this magnificent beast which boasts a tank size of 240 x 135 x 100 which will accommodate the PCB from the 4503, half at a time so it would require 2 passes but so much more efficient at cleaning than just scrubbing with a toothbrush and bending everything to get down to board level in places.

Congrats on wearing the poor fuckard down, ya cheap Ferengi bastahd! 

Just remember when you're doing boards that way, to avoid having the trace side lay against the metal. I've read that the vibration of the part still in the air can create a static charge.    Not sure if that's a real issue or old wives' tale, as I've never tried to do half at a time, but better to err on the side of caution.

mnem
Remind me to never play Poker with you.

[med6753]

Gee, I go through all the trouble of pulling stuff off bench 1 so I could jackass that 561B up there and have room for the plug in extension and there it sits. Sitting here drinking a coffee and suddenly lack the motivation to work on it.  Think I'll go get real lazy and watch TV instead.

I do plan on being on Discord later unless I become a total vegetable. 

[bd139]

That’s what I did when I woke up this morning. Managed to motivate myself to wash the car, got to the garage and just went through the machine like a lazy bastard 

Will be on discord.

[tonyalbus]

HP 3478A works fine 
i think it fits nicely with the other bricks.

[mnementh]

So yesterday afternoon, the doorbell dings long after all my Amazon deliveries are accounted for; a largish package from Deutschland, home to the Black Forest and the Nürburgring!




It's the Tek alignment tools Neomys Sapiens brokered for me a few hundred pages back; at first I didn't realize it as I was expecting a package about 1/4 this size.  Needless to say, thanks to NM's zealously cautious packing, they traveled all that way safe as a baby nestled in its momma's arms, arriving in pristine condition. Going by the copyright date, this kit dates back to the year I was born, and so is intended for Tek gear much more akin to what med is working on than my beloved 24xx series. I know I'll still find use for them however; the ToolDwagon has never had a tool go unused. 

med, if you find yourself needing any of these, let me know; I'll happily send them your way on an "indefinite loan" basis.


   

Here's the catalog listing with Tek part numbers; they're all the usual hex & slotted tips in 1/4" & 1/8" sizes, only custom lengths and insulated for use around HV and tube bias voltages.    Well, all except the Tek 003-0521-00, shown here by my assistant... 


   

However, as this IS the TEA Lounge, of course NS sent along an "extra goodie". Everybody, say hello to Random Workbench Terror Object Number 7727. 

Thanks for making this TEA possible, Neomys Sapiens! If you ever make your way up to my neck of the Great White North, I owe ya a round!

mnem
NO FOR YOOOO!!!

[bd139]

Fucking hell its insane out there on eBay. Outbid on a duff Keithley 175 

[mnementh]

*makes mental note to also list industrial sewing machine on fleaBay when it's finished*

mnem
 

[BU508A]

Ok guys, here is a little riddle for you.

What is this?

[Robert763]

micro homogenizer

[Robert763]

Typically used to break up organic material / tissue to release cell contents.

[BU508A]

micro homogenizer

Typically used to break up organic material / tissue to release cell contents.

Nope.   

Next one?    

[bd139]

Turbo Encabulator