Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[0culus]

Received a pair of Tek P6008 probes. These were the probes that would have come in the box with the Type 82 plugin when it was new. Unfortunately, one of them won't compensate right.  Downloaded the manual to try to see if this is something that can be repaired. In either case, I may be demanding a partial refund from the seller.

[med6753]

Received a pair of Tek P6008 probes. These were the probes that would have come in the box with the Type 82 plugin when it was new. Unfortunately, one of them won't compensate right.  Downloaded the manual to try to see if this is something that can be repaired. In either case, I may be demanding a partial refund from the seller.

Did you try the probe on both channels?

[0culus]

Received a pair of Tek P6008 probes. These were the probes that would have come in the box with the Type 82 plugin when it was new. Unfortunately, one of them won't compensate right.  Downloaded the manual to try to see if this is something that can be repaired. In either case, I may be demanding a partial refund from the seller.

Did you try the probe on both channels?

Yep--the problem travels with the probe.

[med6753]

Oh goodie....fun times tomorrow.

[Specmaster]

Question for all of you. What common object, other than a ruler, would one use for scale in a photograph that is universal? Yeah, a ruler works but it doesn't have that same visceral feel that, say, a box of matches does.

For the Brits, a standard box of matches would work, but the "standard box of matches" varies in size around the world. A packet of Gitanes is the same size the world over but most people don't have a pack of French Cancer Sticks to hand. A bunch of keys? Pretty universal but you don't really want to embed the key profile of your front door key in a photo for publication. I've been over a few other things in my mind and discounted all of them as not universal enough. Pencil? The ubiquitous Bic? Too long and thin. Cups and cutlery are too variable in size.

I finally hit on a standard pack of playing cards. Right kind of scale, the same size all over the world, something that fits in the hand.

So, can anyone else think of a common household object that is truly universal worldwide, and that fits the bill better than a pack of cards? Thoughts? Something obvious that I've missed?

- Giro card or similar magnet/chip combination card /only minuscule size differences possible due to international usage in ATMs)

- 4mm plug

- razor blade

- 3.5" disk

- CD case

All good ideas

[Cerebus]

Question for all of you. What common object, other than a ruler, would one use for scale in a photograph that is universal? Yeah, a ruler works but it doesn't have that same visceral feel that, say, a box of matches does.

For the Brits, a standard box of matches would work, but the "standard box of matches" varies in size around the world. A packet of Gitanes is the same size the world over but most people don't have a pack of French Cancer Sticks to hand. A bunch of keys? Pretty universal but you don't really want to embed the key profile of your front door key in a photo for publication. I've been over a few other things in my mind and discounted all of them as not universal enough. Pencil? The ubiquitous Bic? Too long and thin. Cups and cutlery are too variable in size.

I finally hit on a standard pack of playing cards. Right kind of scale, the same size all over the world, something that fits in the hand.

So, can anyone else think of a common household object that is truly universal worldwide, and that fits the bill better than a pack of cards? Thoughts? Something obvious that I've missed?

- Giro card or similar magnet/chip combination card /only minuscule size differences possible due to international usage in ATMs)

- 4mm plug

- razor blade

- 3.5" disk

- CD case

3.5" disk? What's one of those grandpappy? 

[tautech]

3.5" disk? What's one of those grandpappy? 

I'll raise you a 5" one ! 

[Cerebus]

I've probably got an 8" floppy tucked away somewhere for old time's sake, rather like I have a few 80 col. cards.

[nixiefreqq]

Question for all of you. What common object, other than a ruler, would one use for scale in a photograph that is universal? Yeah, a ruler works but it doesn't have that same visceral feel that, say, a box of matches does.

For the Brits, a standard box of matches would work, but the "standard box of matches" varies in size around the world. A packet of Gitanes is the same size the world over but most people don't have a pack of French Cancer Sticks to hand. A bunch of keys? Pretty universal but you don't really want to embed the key profile of your front door key in a photo for publication. I've been over a few other things in my mind and discounted all of them as not universal enough. Pencil? The ubiquitous Bic? Too long and thin. Cups and cutlery are too variable in size.

I finally hit on a standard pack of playing cards. Right kind of scale, the same size all over the world, something that fits in the hand.

So, can anyone else think of a common household object that is truly universal worldwide, and that fits the bill better than a pack of cards? Thoughts? Something obvious that I've missed?

- Giro card or similar magnet/chip combination card /only minuscule size differences possible due to international usage in ATMs)

- 4mm plug

- razor blade

- 3.5" disk

- CD case

All good ideas

how 'bout a TI35?

they must have sold billions of them world wide.  (every schoolboy had and lost a couple.)

around here you can't open a drawer, broom closet, or old shoe box without finding at least one. 

in fact, they keep dropping into every picture despite my attempts to crop them out. 

[tautech]

I've probably got an 8" floppy tucked away somewhere for old time's sake, rather like I have a few 80 col. cards.

At your/our age now you're just showing off ! 
Anyways I call BS.

No we don't want a pic !

[xrunner]

I've probably got an 8" floppy tucked away somewhere for old time's sake, rather like I have a few 80 col. cards.

I still have mine from university. I learned PDP-11 assembly and that's where my programs are!

 

Can't get to them any longer but I have the printouts. 

[bitseeker]

Don't know what is worst:

1) Stickers
2) Permanet Marker
3) Nicotine layer
4) White plastic going yellowish
5) Scratches on display

First check is always is something is rattling inside, then I open the puppy up.

Ohh I need to buy something now...

6) Stickers on the display

[bitseeker]

Just bought a 5316A as well. I noticed it had the channel C 1.3GHz option installed. They usually ship with an OCXO when one of them is in. Worth a gamble. Same seller as the 3478A  .

Need a totalising counter for something as well.

Good catch, bd. Mine doesn't have those options.

[bitseeker]

[...] Dumbfuckistan units. 

OK, is this really necessary? 

...not saying Imperial units are good mind you. I like my powers of 10. 

He's just flexing his recently acquired metricness.

Actually it's more the opposite... I'm a nerd. I've been thinking in metric and converting to imperial for decades; everything I work with (computers are still perversely a mix but cars and most everything else uses metric fasteners and are designed in metric) and even my toys (all my whirry little flying things and RC cars and most of my tools) are metric down to the fasteners...

Interesting. I don't automatically convert either way. Rather, I've been using both completely dependent on context. For example, temperatures make sense to me in Fahrenheit in the context of the weather (or air in a room), and they likewise make sense to me in Celsius in the context of tech things such as CPU/GPU operating temps. Translate the units between contexts and I don't have a sense for how hot they are.

[mnementh]

how 'bout a TI35?

they must have sold billions of them world wide.  (every schoolboy had and lost a couple.) around here you can't open a drawer, broom closet, or old shoe box without finding at least one. 

They actually only ever sold 12 of them; the rest reproduced in drawers and closets. Larval form usually appears as 2N2222A transistors and LR44 button cells.

mnem
Only Casio FX-series reproduce in shoeboxes; the little pervs.

[bitseeker]

Seeing this reply

followed by this one

Sorry a mistake - 3478A.

Made me think for a moment that you had a negative 3478A or something.

[bitseeker]

Keeping it interesting while it simmers. If it makes it through today it's a done deal. Next up on the plate is the Type 3A6 Vertical. It has multiple boo-boo's. 

For other visual interest, how about scope music?

[mnementh]

[...] Dumbfuckistan units. 

OK, is this really necessary? 

...not saying Imperial units are good mind you. I like my powers of 10. 

He's just flexing his recently acquired metricness.

Actually it's more the opposite... I'm a nerd. I've been thinking in metric and converting to imperial for decades; everything I work with (computers are still perversely a mix but cars and most everything else uses metric fasteners and are designed in metric) and even my toys (all my whirry little flying things and RC cars and most of my tools) are metric down to the fasteners...

Interesting. I don't automatically convert either way. Rather, I've been using both completely dependent on context. For example, temperatures make sense to me in Fahrenheit in the context of the weather (or air in a room), and they likewise make sense to me in Celsius in the context of tech things such as CPU/GPU operating temps. Translate the units between contexts and I don't have a sense for how hot they are.

Yeah, I guess that's true for me too now that you describe it that way; mostly I think metric in terms of fasteners and small measures. Miles & kliks I use interchangeably based on context, same with small weights of oz/lbs vs gram/kg. Tho I do STILL mostly think in degrees DFU and convert to C. And I still think almost exclusively in ft/lbs, in/oz & PSI for those measures. No idea why that didn't become automatic. Fuck... guess I'm NOT as metric as I though I was.

Yet MORE reason the DFU must die!!! 

mnem
"Lemme have a 7gram bag of Hawaiian, man..."

[tautech]

[...] Dumbfuckistan units. 

OK, is this really necessary? 

...not saying Imperial units are good mind you. I like my powers of 10. 

He's just flexing his recently acquired metricness.

Actually it's more the opposite... I'm a nerd. I've been thinking in metric and converting to imperial for decades; everything I work with (computers are still perversely a mix but cars and most everything else uses metric fasteners and are designed in metric) and even my toys (all my whirry little flying things and RC cars and most of my tools) are metric down to the fasteners...

Interesting. I don't automatically convert either way. Rather, I've been using both completely dependent on context. For example, temperatures make sense to me in Fahrenheit in the context of the weather (or air in a room), and they likewise make sense to me in Celsius in the context of tech things such as CPU/GPU operating temps. Translate the units between contexts and I don't have a sense for how hot they are.

Rough and ready conversion:
F = (C x 2) + 30
C = (F - 30)/2

Eg the 38C bd139 posted a few days back 76 + 30  ~= 106F

[bitseeker]

Let me just drop a reminder of my recent success using IPA and one of those melamine sponges - worked a treat.

Already done exactly that



I'll deep clean it on the RIFA replacement cycle.

That's a relief! Sometimes those markers can soak in, making the job a lot more troublesome.

[bitseeker]

3.5" disk? What's one of those grandpappy? 

Isn't it funny how outdated tech is still used as iconography for modern tech? For example, the 3.5" floppy disk on the save button, the classic telephone handset (or the entire phone) on the phone app and on/off-hook button.

I remember when someone's young daughter found a 3.5" floppy and said, "Daddy, look. It's a big save button!"

[tonyalbus]

3.5" disk? What's one of those grandpappy? 

Isn't it funny how outdated tech is still used as iconography for modern tech? For example, the 3.5" floppy disk on the save button, the classic telephone handset (or the entire phone) on the phone app and on/off-hook button.

I remember when someone's young daughter found a 3.5" floppy and said, "Daddy, look. It's a big save button!"

we called the 3,5 a discette and 5,25 a floppy because of its flex

you alsohad those 12” once black and rond andthey produce music 

[bitseeker]

you alsohad those 12” once black and rond andthey produce music 

Those are back! (And compact cassettes seem to be trying to make a revival.)

[tonyalbus]

you alsohad those 12” once black and rond andthey produce music 

Those are back! (And compact cassettes seem to be trying to make a revival.)

omg... dont tell me i need to look in old boxes for my 8 track 

[mansaxel]

... guess I'm NOT as metric as I though I was.

Yet MORE reason the DFU must die!!! 

I think wholly imperial for screens' diagonal size, bass loudspeakers, construction nails, and, in the spirit of Larry Haun; "tubafor". I might refer to IEC 60297 enclosures as 19" racks, in passing. I've got UNC, UNF, UNEF, BSP, BSPT, BSF, BA and Whitworth fasteners and associated hardware. They mostly are handled with their native measurement units, but never without a mental envelope calculation involving multiplication or division with 2,54.

The rest is metric. Especially in the kitchen. Fuck ounces and gallons.