A rant at bad questions

[Lightages]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment and was looking at many. Which is best?

This is almost not a joke. I can't count how many times questions this vague and open come up. C'mon people, ask a question that can be answered!!!!! 

[PedroDaGr8]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment and was looking at many. Which is best?

This is almost not a joke. I can't count how many times questions this vague and open come up. C'mon people, ask a question that can be answered!!!!! 

Response:
I would like to make money and have many for sell. Which would you like to buy?

[German_EE]

The problem is that inexperience means that some people do not ask the right question. A beginner looking for a multimeter will see hundreds of choices so they ask 'what multimeter should I buy'. It's our job to educate them about CAT ratings, maximum counts and the perils of cheap stuff made in China.

Now expand this problem out to the myriad of other subjects, we could be busy.

The websites have guides on what equipment to buy (TRX Bench has a good one on SMD soldering right now) so we could start by steering them in the right direction. The knowledge is out there, just well hidden.

[Balaur]

C'mon people, ask a question that can be answered!!!!! 

Well, I have this thing I bought on eBay, but it's not working. I'm sure it's something easy though, as the seller said it's like new. Maybe it's just a broken wire or something. Please help me.

PS: This question is for experts only. Anybody else please abstain.

[PA0PBZ]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment and was looking at many. Which is best?

1. What do you want to do with it.
2. What else have you got.
3. What do you want to spend.

It's a jungle out there, give them some guidance...

[lukewproffitt]

Well, I have this thing I bought on eBay, but it's not working. I'm sure it's something easy though, as the seller said it's like new. Maybe it's just a broken wire or something. Please help me.

PS: This question is for experts only. Anybody else please abstain.

Have you tried recalibrating the primary field stator to the inverse frequency of the phase shift oscillator? If so, you may also need to invert the polarity of the secondary induction coils and increase the frequency to compensate for quantum helix drift.

[Lightages]

wilfred:

I understand what you are saying, but the joke question I posed is really not far from reality. I do not expect everyone to think like me. That would be boring. I do expect people to ask a question with at least some information. Just asking a cold question like "I want to buy a multimeter, what is best for me?" and they provide absolutely nothing else........

I have provided information over and over and over about the same subjects and have spent a lot of time trying to help educate those who are new to a subject. It just gets tiring to have to ask over and over and over what the questioner thinks he wants and what he wants to do with whatever item he wants to purchase.

My rant is clear and to the point. A rant by definition is not a rational expression and I was just getting it off my chest. Don't try to over analyze a rant... 

Now that I have gotten it off my chest, I will continue to help where I can, even if the question isn't clear.

[crispy_tofu]

Hi, I would like to know which components to solder into the holes.

[Stonent]

Kindly give the answer. I will do the needful.

[cimmo]

Hi, I would like to know which components to solder into the holes.

A CPU!   

[Skimask]

Have you tried recalibrating the primary field stator to the inverse frequency of the phase shift oscillator? If so, you may also need to invert the polarity of the secondary induction coils and increase the frequency to compensate for quantum helix drift.

Inverting the polarity of the secondary induction coils is only necessary if the phase detractors have evidence of increased side fumbling.

[pickle9000]

I usually reply: "Is it a hamster?"

[lukewproffitt]

Have you tried recalibrating the primary field stator to the inverse frequency of the phase shift oscillator? If so, you may also need to invert the polarity of the secondary induction coils and increase the frequency to compensate for quantum helix drift.

Inverting the polarity of the secondary induction coils is only necessary if the phase detractors have evidence of increased side fumbling.

What about the effects on the reciprocating dinkle-arm? Surely that gives an offset to the deractive capacitance.

[wiss]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment and was looking at many. Which is best?

This is almost not a joke. I can't count how many times questions this vague and open come up. C'mon people, ask a question that can be answered!!!!! 

Hey! That's my attitude when I browse ebay! 

[bitslice]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment and was looking at many. Which is best?

This is the exact same person who sells electronics equipment on eBay

"I'm selling this thing, I am unable to plug it in even though I have a box full of the required mains leads,
I also have a £2,000 oscilloscope, but I'm unable to connect a paperclip from the test point to the input to show it working.
If it helps I have a blurred picture of the front taken from 20 feet away, just in case you wanted to know the model number"

 

[ivan747]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment clothing and was looking at many. Which is best?

Adapted it for shopping women  .

Solution? Get a lot of them. In the end you're taking practically nothing into consideration, so just do what women do when shopping and grab the things you like. Not that it's bad, it's just the way women like to shop You might end up only using one or two, but at least test gear can be sold.

[Stonent]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment and was looking at many. Which is best?

This is the exact same person who sells electronics equipment on eBay

"I'm selling this thing, I am unable to plug it in even though I have a box full of the required mains leads,
I also have a £2,000 oscilloscope, but I'm unable to connect a paperclip from the test point to the input to show it working.
If it helps I have a blurred picture of the front taken from 20 feet away, just in case you wanted to know the model number"

 

 

[matts-uk]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment and was looking at many. Which is best?

In my experience, five is the optimal many.  However, if you would like to buy a piece a test equipment, may I recommend you look at a piece of test equipment.

C'mon people, ask a question that can be answered!!!!! 

How many exclamation marks is enough (!)

[Delta]

my personal favourite is people who don't bother setting a location on their profile, nor state it in their post asking "where's the best place to buy xxxxx".

[Neilm]

C'mon people, ask a question that can be answered!!!!! 

How many exclamation marks is enough (!)

"Multiple exclamation marks are the sign of a diseased mind" - T Pratchett

[Deathwish]

I would like to buy a piece of test equipment and was looking at many. Which is best?

This is almost not a joke. I can't count how many times questions this vague and open come up. C'mon people, ask a question that can be answered!!!!! 

Hmm, well is it bad form to ask if being morally bankrupt is in itself morally bankrupt or is it morally bankrupt to be morally bankrupt in one persons mind but not anothers, or are we in fact morally bankrupt to even ask the question in itself. 

[Cubdriver]

my personal favourite is people who don't bother setting a location on their profile, nor state it in their post asking "where's the best place to buy xxxxx".

Well, if they don't want to be specific and helpful in their quest, be equally helpful by telling them where the best place to buy it in YOUR corner of the world is.  You'll have answered the question as it was asked...   

-Pat

[Lightages]

C'mon people, ask a question that can be answered!!!!! 

How many exclamation marks is enough (!)

"Multiple exclamation marks are the sign of a diseased mind" - T Pratchett

Diseased? No. Ranting mind? Yes!

[tom66]

"I'm selling this thing, I am unable to plug it in even though I have a box full of the required mains leads,
I also have a £2,000 oscilloscope, but I'm unable to connect a paperclip from the test point to the input to show it working.
If it helps I have a blurred picture of the front taken from 20 feet away, just in case you wanted to know the model number"

More like, I know it's faulty but I hope some poor sod takes a risk and I'll get more for it that way.

[KJDS]

"I'm selling this thing, I am unable to plug it in even though I have a box full of the required mains leads,
I also have a £2,000 oscilloscope, but I'm unable to connect a paperclip from the test point to the input to show it working.
If it helps I have a blurred picture of the front taken from 20 feet away, just in case you wanted to know the model number"

More like, I know it's faulty but I hope some poor sod takes a risk and I'll get more for it that way.

I was recently looking at HP VNAs on ebay, found one listed as used even though the screen was showing an error that indicated it had exactly the same fault as mine had. So I asked the seller to clarify and he assured me that it was working perfectly, but wouldn't put a fresh picture up of it working.