Author Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread (Read 14808138 times)

0culus · « **Reply #23975 on:** January 30, 2019, 06:27:38 pm »

Arrived today, HP 10855A 2-1300 MHz preamp. Runs on the 8568B probe power port and provides somewhere between 22-24 dB gain. Wayyy better noise floor characteristics than the Chinese LNA I was using before.

Specmaster · « **Reply #23976 on:** January 30, 2019, 06:32:34 pm »

@mnem, take a look at the Citizen range of dress watches and you'll see that they are really slim and in Titanium cases are also extremely lightweight and with eco drive never need another battery or at least not until something goes wrong with them.

mnementh · « **Reply #23977 on:** January 30, 2019, 07:02:24 pm »

I have a dress watch. The Command is just a little larger than I like; but it's okay as it reminds me to take it off when I get home from going out. And I can read it with my fucked-up old eyes.

I've owned several Citizen watches in stainless and titanium. They didn't hold up as daily wear for me, and too expensive to treat as disposable tech. I don't mind stainless as long as the watch isn't huge, it's still light enough.

I still have a search on fleaBay for NOS Fossil Steel series watches from the vintage I like; I buy one every once in a while.

I'm using the activity tracker in the MisFits for their intended purpose; to make sure I do minimum activity to up my metabolism. This is important.

mnem
*Back to the salt mines*

med6753 · « **Reply #23978 on:** January 30, 2019, 07:37:58 pm »

OK, some initial testing. More advanced testing later with the Heath IG-4244 Scope Calibrator.

First up. The 7A16A. Tiny bit of attenuator switch deck noise. That's to be expected. Will clean up fine. Thumbs up!

Next up. The 7A18A. This guy is solid! Thumbs up!

Last one. The 7A26A. Both Vertical position pots extremely noisy. No biggie. It will clean up. Thumbs up!

This guy is 200MHz B/W which exceeds the 100MHz B/W of the scope. And all these 'A' version plug ins have read out capability but the scope doesn't. But as shown does not affect their operation.

I feel like a kid in a candy store right now.

Specmaster · « **Reply #23979 on:** January 30, 2019, 07:51:44 pm »

Nice one there med

0culus · « **Reply #23980 on:** January 30, 2019, 08:02:38 pm »

VERY nice!

med6753 · « **Reply #23981 on:** January 30, 2019, 08:12:58 pm »

I guess I'm obligated to show some pron. Here's the 7A26A bare naked. The vertical position pots are sealed but I slathered them with Deoxit anyway where the plastic and metal meet. It worked. They are rock steady now and nice and smooth.

0culus · « **Reply #23982 on:** January 30, 2019, 08:15:31 pm »

Giggity!

Inverted18650 · « **Reply #23983 on:** January 30, 2019, 08:47:08 pm »

I am happy they all work as they should, Merry Belated Christmas!

Next time (after I save up a little more $$) I will send you the TEK 7704A to play with too. Glad your having fun brotha.

Wolfgang · « **Reply #23984 on:** January 30, 2019, 08:47:38 pm »

The 7A26 has about 40 trimmable elements if I counted correctly. Its old-age handcrafted stuff at its best.

med6753 · « **Reply #23985 on:** January 30, 2019, 08:53:42 pm »

Quote from: Inverted18650 on January 30, 2019, 08:47:08 pm

I am happy they all work as they should, Merry Belated Christmas!

Next time (after I save up a little more $$) I will send you the TEK 7704A to play with too. Glad your having fun brotha.

Hey, I'll gladly pay the shipping. Let me know how much.

Inverted18650 · « **Reply #23986 on:** January 30, 2019, 09:21:09 pm »

Quote from: med6753 on January 30, 2019, 08:53:42 pm

Quote from: Inverted18650 on January 30, 2019, 08:47:08 pm
I am happy they all work as they should, Merry Belated Christmas!

Next time (after I save up a little more $$) I will send you the TEK 7704A to play with too. Glad your having fun brotha.

Hey, I'll gladly pay the shipping. Let me know how much.

If your serious, I will get a quote tomorrow from USPS, FEDEx, & UPS for you..Ill PM you.

0culus · « **Reply #23987 on:** January 30, 2019, 09:24:13 pm »

Inverted, is that Bird gear you have listed to sell down forum still available? I am very interested but I don't think I can swing the $$ just yet since I just got finished buying the 8568B stuff.

Inverted18650 · « **Reply #23988 on:** January 30, 2019, 09:29:06 pm »

@ Oculus: Most of it is, I have been putting items up in the "list" people requested on the sales thread. Theres still a lot of the BIRD stuff here.

Also got my 332B & 335D today. Quick check of the 332B shows the unit to be very close to in spec, but I will need to change all the old caps. I was amazed, now time to clean it up and check the transformer outputs.

0culus · « **Reply #23989 on:** January 30, 2019, 09:38:28 pm »

Quote from: Inverted18650 on January 30, 2019, 09:29:06 pm

@ Oculus: Most of it is, I have been putting items up in the "list" people requested on the sales thread. Theres still a lot of the BIRD stuff here.

Also got my 332B & 335D today. Quick check of the 332B shows the unit to be very close to in spec, but I will need to change all the old caps. I was amazed, now time to clean it up and check the transformer outputs.

OK. I need a bit of time to recover from the 8568B purchase, but if you could hold onto that stuff for me till I'd appreciate it! Am VERY serious about wanting it. I been looking for bird wattmeters and accessories for my shack on fleabay but there's not a ton of it listed that I could find and people want really ridiculous prices for the stuff that is.

Inverted18650 · « **Reply #23990 on:** January 30, 2019, 09:40:10 pm »

Will do brotha. Its yours

0culus · « **Reply #23991 on:** January 30, 2019, 10:19:27 pm »

Quote from: Inverted18650 on January 30, 2019, 09:40:10 pm

Will do brotha. Its yours

Awesome! Thanks!

UPS man brought me a couple of new things. Not exactly test equipment, but definitely for the lab. A set of insulated screwdrivers that are allegedly good to 1000V. Probably going to avoid testing that though.

Also a copy of Bowick's RF circuit design book (not pictured).

bd139 · « **Reply #23992 on:** January 30, 2019, 10:21:26 pm »

Big fan of Wera drivers and Bowick here

0culus · « **Reply #23993 on:** January 30, 2019, 10:23:48 pm »

They feel great in the hand! Friday I should be getting another set (not insulated) that has some pozidriv in it, which I desperately need before I really start tearing into that 8568B RF section I'm working on. HP loved pozidriv.

Inverted18650 · « **Reply #23994 on:** January 30, 2019, 10:39:23 pm »

Thats what I lack, I need a nice set of EE screwdrivers. We should ask Dave to do a video testing the ratings of these things, be a fun experiment.

bd139 · « **Reply #23995 on:** January 30, 2019, 10:45:26 pm »

Indeed. I lacked some for years and it was a major handicap. I had some cheap ones and they were all knackered in days. Total waste of money.

Fortunately a bit of luck turned up and I was working in a long contract ending two years ago and I got given some happy birthday Amazon e-vouchers for £50 a go once a year. Figured I'd blast them on something before SWMNLBO spent them on some old shit so I bought myself a nice roll of Wera Kompact drivers two years in a row. Literally the best purchase ever other than lighting. Lighting and screwdrivers make everything good. I got the "Kompact" sets because I was doing a lot of work in datacentres at the time. Plus the bits can be stuck in my drill/electric screwdriver and used that way.

I've added a big ass flat blade and a 1/4" nut spinner and this has got me into everything test gear related (and more!) so far

Also got a box of sockets but that's in the car at the moment. Really should bring them in incase some pikey sod nicks them.

Edit: also buy Wera stuff on Amazon. It dumps in price occasionally. Both those sets were less than £30 a go.

med6753 · « **Reply #23996 on:** January 30, 2019, 11:00:12 pm »

Quote from: Inverted18650 on January 30, 2019, 09:21:09 pm

Quote from: med6753 on January 30, 2019, 08:53:42 pm
Quote from: Inverted18650 on January 30, 2019, 08:47:08 pm
I am happy they all work as they should, Merry Belated Christmas!

Next time (after I save up a little more $$) I will send you the TEK 7704A to play with too. Glad your having fun brotha.

Hey, I'll gladly pay the shipping. Let me know how much.

If your serious, I will get a quote tomorrow from USPS, FEDEx, & UPS for you..Ill PM you.

I am serious. You have been more than generous and I thank you again. Let me know how much to ship and I'll send you a PO money order. I saved your address.

Inverted18650 · « **Reply #23997 on:** January 30, 2019, 11:09:42 pm »

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/511BDE4A-D789-4E97-B8F5-C572AACF87E7?store_ref=SB_A03634983KJYX21TWYMXY&pf_rd_p=3ff6092e-8451-438b-8278-7e94064b4d42&hsa_cr_id=4593493140901&lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&lp_asins=B00SZ66CSA,B000T9UG60,B01GLQIZU8&lp_mat_key=insulated%20screwdrivers%20set&lp_query=wera&sb-ci-n=shopNow

Man, o man! I gotta stop spending money.

0culus · « **Reply #23998 on:** January 30, 2019, 11:13:20 pm »

Now I see more tools that I need.

https://www.amazon.com/Wiha-32085-Insulated-Slotted-Phillips/dp/B00SZ66CSA

bd139 · « **Reply #23999 on:** January 30, 2019, 11:13:54 pm »

I didn't like the Wiha ones (I stole off someone and gave back). Not enough torque on the handles.


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Author Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread (Read 14808138 times)

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