Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[beanflying]

Stage 4 lockdown in Vic because we seem to have some Pommie Germ escape. But everything must be fine as the all important Tennis continues

[AVGresponding]

So the "Radiation source" arrived from ebay seller Scotttrade12 today. The packing was c*%p in the bottom of  thin box with amothe old box crushed on top  Good job it's not a delicate optical instrument -not.
Anyway preditions were correct, it is an IR source with the output from the pointy end. First photo is with rubber armour removed. With the metal output tube removed you can see the output "window", photo 2. It looks like a random fibre opic bundle. Applying an external light source confirms this, photo 3. The electronics pull out of the back. Nothing special at all, Photo 4. The electro-optics are at the front a ring of 12 small emitters with filters wired as two lots of 6 plus an unfiltered photodiode in the middle, presumably feedback. The two sets of emitters might be different wavelengths. Photo 5. Trouble is the emitters are potted with hard compound into the black block of Delrin like plastic. Going to be hard to dig one out. The emitters and photodiode are coupled to 13 small fibre bundles. The fibre coupler mixes the 12 outputs in a random manner. Photo 6 with external illumination at the "output".
Interesting but not a lot of use.

Oh, I don't know. Could be quite a bit of fun, depending where you live.

Just wait for the next flight of whatevers to take off for exercises, and give them some unexpected excitement...

Hell NO
1/ It does not have the range (only  couple of metres
2/ It would only get a reaction from a military aircraft with a missile warning system
3/ As an aerospace professional they would (rightly) lock me up

NEVER direct any electromagnetic source at any aircraft!

Any?
Hams regularly use aircraft enhancement to increase VHF/ UHF range.

Aircraft used to fly across the path of Studio to Transmitter Links, causing "flutter" of the received pix & at worst, sync loss.

I did say "direct at" While amateurs might use "aircraft scatter"  but they don't, or at least should not target specfic aircraft. Typically aircraft scatter is used for beyond visual range communition implying that the aircraft is at some distance so field strengths are low. This is different to pointing a directional antenna at a nearby aircraft.

To continue the joke which fell flat, imagine the hilarity when upon pointing it at an aircraft carrying live ordnance due to being launched to intercept the latest Russian "training flight" or uncommunicative airliner, you find yourself the immediate target of an anti-missile missile...

[Specmaster]

Edit: anyone near Carlisle? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203276157425

Without lockdown that might have triggered a nice short holiday

Those Tek generators are tempting along with the SE Labs DVM, but unless the lockdown ends soon it's a non starter though, police are randomly stopping non-local vehicles here & issuing fines.
Plus my van really needs a proper service, don't think they did bugger all to it last year.

David

Police are using their ANPRS equipped cars to spot vehicles that are not locally registered. I don’t think that visiting family that are not local to you would be an acceptable excuse either. So if your vehicle is not registered in the area, you’re at a very high risk of being pulled over.

That shit would not fly here. The cops would have the ACLU up their arse in about 10 seconds. Having a license plate outside a "local area" is not reasonable cause to get pulled over. Besides, define "local area". How big is it? A road? A town? A county? State? 

ACLU = American Civil Liberties Union.

Normally this system is only used to detect known criminals or vehicles without Tax, Insurance or a current MOT certificate or even looking for stolen vehicles. The context that it is being used for now is to try and stop / slow the progress of the bloody virus. The system will show the normal address of where the vehicle is registered, in my case Chelmsford, Essex and clearly if my car was seen to be in say Norwich, Norfolk, 83 miles away and 2 counties, that would indicate that I'm not making an essential journey to get food / medicines which is what we are supposed to doing only during lockdown. In that case I believe it makes good sense as it assists in saving peoples lives.   

[Specmaster]

Police are using their ANPRS equipped cars to spot vehicles that are not locally registered.

As I understand it that would be a breach of the police code of practice for use of ANPR which restricts its use to serious crime and untaxed and/or uninsured vehicles. Not that following codes of practice or even refraining from actively committing criminal offences has ever stopped the police doing whatever they feel like when it suits them. For instance, I personally know of a case where the Met said they couldn't use APNR to trace the perpetrators of a road rage incident that ended in a 'crimed' ABH assault because that crime didn't meet the level of 'seriousness' required under the code of practice before they could look at APNR records for the section of road in question, even in a narrow time window.

Normally I'd totally agree with this, however these are not normal times and with the governments emergency powers they have given themselves and in the fight to contain and beat this global pandemic, they will use the system and whatever else they can in their endeavour to stop the virus, particularly these new strains from getting footholds outside the regions where it already exists. This virus is as far as we currently know, only spreadable via human contact. If we can get people to abide by the rules, then it gives scientists more time to find solutions.

[tggzzz]

So the "Radiation source" arrived from ebay seller Scotttrade12 today. The packing was c*%p in the bottom of  thin box with amothe old box crushed on top  Good job it's not a delicate optical instrument -not.
Anyway preditions were correct, it is an IR source with the output from the pointy end. First photo is with rubber armour removed. With the metal output tube removed you can see the output "window", photo 2. It looks like a random fibre opic bundle. Applying an external light source confirms this, photo 3. The electronics pull out of the back. Nothing special at all, Photo 4. The electro-optics are at the front a ring of 12 small emitters with filters wired as two lots of 6 plus an unfiltered photodiode in the middle, presumably feedback. The two sets of emitters might be different wavelengths. Photo 5. Trouble is the emitters are potted with hard compound into the black block of Delrin like plastic. Going to be hard to dig one out. The emitters and photodiode are coupled to 13 small fibre bundles. The fibre coupler mixes the 12 outputs in a random manner. Photo 6 with external illumination at the "output".
Interesting but not a lot of use.

Oh, I don't know. Could be quite a bit of fun, depending where you live.

Just wait for the next flight of whatevers to take off for exercises, and give them some unexpected excitement...

Hell NO
1/ It does not have the range (only  couple of metres
2/ It would only get a reaction from a military aircraft with a missile warning system
3/ As an aerospace professional they would (rightly) lock me up

NEVER direct any electromagnetic source at any aircraft!

Any?
Hams regularly use aircraft enhancement to increase VHF/ UHF range.

Aircraft used to fly across the path of Studio to Transmitter Links, causing "flutter" of the received pix & at worst, sync loss.

I did say "direct at" While amateurs might use "aircraft scatter"  but they don't, or at least should not target specfic aircraft. Typically aircraft scatter is used for beyond visual range communition implying that the aircraft is at some distance so field strengths are low. This is different to pointing a directional antenna at a nearby aircraft.

To continue the joke which fell flat, imagine the hilarity when upon pointing it at an aircraft carrying live ordnance due to being launched to intercept the latest Russian "training flight" or uncommunicative airliner, you find yourself the immediate target of an anti-missile missile...

Somebody I knew was out on the Fens playing with his shoulder-launched missile simulator, when a passerby recognised what it was and alerted the authorities. Fortunately he was able to prove that he was developing it for the MoD.

I simulated a missile launch against a car on the A45, while safely inside a building

[bd139]

Been invited to put offers on stuff for a local SK sale. Mixed and  . Not much TE but dude was a hoarder.  Will see what I end up with. Have lowballed a couple of radios for resale, a box of valves and a completely unknown “Hameg scope”.

Ok that was a fail and a win. Someone else got the IC-7300 for £500 (  ) and the valves. The scope was 20Mhz, has no CRT in it and was very mouldy so I left it to be disposed of.

Did walk away with an “untested” FT-818 for £200 though which is pretty damn good. Looks ok. Missing all accessories other then internal battery and 2m ducky. Looks immaculate and appears to work! No filters in it or anything interesting.

Didn’t get nicked by the fuzz or stabbed in Feltham 

[AVGresponding]

That Keithley 4200 went for £283 in the end, a long way short of what they hoped I should think.



Would you pay £40-£70 for a used 37/33mF electrolytic? Neither would I. This seller clearly belongs in the "speculative pricing" club:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPRAGUE-POWERLYTIC-R-36DX-95C-37000UF-75V-0315L-56-IN31S1B4/293091634643
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PHILIPS-402349-730009-3186GC333U080AMA2-33000-UF-80VDC-CAPACITOR-R3S4-4B2/302768143515


Some counters for you to not buy bd:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Racal-Dana-1990-Series-Universal-Systems-Counter-Frequenzzahler-DEFEKT/233885214915


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Frequenzzahler-Anadex-CF-600R-7-stellige-Nixie-Anzeige-13mm-hoch-B-5883-S/233885214938


HFM?!? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THURLBY-THANDAR-BLACK-STAR-NOVA-2400-FREQUENCY-COUNTER-10HZ-2-4GHZ-NEW-BOXED/274676577849

[bd139]

I have my eye on an XL microwave counter at the moment. 26.5GHz! 

[AVGresponding]

I have my eye on an XL microwave counter at the moment. 26.5GHz! 

I once got thrown out of Currys for counting microwaves...

ba-dum-tss

[McBryce]

Didn’t get .... stabbed in Feltham 

I'd go back and complain! Surely the muggers can still offer that service even with the shutdown? It only requires local travel for them and doesn't involve large gatherings.

McBryce. 

[bd139]

I think they are off day release at the moment 

I have my eye on an XL microwave counter at the moment. 26.5GHz! 

I once got thrown out of Currys for counting microwaves...

ba-dum-tss

That's better than all the jokes I've been sent this week so far 

[AVGresponding]

I think they are off day release at the moment 

I have my eye on an XL microwave counter at the moment. 26.5GHz! 

I once got thrown out of Currys for counting microwaves...

ba-dum-tss

That's better than all the jokes I've been sent this week so far 

Wow, you've had a bad week then!

[bd139]

Yep 

[DC1MC]

...
Some counters for you to not buy bd:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Racal-Dana-1990-Series-Universal-Systems-Counter-Frequenzzahler-DEFEKT/233885214915

...

"Das Gerät riecht nach angebranntem Tantal-Kondensator."

I have a feeling that this counter will stink 

[bd139]

Been invited to put offers on stuff for a local SK sale. Mixed and  . Not much TE but dude was a hoarder.  Will see what I end up with. Have lowballed a couple of radios for resale, a box of valves and a completely unknown “Hameg scope”.

Ok that was a fail and a win. Someone else got the IC-7300 for £500 (  ) and the valves. The scope was 20Mhz, has no CRT in it and was very mouldy so I left it to be disposed of.

Did walk away with an “untested” FT-818 for £200 though which is pretty damn good. Looks ok. Missing all accessories other then internal battery and 2m ducky. Looks immaculate and appears to work! No filters in it or anything interesting.

Didn’t get nicked by the fuzz or stabbed in Feltham 

Ok took it to bits and it's got a collins CW filter in it. Just not configured in the menu 

[AVGresponding]

I've had an "uncontrolled spending" week.

Purchases include, but are not limited to:
Tek 834, works despite clearly having been submerged in rusty water at some point,
SK/IVA lot of transistors and ICs, mostly NOS, from a TV repair shop judging by the part numbers,
Gossen Metrahit M242A with some battery compartment seasoning, not yet arrived,
LEGO Dacta and 4x MindStorms RCX 1.0, not yet arrived,
Thurlby Thandar TSX3510P (old colours) with minor scruffage, not yet arrived.

This is of course on top of having to buy new wipers and front tyres for the TT.


Wednesday at least I managed to work up a sweat making up tubes:



The semi haul:


Not seen this chip package before, presumably for a specific heatsink:


BU508A has been superceded!



On the plus side, the TT has already proved itself, ploughing through drifting snow that would have left me completely fucked in the Insignia, and this was before replacing the near bald front tyres!
I expect it to be unstoppable now, and also capable of going round corners.

[EE4all]

Marconi 2023a. As if I need more projects...or yet another generator. 

Time to start replacing old caps.

[PA0PBZ]

Not seen this chip package before, presumably for a specific heatsink:

It's a PAL/NTSC decoder consuming 1.7W and comes in a normal DIP28 package, not sure what happened with yours 

[Cerebus]

The journalist seems to suggest a lack of snow for the Western parts of Scotland is to blame.

Area commander Bruce Farquharson said: "There may have been a lot of snow in the eastern and central areas of Scotland, but that is not the case in the western coastal areas and fuel conditions are very different.

David

That's definitely reading in something that wasn't said. If you want to draw an inference from that it would be the Western Isles haven't had a lot of snow compared to the parts of Scotland that have had a lot of snow. He's not implying that they have had none. It's a question of what a local would regard as a lot of snow, and for the Western Isles I suspect the concept of 'a lot of snow' is that you're wading through it.

The Met Office website is crap nowadays and only goes back 24 hours for observations (one used to be able to see a lot more) or else we'd be able to objectively see exactly what the last couple of week's weather has been there. Given the current weather (-23.5ºC overnight in central Northern Scotland) I'd expect that there's standing snow almost everywhere in the North and West Scotland at the moment, looking at the live visible light Meteosat pictures seems to confirm that supposition.

[bd139]

LEGO Dacta and 4x MindStorms RCX 1.0, not yet arrived,

Ooooooh Dacta. Now you need a beeb to connect it to

[Ice-Tea]

Marconi 2023a. As if I need more projects...or yet another generator. 

Time to start replacing old caps.

Don't think you'll have much work. Fairly recent devices, well constructed, low failure rate as far as I can tell...

[Kosmic]

Marconi 2023a. As if I need more projects...or yet another generator. 

Time to start replacing old caps.

I have a 2025 that was built in 2006. All caps were fine. Check them before changing everything.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/aeroflex-ifr2025-without-acdc-power-supply/msg2894284/#msg2894284

[mnementh]

The oscillators aren't the only thing that's "wired".  He's cranked like he's on meth or something. Or maybe it's just too early in the morning to appreciate the enthusiasm.  Personally I'd have trouble maintaining interest to build 10 of them. 

In other news....there is talk of another foot of snow on Sunday. As a result the lady won't be visiting this weekend. 

Musician. Mind altering drugs. Quite possibly 

Snow is done here for the next decade 

Look! A true Universal Counter! As in... it will not finish before the End of the Universe!

There's something aboot him... a bit in his face and expression, a lot in his voice and the manic edge when he gets along in the project; he reminds me very much of Andrew Scott's Moriarty... and I quite like it.

I wanna go out for whiskey and darts and maybe blow up a small moon with the guy.   

mnem
Just a small one... who could mind that...?

[mnementh]

Oh he’s completely nuts. Look for the Furby organ 

No way... that was this guy too...? Fukkin' awesome!!!

mnem

[EE4all]

Marconi 2023a. As if I need more projects...or yet another generator. 

Time to start replacing old caps.

I have a 2025 that was built in 2006. All caps were fine. Check them before changing everything.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/aeroflex-ifr2025-without-acdc-power-supply/msg2894284/#msg2894284

I will. Haven't even cracked it open for a first visual inspection. Output frequency is very unstable, sometimes above, and other times below the set frequency and always fluctuating. I might open it up this weekend, but currently have a radio repair ongoing on the main bench.