Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Saskia]

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/quadral-titan-mk3/2158331663-172-2534

*sigh*
Husband acceptance factor is non existant. They are 300 lbs ea.

[Saskia]

@bd

how about that hot air station ? should I pack it up and send it out ?

[tautech]

I thought "Bugger it. Why shouldn't I spend £1,500 on an SA?" So I bought a Siglent.

SSA3021X Plus I hope. 

[bd139]

@bd

how about that hot air station ? should I pack it up and send it out ?

Tempted. Can you hold it until I've moved otherwise knowing international customs it'll end up arriving somewhere I don't live any more? (26th August is move date)

[Robert763]

<SNIP>
Do I need to buy some more soldering kit? not sure two Pace irons in chopstick mode is the best idea  (have used on scrap boards in the past), can't use the Ersa tweezers at work as they grew legs & walked out. 

David

So you use the tweezers at home now?   

[Saskia]

@bd

how about that hot air station ? should I pack it up and send it out ?

Tempted. Can you hold it until I've moved otherwise knowing international customs it'll end up arriving somewhere I don't live any more? (26th August is move date)

I can, if we work out the details.

[Robert763]

I have to drive SWMBO "up north" on Saturday. This has resuted in my making a TEA.
Collection only item I've been watching for a while. 19" x 4U so bigger than I'd like but it does meet the critera of adding capability.  It's a R&S signal generator covering 300 kHz to 3.3 GHz, so that extends my proper generation top end by 600 MHz. More importantly it adds Vector modulaion (I/Q) capability to my TE collection. And no it's not a SMIQ 03 This thing is a  bit of a sleeper. I paid less than 5% of the cost of a used SMIQ. Any idea what it is?

[BU508A]

Incoming parts today:
80 Intersil ISL95310 ISL95310WIU10Z digital controlled potentiometer (XDCP).
W=10kOhm version.

I've attached the datasheet below.

Planning, to build an LM317 based PSU and do the voltage setting with this.

If somebody is interested in some of them, drop me a PM. Asking 1 Euro per IC plus shipping (isn't that much, those things are tiny. 10-lead MSOP package).

Today arrival: 72 adapter PCBs, one side SOP-10 0.95mm other side MSOP-10 0.5mm:


One PCB with an ISL95310WIU10Z on the MSOP-10 side:


If someone is interested, I'd add an adapter PCB to every ISL95310WIU10Z. Price stays the same.
I'd solder the ISL95310WIU10Z on the adapter as well, if you wish.

[factory]

<SNIP>
Do I need to buy some more soldering kit? not sure two Pace irons in chopstick mode is the best idea  (have used on scrap boards in the past), can't use the Ersa tweezers at work as they grew legs & walked out. 

David

So you use the tweezers at home now?   

Sadly not, can't obtain any surplus kit or TE from work, as I've mentioned a few times.  Two Pace irons in chopstick mode is the only way at home ATM.

I don't know where they went, they vanished from the storeroom, don't know if they; got poached by another site, the ex-employee that works for a customer (was allowed to buy some redundant train electronics test rigs & spares a few years ago), or the guy from maintenance that ePay'ed stuff (against the T&Cs) preventing anyone else buying redundant kit, after he got found out. 

The Ersa tweezers were a pain to use, as it had to be used with the large rework station, the small dual base station blew it's custom IC. 

David

[Squarewave]

I don't know how funds are with you, but have you thought of getting a Rigol or Siglent SA, maybe as well as the HP?

I have a few scopes here, Tek, an HP, a 20MHz solid state scope about 30 years old. I have a few valve scopes, most of which work. The one I reach for is the 100MHz Siglent. It's pleasant to use, it's light, it doesn't take up any room, it has a load of features that are useful enough, such as a fairly good frequency counter, which often saves the trouble of firing up a dedicated frequency counter.

Indeed I've considered one, I'd happy pay the price as they're not all that expensive really. I don't think I'd buy one AND the HP though. Perhaps later on I could if I need space. I think I will go the the HP for the price as it'll certainly prove useful for a few projects, where the range is outside of the RF unit I have for my TF2380 at present.

Well this is the Test Equipment Anonymous thread, it should be a bit like AA where we get together and support ourselves in getting out of this terrible addiction.

Consider what I say next as the Devil leading you into temptation.

Having wanted an SA for ages, and looked at Marconi etc and wondering about the problems with them, I was talking to a neighbour who had just blown north of 30 grand on a collectable newish BMW. He was explaining all about it. He washes it and polishes it and drives about 500 miles a year in it. I thought "Bugger it. Why shouldn't I spend £1,500 on an SA?" So I bought a Siglent. I use it for more hours than he uses his BMW and I don't have to wash and wax it all the time. I don't have to tax, insure, have it MOT'd and serviced either.

I might also get a Marconi or an HP, out of curiosity and the urge to acquire.

You can't take your dough when you go.

There's always one of those who puts their car on the pussy pedestal, they need to remember, it's just a car - however, a spectrum analyser on the other hand....

[bd139]

If I had an N connector…

[themadhippy]

If I had an N connector

I'd N connect in the morning
I'd N connect in the evening
All over this land

[TERRA Operative]

I thought "Bugger it. Why shouldn't I spend £1,500 on an SA?" So I bought a Siglent.

SSA3021X Plus I hope. 

Speaking of, I managed to get approval from Mrs Wife to buy one of these, as soon as an insurance payout lands in my bank account.

Had a stupid woman PIT maneouver herself on the front of my car a few months back. It was deemed 100% her fault (thank the maker for dashcams!), so just waiting for the lawyer to do his lawyer things and extract the funds from her insurance company.

Will be nice to have, I have a bunch of gear to adjust that needs a SA for which the FFT function on my scopes doesn't quite cut it...

[xrunner]

Here's an hp 3551A Transmission Test 3 available for $55 or best offer, free shipping. Of no use to me as test kit but it does appear to have good knobs, buttons, binding posts which are desirable for older hp kit, maybe good innards as well.

eBay auction: #
403592921172

Oh what the hell, I'll make an offfer and strip it when it arrives.

Offer of $49 accepted free shipping

Condition: Fix or Parts, Item was Plugged but it does not Power up

 

[vk6zgo]

Just in a case you don't know about them:
https://www.iconoclastcable.com/
Actually engineered cables for quality; beside they're open and detailed about the designs - totally opposite to the audiophoolery.
As bonus, look up Blue Jeans Cable(one of the partners; the other is Belden) vs. Monster cables; fun read.

It says they use silver solder on their RCA cables, but I wonder why bother soldering a high end cable when you can use Canare RCA connectors that are crimped to the cable in the same way a BNC is crimped to avoid the heat affecting the cable, and the extra dissimilar metals.



https://www.canare.co.jp/en/products/connectors/index.php?tid=2_015

Now, if only they would make a crimp type 1/4" mono plug...

I got pissed off with terminating unbalanced audio cable to RCAs, so now, if I need to have such a cable, I use BNC/RCA adaptors & RG58 coax!
It helps that I have a lot of reasonable quality RG58CU-----it is marginally less flexible than audio cable, but has much better shielding, & it is more rugged.
What's not to like?

[tautech]

I thought "Bugger it. Why shouldn't I spend £1,500 on an SA?" So I bought a Siglent.

SSA3021X Plus I hope. 

Speaking of, I managed to get approval from Mrs Wife to buy one of these, as soon as an insurance payout lands in my bank account.

Had a stupid woman PIT maneouver herself on the front of my car a few months back. It was deemed 100% her fault (thank the maker for dashcams!), so just waiting for the lawyer to do his lawyer things and extract the funds from her insurance company.

Will be nice to have, I have a bunch of gear to adjust that needs a SA for which the FFT function on my scopes doesn't quite cut it...

Any plans to coax it into a SVA1032X ?
They're a very cool bit of kit IMO and wouldn't/couldn't be without mine but it's the real McCoy SVA however we do get the chance to get them when released as company demos for damn good pricing.
While that seems a pretty good arrangement and it is, it can swallow a good portion of annual profits too. 

Just quietly bricking about the new SSA5000A SA range that's planned for Q3 release but this puppy will be 12" touch display like the SDS6kA and SNA5kA and 13.6 or 26.5 GHz models ! 
No stinking cheap N connectors on this new puppy ! 

Bank account is groaning as we've coughed up for the 2 GHz scope and the 4.5 GHz 4 port VNA (now 8.5  ) already this year ! 

[Robert763]

Incoming parts today:
80 Intersil ISL95310 ISL95310WIU10Z digital controlled potentiometer (XDCP).
W=10kOhm version.

I've attached the datasheet below.

Planning, to build an LM317 based PSU and do the voltage setting with this.

If somebody is interested in some of them, drop me a PM. Asking 1 Euro per IC plus shipping (isn't that much, those things are tiny. 10-lead MSOP package).

Today arrival: 72 adapter PCBs, one side SOP-10 0.95mm other side MSOP-10 0.5mm:


One PCB with an ISL95310WIU10Z on the MSOP-10 side:


If someone is interested, I'd add an adapter PCB to every ISL95310WIU10Z. Price stays the same.
I'd solder the ISL95310WIU10Z on the adapter as well, if you wish.

I meant to comment on this earlier, but too much "noise"
Are you using this directly on the adjust terminal of he LM317 or is there an op-amp in the loop? If this is directly on the adjust terminal you are limited to less han 15V output due to both the voltage and power ratings of the digital pot. Resolution would be about 0.11V. Not exactly stellar performance.

[BU508A]

Incoming parts today:
80 Intersil ISL95310 ISL95310WIU10Z digital controlled potentiometer (XDCP).
W=10kOhm version.

I've attached the datasheet below.

Planning, to build an LM317 based PSU and do the voltage setting with this.

If somebody is interested in some of them, drop me a PM. Asking 1 Euro per IC plus shipping (isn't that much, those things are tiny. 10-lead MSOP package).

Today arrival: 72 adapter PCBs, one side SOP-10 0.95mm other side MSOP-10 0.5mm:


One PCB with an ISL95310WIU10Z on the MSOP-10 side:


If someone is interested, I'd add an adapter PCB to every ISL95310WIU10Z. Price stays the same.
I'd solder the ISL95310WIU10Z on the adapter as well, if you wish.

I meant to comment on this earlier, but too much "noise"
Are you using this directly on the adjust terminal of he LM317 or is there an opr-am in the loop? If this is directly on the adhust terminl you re imited to lesss han 15V output due to bothe the voltage and power ratings of the digital pot. Resolution would be about 0.11V. Not exactly stellar performance.

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm aware of the limitations but my goal is playing around with the ISL95310WIU10Z and learn what I can do with it.
The 0.1V resolution for the PSU which I have in mind is sufficient, because I want to use it as a power source for portable devices during my Repair Café stakes as a volunteer repair man. The PSU itself would be powered up by an 18V Makita rechargeable battery, so 15V max out is also fine.

[syau]

Another failure photo from the “famous” TE manufacture. It looks like the engineer is doing a 0db calibration on E4419 power meter rather than installing a multimeter 

[BU508A]

Dear TEA fellows,

inspiration has struck me. Now here it comes: the long awaited TEA song about bd139!

If I had an N connector…

If I had an N connector

I'd N connect in the morning
I'd N connect in the evening
All over this land

Original: If I had a hammer, written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays
Modified for bd139 by BU508A, inspired by bd139 and themadhippy

If I had a N-plug

If I had a N-plug
I'd plug in in the morning
I'd plug in in the evening
All over my lab
I'd plug out BNC
I'd plug out Triax
I'd plug out adapters between
My SAs and my sig gens, ah-ah
All over my lab

If I had a cap
I'd blew it up in the morning
I'd blew it up in the evening
All over my lab
I'd blew up RIFAs
I'd blew up tants
I'd blew up all of them
My RIFAs and my tants, ah-ah
All over my lab

If I had a meter
I'd measure in the morning
I'd measure in the evening
All over my lab
I'd measure voltages
I'd measure currents
I'd measure the resistance between
My meters and my scopes, ah-ah
All over my lab

I got a N-plug
And I've got a cap
And I've got a meter to measure
All over my lab
It's the N-Plug of RF
It's the cap of destruction
It's the meter about measure between
My TEA and my pleasure
All over my lab

[grizewald]

Since becoming a fan of the Datron 1071 meters, I was initially quite excited when I saw one pop up in my eBay search list.

Sadly, one look at the unit tells me that it is:

a) Filthy - never a good sign.
b) Broken - the display is not long for this world and the only source for new ones is another meter.



The asking price is six times what it's worth considering how much work and parts will be needed to restore it and the seller isn't using eBay's GSP for shipping, so even if I was mad enough to buy it, I can add 25% to the price straight away. Then have it mistreated and maybe even 'lost' by the local postal service when it gets to Sweden.

Who knows how some of the damage to the upper case was caused, but from experience, probably by having other heavy things dropped on it.

No, just no.

[Zenith]

I don't know how funds are with you, but have you thought of getting a Rigol or Siglent SA, maybe as well as the HP?

I have a few scopes here, Tek, an HP, a 20MHz solid state scope about 30 years old. I have a few valve scopes, most of which work. The one I reach for is the 100MHz Siglent. It's pleasant to use, it's light, it doesn't take up any room, it has a load of features that are useful enough, such as a fairly good frequency counter, which often saves the trouble of firing up a dedicated frequency counter.

Indeed I've considered one, I'd happy pay the price as they're not all that expensive really. I don't think I'd buy one AND the HP though. Perhaps later on I could if I need space. I think I will go the the HP for the price as it'll certainly prove useful for a few projects, where the range is outside of the RF unit I have for my TF2380 at present.

Well this is the Test Equipment Anonymous thread, it should be a bit like AA where we get together and support ourselves in getting out of this terrible addiction.

Consider what I say next as the Devil leading you into temptation.

Having wanted an SA for ages, and looked at Marconi etc and wondering about the problems with them, I was talking to a neighbour who had just blown north of 30 grand on a collectable newish BMW. He was explaining all about it. He washes it and polishes it and drives about 500 miles a year in it. I thought "Bugger it. Why shouldn't I spend £1,500 on an SA?" So I bought a Siglent. I use it for more hours than he uses his BMW and I don't have to wash and wax it all the time. I don't have to tax, insure, have it MOT'd and serviced either.

I might also get a Marconi or an HP, out of curiosity and the urge to acquire.

You can't take your dough when you go.

There's always one of those who puts their car on the pussy pedestal, they need to remember, it's just a car - however, a spectrum analyser on the other hand....

It's not just the BMW, there's also a Honda convertible which lives in an air conditioned garage and rarely sees the light of day. He and his wife have sensible cars which they use. Otherwise he seems like an extremely sensible and based bloke.

What's an SA or two, or three, in comparison to such a strange and expensive addiction?

As you point out, a car is just a thing to drive about in, but a spectrum analyser opens a world of wonder.

[AVGresponding]

From my personal point of view, a car is either a comfortable air-conditioned workhorse, or a fun hoonigan machine. Though the hoon machine needs an oil change so I'm not driving that one until I can be arsed to sort it.



Started preparing the 3468A for rehoming, found the tilting stand, in two parts. Not an issue for me if I was keeping it as I hate them and it's the first thing I remove from a bench meter. Second is the rubber baby buggy bumper if it has one...
Anyway, CA'ed it back together to keep it stable while I GRP it. It's broken at what to even a non-mechanical engineer would realise is the weak point in the design (the corner, which is also the thinnest part     (and which also has a strange internal lip which starts there, and will be a focal point for stress      )), so I'll reinforce the other, non-broken side as well.

Did a quick (30 minutes or so) check against the Keithley 2015 on DCV, DCI, ACV, Ohms, and it seems bang on, easily within 30 counts except on some of the ohms readings, which is most likely my noisy workspace to blame. Forgot the I input/fuseholder was missing so I robbed the 3478A of its one, works fine. I won't need one for the 3478A any time soon, not selling it and it's unused at the moment.

Once the stand is fixed, it just needs a clean and a more careful check of its readings, then it'll be ready for packing up.

[bd139]

If I had a cap
I'd blew it up in the morning
I'd blew it up in the evening
all over my lab
I'd blew up RIFAs
I'd blew up tants
I'd blew up all of them
My RIFAs and my tants, ah-ah
All over my lab

 

[grizewald]

I don't know how funds are with you, but have you thought of getting a Rigol or Siglent SA, maybe as well as the HP?

I have a few scopes here, Tek, an HP, a 20MHz solid state scope about 30 years old. I have a few valve scopes, most of which work. The one I reach for is the 100MHz Siglent. It's pleasant to use, it's light, it doesn't take up any room, it has a load of features that are useful enough, such as a fairly good frequency counter, which often saves the trouble of firing up a dedicated frequency counter.

Indeed I've considered one, I'd happy pay the price as they're not all that expensive really. I don't think I'd buy one AND the HP though. Perhaps later on I could if I need space. I think I will go the the HP for the price as it'll certainly prove useful for a few projects, where the range is outside of the RF unit I have for my TF2380 at present.

Well this is the Test Equipment Anonymous thread, it should be a bit like AA where we get together and support ourselves in getting out of this terrible addiction.

Consider what I say next as the Devil leading you into temptation.

Having wanted an SA for ages, and looked at Marconi etc and wondering about the problems with them, I was talking to a neighbour who had just blown north of 30 grand on a collectable newish BMW. He was explaining all about it. He washes it and polishes it and drives about 500 miles a year in it. I thought "Bugger it. Why shouldn't I spend £1,500 on an SA?" So I bought a Siglent. I use it for more hours than he uses his BMW and I don't have to wash and wax it all the time. I don't have to tax, insure, have it MOT'd and serviced either.

I might also get a Marconi or an HP, out of curiosity and the urge to acquire.

You can't take your dough when you go.

I thought about the same problem for some time. I've always wanted a 'proper' spectrum analyser, but wanted something that will reach to a minimum of 6GHz for investigating 5.8GHz video transmission systems. Even 6GHz is a bit low for that really as you need something that isn't running right at the top of its range.

What I ended up doing was clicking the 'Buy' button very quickly when an HP 8592A appeared on a local auction site with a 'buy it now' price. Bandwidth is 50KHz to 22GHz. The only issue with mine is a slightly dicky front end attenuator which sometimes fails to engage properly on one of the settings, but if I go past it and back a few times, it eventually settles in.
Although the 8592A has some limitations (like a timebase which wanders around like a drunk trying to walk home) which makes it inappropriate for high accuracy frequency measurement, it's not a big deal for my needs. It also only cost around 500 quid in UK prices.

If Siglent or similar made a spectrum analyser which went up to 8GHz without costing more than a new car, I might have bought new, but that kind of bandwidth at any hobbyist price still seems a remote dream.