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Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
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Robert763:

--- Quote from: med6753 on July 14, 2022, 07:53:57 pm ---
--- Quote from: Specmaster on July 14, 2022, 07:31:01 pm ---
--- Quote from: med6753 on July 14, 2022, 06:10:20 pm ---
--- Quote from: factory on July 14, 2022, 05:41:34 pm ---
--- Quote from: Robert763 on July 14, 2022, 11:07:21 am ---TEA

Anyone in UK @BD139 want a thermal TRMS meter?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403774543294

--- End quote ---

--- Quote from: bd139 on July 14, 2022, 11:11:20 am ---Already seen it. At that price, no  :-DD

I am after a decent 3400A but the other seller who had one didn’t want to shift it at the price I wanted to pay. I can afford to wait

--- End quote ---

Much prefer this one, but the seller didn't respond last year, when I enquired about shipping a counter, so no point asking again. https://www.ebay.de/itm/225070026339

 I do have a 3403A bought from the USA, condition is not quite as nice, not helped by crap packing.

Not having much luck ATM, trying to persuade US sellers to add international shipping either.  :-//
One such example, seller name "globalmachinesales" they are not interested in "global" as only US shipping is advertised and definitely not interested in "sales" as they can't be bothered answering either of the two messages I sent.  :-DD

David

--- End quote ---

If you keep running into these asshole sellers who won't deal internationally and it's something you really want I'd be willing to help out on a one by one basis. I've pretty much figured out the customs quagmire and dealing with USPS and their requirements. But just note that it can get expensive.     

--- End quote ---
Can't quite figure out their reluctance on international. If they use the GSP programme, all the customs declarations etc they handle for you, from a sellers point of view, it's a no-brainer as it opens up a huge potential customer base to them at zero cost.  :palm:

--- End quote ---

I wouldn't bet on it. While USPS may be the slowest, and possibly most expensive, at least if the paperwork is correct it goes without any additional hassle. But keep in mind that if the receiver's customs decides to add import duty or VAT that is totally out of my control.

--- End quote ---

The trouble with not using GSP is you have no control over the destination country mail handler but you are responsible. I've used Royal Mail for Europe and the in-county hander was some local hermes like company not the national postal service. They lost the package and whil I got the money back it took months and I had an unhappy customer.
I'd stopped shipping to Italy because of the loss rate. With GSP I don't care if it is lost abroad.
factory:

--- Quote from: Cubdriver on July 13, 2022, 08:09:59 pm ---I'm not sure where this thing lived, but it had white fuzz on the display connector insulator, and the pins had a uniform coating of non-conductive nastiness on them.  Traces on the display look rather discolored, too, like it was in some sort of unpleasant atmosphere.  The rest doesn't look too bad, though, so who knows?


I removed the white fuzz with a gentle brushing using an old toothbrush, then cleaned the exposed pins with a DeOxit-soaked piece of green Scotchbrite:


-Pat

--- End quote ---

I've seen that same white fuzz growing on plastic connectors from Termate, on train parts at work.

David
Robert763:

--- Quote from: Kosmic on July 14, 2022, 09:15:18 pm ---
--- Quote from: Robert763 on July 14, 2022, 09:11:45 pm ---
--- Quote from: Specmaster on July 14, 2022, 07:45:59 pm ---
--- Quote from: mnementh on July 14, 2022, 07:36:57 pm ---Except when the carrier fucks you, as you well know. ;) I'd guess that regular sellers already have their own similar horror stories...

mnem
:o

--- End quote ---
True, but that can happen and does happen on pure domestic sales as well. Overall I'm still well up on sales and strangely enough, I do sell loads on the GSP and so does my eldest son now, in fact he reckons, since I convinced him, that he sells more via the GSP programme than he does domestically.

--- End quote ---

I've done a fair bit on GSP recently and it's fairly painless as a seller. Once it gets to the GSP depot that is the end of your shipping responsibility.
I've no idea how much they stiff the buyers for in shipping, taxes and fees though....

--- End quote ---

Shipping end up a bit more expensive but taxes are normally cheaper with GSP. Not sure how they manage that.

--- End quote ---

Using correct tariff numbers and as a regular shipper having them accepted without question is one possibility.
I always try to put the correct tariff code on items. A lot of TE is actually low or zero duty. Ir you just put "electronic equipment it will likely attract consumer luxury goods duty. It's easy now you can look them up on-line. Years ago I had to go to the reference libary and look them up in a book.
The problem with GSP from the USA on TE is they seem to put unrealistic sizes or weights in the listing which results in excessively high shipping costs. It just being lazy. Some sellers ill go back and put proper vales in if you ask, but most can't be bothered.
duckduck:
New acquisition:

Wilson WFC-500-E frequency counter

Something else for my new interest in radio. I snagged it for USD35 off of Craigslist. It came with the manual which includes a block diagram, description of operating principles, schematic, and parts list. I see ICs inside the unit with date codes from '76. It says "Made in Japan" on the back. The unit has a TOYOCOM-branded TCXO in it. This model is supposed to be good for 7-8 digits, but the last three digits (see picture from the manual) are either nonsense or my AWG is off from the frequency counter.

The BNC on the back of the unit outputs 1 MHz (even when the unit is switched "off"). The standby light turns on to show that the TCXO is still powered.

The power plug is not one that I have seen before. The seller said that there were different power cords available for Europe or Japan that used a different set of pins on the back of the unit that run to different taps on the power transformer. The power cord and power entry module show that there is an alternate universe where it's OK to plug any device you have into 100V, 120V or 240V and it will just work (if it supports that voltage) and no worries about blowing stuff up and little switches and jumpers to fuss with. I realize that's impractical for various reasons, but it could have been cool.

I also ordered a bunch of adapters from and to SMA, N connector, BNC, and UHF. Also a dummy load, a cheap SWR meter, and an attenuator. Next I've got to get me some nice coax with N connectors to wire everything together and test my knowledge of Watts, dB, Ohm's law, and equipment input maximum levels...  :-BROKE

Wilson Electronics is still around, but they are now making cell boosters and 5G repeaters. I think they moved their HQ from Las Vegas, Nevada to somewhere in Utah.

EDIT:

https://www.wilsonelectronics.com/about-us

EDIT EDIT:

N.B.: bd139's comments a few posts down: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/msg4300207/#msg4300207
Robert763:

--- Quote from: factory on July 14, 2022, 09:24:33 pm ---
--- Quote from: Cubdriver on July 13, 2022, 08:09:59 pm ---I'm not sure where this thing lived, but it had white fuzz on the display connector insulator, and the pins had a uniform coating of non-conductive nastiness on them.  Traces on the display look rather discolored, too, like it was in some sort of unpleasant atmosphere.  The rest doesn't look too bad, though, so who knows?


I removed the white fuzz with a gentle brushing using an old toothbrush, then cleaned the exposed pins with a DeOxit-soaked piece of green Scotchbrite:


-Pat

--- End quote ---

I've seen that same white fuzz growing on plastic connectors from Termate, on train parts at work.

David

--- End quote ---

I've seen fine white wisker like crystals growing on the surface of some plastic mouldings. Particuarly mains rated items. Often on new old stock parts. I've always assumed it was plasticiser or flame retardant additives leaching out and crystalizing.
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