Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[mnementh]

I just hopped onto the bay of evil to look for some microwave bits, and I just realized: I am now within driving distance/cheap 2 day shipping range of AllTest.

Fuck me.   

mnem
Oooohhh... They have a rack-mount 2465B with busted VAR knob for $275 OBO...

[Robert763]

I was considering this on ebay:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rohde-amp-Schwarz-FSH3-Spectrum-Analyzer-With-Tracking-Generator-/255269406253
But the TEA account is a bit low at the moment and SWMBO says too many bills in early January. Was doing a transfer from savings but it has gone
Anyone here get it?

[Specmaster]

Nope, not me.

[mansaxel]

I just hopped onto the bay of evil to look for some microwave bits, and I just realized: I am now within driving distance/cheap 2 day shipping range of AllTest.

Fuck me.   

mnem
Oooohhh... They have a rack-mount 2465B with busted VAR knob for $275 OBO...

The fact that it's rack mount is very tempting, but were I you I'd hold out for the ToD. For anything not directly life-supporting.  The reflex to solve anything with a purchase is perhaps a more general variant of TEA but it leads nowhere, except to debt.

Also, it makes one a capitalist tool.

[factory]

And, I want one too. To save it from the clock builders and to display the various 10MHz clocks I have to maintain. If I manage to buy one, the 10MHz mod will be high priority to perform.

How about this one from Italy (NAWTS)?

That one is on my Beobachtungsliste. I would have bought it outright if I could make sense of the mod that's been added.

Could be something similar to the mod which Shahriar did. But not as elegant as he did, of course.

Saw that "M" version a while back, the mod board has a trimmer capacitor on the back, wouldn't be surprised if a regular crystal was on the back too. I guess the 00105 oven has failed (this is the one used in most 105A/B quartz oscillator) and they didn't or couldn't fix it.

The "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz too.

There is an "L" version with a mod board in place of the oven as well on ePay.de https://www.ebay.de/itm/165216722807


David

[factory]

There is an expensive 5245L in the German ebay ads (NAWTS):
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/kultiger-hp-frequenzcounter-hp5245l-time-interval-unit-hp5263a/1884141660-168-20462

It comes with a HP5263A module.

Seen that before on ePay, way overpriced, almost has worldwide shipping except they hate "Sitzerland and Australia".
Option M07 (has GHz symbol added) is for use with the 5260A divider.
https://www.ebay.de/itm/274962835732

David

[factory]

Sorry mate, i it will be shipped to NL...  it is a counter and nixie... and i saw: ' I would have bought it outright if '  .. so i took it. 

It comes to a good home. You owe us a SignalPath-quality teardown video. And a 10MHz re-fit.

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.


Something he should have added in that video, the small transformer for the oven in the "L" versions don't have a fuse to protect it from getting destroyed, if the oven heater ends up short circuit, this has happened to a few people and it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

David

[mansaxel]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

[Saskia]

oh eff me, my helper for tomorrow just cancelled.
How can I unload the effing vault alone ...
for Fs sake ...

[VK5RC]

Today is a good day to die! (Surrounded by many MFTs of TE)

mnem
 

Incorrect, no day is a good day to die 

Tithonus!

[factory]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

Yes the L/M are the same apart from the oven timebase fitted and the ref input/output.

If you want a higher frequency (135MHz) model go for the 5248, but note they use some tunnel diodes.

David

[Cubdriver]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

Yes the L/M are the same apart from the oven timebase fitted and the ref input/output.

If you want a higher frequency (135MHz) model go for the 5248, but note they use some tunnel diodes.

David

That and the M and 5248 are much less common than the 5245L.  It took me years to find each of those.

-Pat

[nixiefreqq]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

Yes the L/M are the same apart from the oven timebase fitted and the ref input/output.

If you want a higher frequency (135MHz) model go for the 5248, but note they use some tunnel diodes.

David

That and the M and 5248 are much less common than the 5245L.  It took me years to find each of those.

-Pat

really?  this is a puzzlement to me.  still have multiple 5248's and 5245M's cluttering up the basement (according to swmbo).

and i have already given some away. 


edit.  oh crap.  just thought about it and realized.......they are hard to find because you are not looking in my basement.

[med6753]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

Yes the L/M are the same apart from the oven timebase fitted and the ref input/output.

If you want a higher frequency (135MHz) model go for the 5248, but note they use some tunnel diodes.

David

That and the M and 5248 are much less common than the 5245L.  It took me years to find each of those.

-Pat

really?  this is a puzzlement to me.  still have multiple 5248's and 5245M's cluttering up the basement (according to swmbo).

and i have already given some away. 


edit.  oh crap.  just thought about it and realized.......they are hard to find because you are not looking in my basement.

That's where my 5248L came from. 

[mnementh]

I just hopped onto the bay of evil to look for some microwave bits, and I just realized: I am now within driving distance/cheap 2 day shipping range of AllTest.

Fuck me.   

mnem
Oooohhh... They have a rack-mount 2465B with busted VAR knob for $275 OBO...

The fact that it's rack mount is very tempting, but were I you I'd hold out for the ToD. For anything not directly life-supporting.  The reflex to solve anything with a purchase is perhaps a more general variant of TEA but it leads nowhere, except to debt.

Also, it makes one a capitalist tool.

You don't understand... This has nothing to do with "missing my 2465s"; the ToD is literally on its way to me even as we speak, and will be here any day now.

No, no, no... It is much more insidious than that: I now have Amazon-Prime-easy access to a major source of bust-ass TE, and a effing huge house with a empty basement.  I would want that 2465B to keep my 2465s company, not as a substitute...

As long as I keep it all down there in the dwagon cave, the only thing stopping me from turning into Cubdriver is finances and my wife beating me to death if I don't come upstairs often enough to make sure the kids are fed and clothed. 

mnem
*wibble*

[nixiefreqq]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

Yes the L/M are the same apart from the oven timebase fitted and the ref input/output.

If you want a higher frequency (135MHz) model go for the 5248, but note they use some tunnel diodes.

David

That and the M and 5248 are much less common than the 5245L.  It took me years to find each of those.

-Pat

really?  this is a puzzlement to me.  still have multiple 5248's and 5245M's cluttering up the basement (according to swmbo).

and i have already given some away. 


edit.  oh crap.  just thought about it and realized.......they are hard to find because you are not looking in my basement.

That's where my 5248L came from. 

and swmbo appreciates that you removed some of my crap.  maybe i should have snuck a box or two of her boyds bears into your back seat.

[med6753]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

Yes the L/M are the same apart from the oven timebase fitted and the ref input/output.

If you want a higher frequency (135MHz) model go for the 5248, but note they use some tunnel diodes.

David

That and the M and 5248 are much less common than the 5245L.  It took me years to find each of those.

-Pat

really?  this is a puzzlement to me.  still have multiple 5248's and 5245M's cluttering up the basement (according to swmbo).

and i have already given some away. 


edit.  oh crap.  just thought about it and realized.......they are hard to find because you are not looking in my basement.

That's where my 5248L came from. 

and swmbo appreciates that you removed some of my crap.  maybe i should have snuck a box or two of her boyds bears into your back seat.

 

[mnementh]

oh eff me, my helper for tomorrow just cancelled. How can I unload the effing vault alone ...for Fs sake...

Ummm... 50gram solution...?

mnem
Or did you have a preference as to where it actually lands once off the truck?

[Cubdriver]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

Yes the L/M are the same apart from the oven timebase fitted and the ref input/output.

If you want a higher frequency (135MHz) model go for the 5248, but note they use some tunnel diodes.

David

That and the M and 5248 are much less common than the 5245L.  It took me years to find each of those.

-Pat

really?  this is a puzzlement to me.  still have multiple 5248's and 5245M's cluttering up the basement (according to swmbo).

and i have already given some away. 


edit.  oh crap.  just thought about it and realized.......they are hard to find because you are not looking in my basement.

LOL - smartarse!      Obviously I need to look in your basement at some point. 

The 5248M I finally got has an issue with the oscillator circuit - the the part that oscillates is doing its thing, but the signal goes away somewhere along the way.  I sidelined it while waiting for a manual, then never got back to it.  Now I need to find the manual I ordered 3+ years ago and dig into it again.



That's from my second round of troubleshooting back in August of 2018.  Think it's time for a third.

-Pat

[GreyWoolfe]

That is a typical day at work for all of us field technicians.

Actually, I always thought *WHAPPPP!!!* it was more like this... every time you use your brain: *WHAPPPP!!!* on and on and so forth, ad infinitum...

mnem
...with periodic    just to make sure you don't get used to anything...
[/quote]

That is exactly what Monday mornings and Friday afternoons at 4:55 are like.

[johnh]

I see yours has a blue CRT... AGAIN ! You appear to have a talent to find these rare beauties...

That's not a blue CRT. It's a blue filter. I've since taken that filter and put it on the Type 547. I wish I could find another one. Plenty of grey and green filters but blue ones are rare.

So is this blue filter of any use to you?

It came from old tek camera

Appreciate the thought but that's way too dark. Think Papa Smurf blue. 

Do you mean this colour blue

[med6753]

Do you mean this colour blue

Yes, where did you find it?

[Zucca]

I took a look at my new home with my Flir E(hack)60...

Now that is cold outside it is easy too see....







how I waste my money in heating....

cheap ass builders the windows are such thermal bridge.... holy sheet

[tonyalbus]

No need to add the 10MHz mod from that video, the "M" versions already have a input for 5MHz or 10MHz external reference.

Oh, cool. The "M" model is definitely the one to get, then. But, OTOH, is the accuracy of the counter, disregarding the quality of the internal reference (because today we'd run it from a GPSDO anyway), different from "L"  to  "M"?

it's a good idea to add an extra fuse for this.

Indeed. Good tip!

Yes the L/M are the same apart from the oven timebase fitted and the ref input/output.

If you want a higher frequency (135MHz) model go for the 5248, but note they use some tunnel diodes.

David

That and the M and 5248 are much less common than the 5245L.  It took me years to find each of those.

-Pat

really?  this is a puzzlement to me.  still have multiple 5248's and 5245M's cluttering up the basement (according to swmbo).

and i have already given some away. 


edit.  oh crap.  just thought about it and realized.......they are hard to find because you are not looking in my basement.

LOL - smartarse!      Obviously I need to look in your basement at some point. 

The 5248M I finally got has an issue with the oscillator circuit - the the part that oscillates is doing its thing, but the signal goes away somewhere along the way.  I sidelined it while waiting for a manual, then never got back to it.  Now I need to find the manual I ordered 3+ years ago and dig into it again.



That's from my second round of troubleshooting back in August of 2018.  Think it's time for a third.

-Pat

This link, here the guy seems to know also a few things about the differences between the L/M and some history and nice information
http://crasno.ca/articles/HP5245M.htm

[ch_scr]

If you want to see a nice presentation that includes
a) extreme physics
b) extreme precision measurements
c) "hacking" in the best sense of "find the problem and then make it work, all stops removed"
have a look at this gem about "Hacking at LIGO"