Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[tggzzz]

And here is one of today's examples, where it is conveniently ignored that being on the equator means the rocket starts at 1000mph.
https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/07/uk-s-first-space-launch-could-take-place-in-early-2020s-government-says

I've always found the "you need to be on the equator to launch orbiting things" a bit specious. Yes, you get 1000 mph (0.4 km/s) for free, but that's a small part of the 7-8 kilometers per second that you need even for a low earth orbit (over 11 km/s for escape velocity). Sure, you use al least 10% more fuel (can't be bothered to work it out properly, it gets too calculusy for the back of a fag packet), or have a lower payload, but you gain convenience, launch from home territory (which has positive security implications) and you don't have to constantly ferry staff half way around the world.

The security argument is the one that holds water.

The Russians, launching from their territory, could only manage some very strange "Molniya orbits" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molniya_orbit

As for 10% more fuel, you need to be careful with simplistic assumptions.

Don't forget this is a government that gives shipping contracts to "ship-free" companies, buys surplus LEO satellites for a Gallileo replacement (cough cough), and expects the Chinese to continue to invest their cash in our infrastructure when we are excluding them from supplying kit for our infrastructure. The last point is political, but relevant.

[SilverSolder]

[...]
Shipping is a killer anywhere these days.  The other week I got a quote of $350 to ship a box of fuel lines for my truck (that was more than the lines cost).  $65 is actually not all that bad considering.

Shipping charges are overdone by some sellers.

Recently, I sent two wheels (rims only) weighing 50lbs from East to West Coast, it cost $30 with FedEx which I thought was pretty reasonable in this day and age.

[tggzzz]

Please stop with the work related reminders of total frustration and wanting to throw shit. Retirement has been a year and half of complete bliss and I haven't thought of these ugly incidences and now they are floating around in my head.

Please, no more.....or I will have to kill someone. 

May I suggest some calming schadenfreude. Or, if you were British and wanted to be patriotic, "epicaricacy".

[med6753]

[...]
Shipping is a killer anywhere these days.  The other week I got a quote of $350 to ship a box of fuel lines for my truck (that was more than the lines cost).  $65 is actually not all that bad considering.

Shipping charges are overdone by some sellers.

Recently, I sent two wheels (rims only) weighing 50lbs from East to West Coast, it cost $30 with FedEx which I thought was pretty reasonable in this day and age.

Yea, they rope you in with a cheap selling price then rape you with the shipping charges. Anyone with common sense will see right through that tactic. 

[Specmaster]

And here is one of today's examples, where it is conveniently ignored that being on the equator means the rocket starts at 1000mph.
https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/07/uk-s-first-space-launch-could-take-place-in-early-2020s-government-says

I've always found the "you need to be on the equator to launch orbiting things" a bit specious. Yes, you get 1000 mph (0.4 km/s) for free, but that's a small part of the 7-8 kilometers per second that you need even for a low earth orbit (over 11 km/s for escape velocity). Sure, you use al least 10% more fuel (can't be bothered to work it out properly, it gets too calculusy for the back of a fag packet), or have a lower payload, but you gain convenience, launch from home territory (which has positive security implications) and you don't have to constantly ferry staff half way around the world.

And of course you can drop "When I was driving past the spaceport the other day" into conversation with the French - "Yes, I know you've got one in French Guiana, but that's hardly on the way to the shops is it? Here, have a glass of bubbly in consolation. Yes, it is good isn't it - from Kent don't ya know. [Sound of apoplectic choking in French]". 

Nah, never going to happen, our economy cannot afford such luxury items.

[med6753]

Please stop with the work related reminders of total frustration and wanting to throw shit. Retirement has been a year and half of complete bliss and I haven't thought of these ugly incidences and now they are floating around in my head.

Please, no more.....or I will have to kill someone. 

May I suggest some calming schadenfreude. Or, if you were British and wanted to be patriotic, "epicaricacy".

The mere use of those obscure words makes me want to punch babies. 

[Specmaster]

This is a bit more like it for all IT support types

Please stop with the work related reminders of total frustration and wanting to throw shit. Retirement has been a year and half of complete bliss and I haven't thought of these ugly incidences and now they are floating around in my head.

Please, no more.....or I will have to kill someone.   

Young whipper snapper you, just wait till you've been retired for 4 years 

[capt bullshot]

But look at all those green tants on the board. Never saw green tants before. Ain't they purdy? For now they are staying in place. Of all my gear I only have tant blow ups on Tek stuff. I have lots of B&K and Fluke gear that's loaded with beaded tants and I only recall one lonely incident of a bad tant in a Fluke 8010A. So these will be left

All the colours you've ever wanted in one small drawer:

[Specmaster]

My big project of the day. Re-cap of the B&K 1820. All two of them. 

But look at all those green tants on the board. Never saw green tants before. Ain't they purdy? For now they are staying in place. Of all my gear I only have tant blow ups on Tek stuff. I have lots of B&K and Fluke gear that's loaded with beaded tants and I only recall one lonely incident of a bad tant in a Fluke 8010A. So these will be left alone too. But if one goes they ALL go. 



Of course appropriate check out. All is well. 

Pass the smelling salts along when you've done with them please, thanks. I can't believe that I actually just read this, Med is not going to be recapping them, he must be going to respray them blue then? 

[Cerebus]

So... you're calling this one a net positive then...? 

You might say that, I couldn't possibly comment. 

Although it's traditional for the English to poke fun at the French, and vice-versa, it's all in good fun and we don't really hate each other - we both reserve that for Les Parisiennes (and perhaps, in the French case, Les Québécois who are even haughtier than Parisennes about their 'Frenchness').

[Specmaster]

I really like the basic LED counters. I really want a Fluke 1900A or something

Indeed. 

Dang it, he already did it 

[mnementh]

But look at all those green tants on the board. Never saw green tants before. Ain't they purdy? For now they are staying in place. Of all my gear I only have tant blow ups on Tek stuff. I have lots of B&K and Fluke gear that's loaded with beaded tants and I only recall one lonely incident of a bad tant in a Fluke 8010A. So these will be left

All the colours you've ever wanted in one small drawer:

There... FTFY. 

mnem
"Whenever you guys say "TANTS!!!" in thread that way... with loathing visibly dripping from every keystroke... I imagine gear infested with Domo-Kun. It makes me smile. " 

[tonyalbus]

(Attachment Link)
just arrived on my doorstep.... could not let it go by...seller wanted to get rid of it whatever the cost...no other way.. then who am i..

Marconi TF 2414A  or Venner TCA6636/2  or Venner TCA6635

i did not find to much, as manuals or schematics.... i do know it is also sold as Venner..... how is this?  marconi is usualy easy available

[Edit] this is not a problem, i do have the paper version, i just wanted it in pdf, but maybe i should scan and put it online, if it is hard to find.
so if somone is intresed i have a manual with schematics...but i will have to scan the whole book...

[Cerebus]

As for 10% more fuel, you need to be careful with simplistic assumptions.

Like I said, back of fag packet - I allowed for the change in momentum (i.e. v²) and rounded up, ignored the calculus of 'you have to carry that fuel', and qualified it with "at least".

[bd139]

(Attachment Link)
just arrived on my doorstep.... could not let it go by...seller wanted to get rid of it whatever the cost...no other way.. then who am i..

Marconi TF 2414A  or Venner TCA6636/2  or Venner TCA6635

i did not find to much, as manuals or schematics.... i do know it is also sold as Venner..... how is this?  marconi is usualy easy available

[Edit] this is not a problem, i do have the paper version, i just wanted it in pdf, but maybe i should scan and put it online, if it is hard to find.
so if somone is intresed i have a manual with schematics...but i will have to scan the whole book...

Marconi and Racal rebranded a lot of kit to try and stay relevant. Also most Marconi stuff seems to have somewhat variable manuals. 2019a was a fun one to decipher which version of it I had.

[med6753]

As for 10% more fuel, you need to be careful with simplistic assumptions.

Like I said, back of fag packet - I allowed for the change in momentum (i.e. v²) and rounded up, ignored the calculus of 'you have to carry that fuel', and qualified it with "at least".

Mommy, he said a bad word. 

[mnementh]

"calculus"...? 

mnem
 

[Robert763]

I really like the basic LED counters. I really want a Fluke 1900A or something

Don't get more basic than a Philips PM6661 (or 6664)
80 (400) MHz auto ranging. NO/OFF, input and 8 digits   
I'd like a 6664 to go with my 6661

[Saskia]

And here is one of today's examples, where it is conveniently ignored that being on the equator means the rocket starts at 1000mph.   https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/07/uk-s-first-space-launch-could-take-place-in-early-2020s-government-says

I've always found the "you need to be on the equator to launch orbiting things" a bit specious. Yes, you get 1000 mph (0.4 km/s) for free, but that's a small part of the 7-8 kilometers per second that you need even for a low earth orbit (over 11 km/s for escape velocity). Sure, you use al least 10% more fuel (can't be bothered to work it out properly, it gets too calculusy for the back of a fag packet), or have a lower payload, but you gain convenience, launch from home territory (which has positive security implications) and you don't have to constantly ferry staff half way around the world.

And of course you can drop "When I was driving past the spaceport the other day" into conversation with the French - "Yes, I know you've got one in French Guiana, but that's hardly on the way to the shops is it? Here, have a glass of bubbly in consolation. Yes, it is good isn't it - from Kent don't ya know. [Sound of apoplectic choking in French]". 

So... you're calling this one a net positive then...? 

mnem
*Lays out the conversational cutlery for Master Earth-Pig*

Safer than what the German government is considering: launching space going rockets from oil rigs. 

[Specmaster]

Safer than what the German government is considering: launching space going rockets from oil rigs. 

What could possibly go wrong?

[Saskia]

https://youtu.be/DQ60xHSKaPQ?list=RDDQ60xHSKaPQ

[tggzzz]

Please stop with the work related reminders of total frustration and wanting to throw shit. Retirement has been a year and half of complete bliss and I haven't thought of these ugly incidences and now they are floating around in my head.

Please, no more.....or I will have to kill someone. 

May I suggest some calming schadenfreude. Or, if you were British and wanted to be patriotic, "epicaricacy".

The mere use of those obscure words makes me want to punch babies. 

Well, "schadenfreude" is so useful that it can't be regarded as obscure.

OTOH I only found out about "epicaricacy" today You may find these "usage notes" relevant: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/epicaricacy Think "quiz".

[Saskia]

Safer than what the German government is considering: launching space going rockets from oil rigs. 

What could possibly go wrong?

Another problem there: they don't have oil rigs. Which means they would have to either invade Norway or Scotland or the US. 
What do the German Luftwaffe of 1945 and 2020 have in common ?
4 airworthy aircraft ...

[Specmaster]

Safer than what the German government is considering: launching space going rockets from oil rigs. 

What could possibly go wrong?

Another problem there: they don't have oil rigs. Which means they would have to either invade Norway or Scotland or the US. 
What do the German Luftwaffe of 1945 and 2020 have in common ?
4 airworthy aircraft ...

[factory]

(Attachment Link)
just arrived on my doorstep.... could not let it go by...seller wanted to get rid of it whatever the cost...no other way.. then who am i..

Marconi TF 2414A  or Venner TCA6636/2  or Venner TCA6635

i did not find to much, as manuals or schematics.... i do know it is also sold as Venner..... how is this?  marconi is usualy easy available

[Edit] this is not a problem, i do have the paper version, i just wanted it in pdf, but maybe i should scan and put it online, if it is hard to find.
so if somone is intresed i have a manual with schematics...but i will have to scan the whole book...

It's a badged engineered Venner, I did have both a Venner & Marconi version (which got sold), the PSU & boards were all labelled Venner, I can't quite remember if one of them didn't have the storage IC's on the display boards. You may find the original mains filter capacitor inside waiting to go pop (if it hasn't already).

David