Author Topic: What was your best purchase in 2023?  (Read 735 times)

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Offline RAPoTopic starter

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What was your best purchase in 2023?
« on: December 31, 2023, 07:05:57 pm »
Mine was a GW Instek GPP-4323 powersupply+ load incl. LAN module
 
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Offline armandine2

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2023, 08:40:02 pm »
... bought for me, so not strictly my purchase

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gikfun-Soldering-Practice-Project-87-108MHz/dp/B0C2T938DW

kit came with a missing AMS1117-3.3V LDO voltage regulator - but that was fun to research/source

... plenty of my own purchases were good, and fairly good quality, but above maybe the best value
« Last Edit: January 07, 2024, 04:46:29 pm by armandine2 »
Funny, the things you have the hardest time parting with are the things you need the least - Bob Dylan
 
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Offline tggzzz

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2023, 08:52:27 pm »
A 1.7GHz scope that can capture 1mV ripple on a 1V step change, for £25. Philips PM3400

A 500inch long calculator.

An HP RF power meter including thermistor power sensor, for £20.

Differential voltmeter, 4-5 digit, 1000V, infinite resistance, for £20. Fluke 893.

A 2-4GHz and a 8-12GHz Gunn diode signal source, £5 each.

Plus miscellaneous components.
There are lies, damned lies, statistics - and ADC/DAC specs.
Glider pilot's aphorism: "there is no substitute for span". Retort: "There is a substitute: skill+imagination. But you can buy span".
Having fun doing more, with less
 
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Offline fourtytwo42

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2023, 08:54:47 pm »
Probably my TPlink MR600 4G router, apart from being brilliant and having all the features I  wanted it has finally released me from the pain of dealing with a Telco (BT) copper landline that has never worked properly and they have no intention of fixing together with the non-availability of true fiber to the home (they offer the other joke stuff over copper & it also doesn't work!!). Now instead of being constrained to a ridiculously slow internet that required a modem reboot several times a week I have something usable that just stay's up......period :) I know I could have spent more money on something more sophisticated (but I only have 4G coverage) but this is a toe in the water for me of broadband over radio.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2023, 08:56:37 pm by fourtytwo42 »
 
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Offline Gyro

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2023, 09:04:42 pm »
Should I be worried that I can't remember that far back?  :scared:
Best Regards, Chris
 
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Offline joeqsmith

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2023, 09:23:45 pm »
Best, I think the wife's new car.  Hers was getting on in years and miles.  It has more high tech gadgets than my lab.   
 
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Offline trilerian

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2023, 09:28:16 pm »
I've made so many purchases this year...  But, probably the best is the MiniPro Dyno for RC motors.  Why do you ask?  Because the inaccuracies of the sensors and programming led me down the rabbit hole of trying to improve upon it and opened up this world of EE for me. Now it is a full blown second (maybe 10th) hobby and a struggling small business, lol.  But I don't regret a second as of yet!
 
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Online coppercone2

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2023, 09:41:28 pm »
spare parts to repair 2022 purchases like impedance analyzer, tig welder, waveguide, so forth

also kitchenaid food processor attachment that actually makes good pizza toppings etc

these project don't go well yearly you need a longer review period. it take about over a year to get box -> fix box

this kind of planning relating to planet orbits and wind patterns is not applicable to electronics

i think for now the martian calander might be appropriate.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2023, 09:50:00 pm by coppercone2 »
 
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Offline Veteran68

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2023, 09:44:33 pm »
I'll assume we're talking about electronics-related purchases.

Too many for me to remember them all, but for me the best deal would be a tossup between a new-in-box Siglent SDM3065X for $530 shipped, and the BF deal on the Rigol DHO1074 for $565 (now upgraded to the $1850 MSRP equivalent).

 
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Offline Smokey

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2023, 09:47:07 pm »
Best = Keithley 2700
Runner ups = LiteVNA64 and TinySA-Ultra.

ps... If anyone knows where to get an old installer for Keithley Kickstart from before they started charging a ton per-instrument I would really appreciate a link :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 2023, 10:36:52 pm by Smokey »
 
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Offline EPAIII

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Re: What was your best purchase in 2023?
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2024, 11:15:54 am »
My best '23 purchase was my Brymen BM869 0.02% multimeter. I have well over a dozen meters, but this is by far my best and most accurate. I really like it.

I also purchased three used Simpson 260s and a number of good quality test leads for them. I am refurbishing them.

The Brymen came with really good test leads.
Paul A.  -   SE Texas
And if you look REAL close at an analog signal,
You will find that it has discrete steps.
 
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