Recent Posts

1

Test Equipment / Re: JunTek PSG9080 Programmable Signal Generator (80 MHz - 300 MSa/s - 14-bit)

« Last post by eTobey on Today at 05:31:57 pm »

I've seen a lot worse, and on significantly more expensive equipment.

On which one and what there was worse?

2

Test Equipment / Re: Choosing between entry-level 12-bit DSOs

« Last post by Mechatrommer on Today at 05:31:50 pm »

For the screenshot below, a 1.6 Vpp signal has been used, i.e. it fills the screen height at lower frequencies such as 100 MHz.

from the screenshot, 0.2Vpp, so its 8X multiplication factor, ok i'm wrong. and i'm glad to know i'm wrong

It sounds a little bit comical indeed when a 200 MHz instrument is demanded to “see” a 500 MHz signal.

No, not really
But I'm still wondering how 490 MHz @1GSa/s and 10ns/div look like?

asking Sr / 2.04 maybe too much. i would say 450MHz (Sr / 2.22)

btw i'm with shapirus. at 2GSps single channel, there probably some 800MHz signal can be seen? at much higher multiplication factor, or probably its front end hackable, but that will be hardcore hack for anyone who seriously in need for it without spending 10K money.. since i already own a 2nd hand lecroy real scope, i'm not the one who need it, but if i want to waste some more money on entry level scope, i'll get sds800x, as i already stated many weeks  ago... cheers.

3

Repair / Krell phone stage - just in time

« Last post by cncjerry on Today at 05:31:44 pm »

I've had this Krell KPE powered on for 28yrs continuously.  I was cleaning around the phono and lifted the lid on the phono preamp stage and found this mess.  I'm surprised it was still working!  Also surprised the brown caps in the power supply stage are fine (will be replaced anyway) and these Spragues are all exploding and leaking.

I ordered vishay beyschlag/draloric/bc caps from Digikey.  I was just going to replace them with Spragues but you can't get the 30D types for a reasonable cost.  People are trying to sell them for $20 per.

Jerry

4

PCB/EDA/CAD / Re: JLCPCB alters soldermask without any notice

« Last post by Smokey on Today at 05:26:48 pm »

Layer Markers:
One thing I do is below the actual board layout, I add text with the layer name on the actual layer.
So "TOP COPPER" is actually text on the top copper layer.  Do that for all layers in a neat grid.  "TOP PASTE", "TOP MASK", etc.

This marks each layer with what that layer is right on the gerbers.  As long as it's outside the board outline, they will just cut all that off when they make the boards (like FAB notes and title block and all the other stuff they just cut out).

No more guessing what layer does what.

About the paste layer:
One thing to be careful of is that JLCPCB will make a paste stencil using whatever you give them on your paste layer.  So if you don't have your apertures right, they won't fix it for you.  This is a bit of a shock, especially if you only have outsourced stencils to assembly CMs previously.

5

Test Equipment / Re: Magnova oscilloscope

« Last post by Martin72 on Today at 05:26:08 pm »

That's right, that's what it says.
But what would be abnormal operation...

6

Computers / Re: Format a 256GB pendrive with FAT32 using a windows 10 pc

« Last post by Karel on Today at 05:22:23 pm »

Thank you everybody for the advice but Linux has already saved the day (and not for the first time).

I'm just puzzled why people sometimes say that windows is so easy to use for non-technical people.
Windows users are supposed to search around for random tools and click on some download link in order
to solve a problem? Or they need to go to a forum for assistance in order not to download and install some malware?
Or they need to start cmd.exe or powershell and enter some cryptic command?

7

Test Equipment / Re: SDS800X HD Wanted Features

« Last post by eTobey on Today at 05:22:08 pm »

Hopefully Siglent will have limited BW and only listen to the very few knowledgable folks, which we know who they are!!

I hope that not more bugs can be found as there were to be fixed after the new release. There obviously was some deficit in the past ...

8

General Technical Chat / Re: H5N1 bird flu and how we're risking another global pandemic

« Last post by AVGresponding on Today at 05:21:38 pm »

History has shown world-wide pandemics occur about once every 100 years so you are safe.

That's a risky assumption; because A, always A. Living in the universe is inherently unsafe, probably best not to dwell on it too much, but take sensible precautions (wash your hands before eating, after using public transport etc)

9

Buy/Sell/Wanted / Re: FS (EU/US) PHV 1000 100:1 400MHz High Voltage Oscilloscope Probe

« Last post by HighVoltage on Today at 05:17:52 pm »

I am surprised they can ask so much for a 100:1 probe.

But then, all prices have increased like crazy.
Not long ago, we could buy a real high voltage probe for that amount.

10

Test Equipment / Re: SDS800X HD Wanted Features

« Last post by ebastler on Today at 05:16:04 pm »

I really hope that nobody actually believes that the Siglent development team will sit down, leave everything else behind and work through the lists.
For a device with a starting price of 359€....

As you said, it's a list of suggestions. I don't think anyone expects Siglent to implement more than a few hand-picked ones. Given their software platform strategy, I would hope that they do pick a few UI improvements which are beneficial across the whole touch-screen scope range -- so the effort would not need to be justified through SDS800X HD sales alone.