Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[med6753]

Ok, BD139 convinced me to join this therapy thread before my wife leaves me and my kids starve.
So here I am.
I am Miti and I'm a scopoholic...

How many you got? What are they? Details!

2- 2465's, 465, Miltary 7603, B&K 2120 and Siglent SDS-1052DL here. Oh..and a RCA WO-505A.

[Miti]

Tek 2445B Replaced the NVRAM, recapped the power supply.
Tek TDS210 Replaced the backlight with LED, recapped the power supply.
Rigol DS1054Z ... nothing yet 
Hitachi V-1585 In process of improving the frequency counter accuracy.
Mini DSO DS203 Installed Wildcat software. Amazing little scope.

Now before I pay my dues, how many addicts found cure through this thread?

[mnementh]

Tek 2445B Replaced the NVRAM, recapped the power supply.
Tek TDS210 Replaced the backlight with LED, recapped the power supply.
Rigol DS1054Z ... nothing yet 
Hitachi V-1585 In process of improving the frequency counter accuracy.
Mini DSO DS203 Installed Wildcat software. Amazing little scope.

Now before I pay my dues, how many addicts found cure through this thread?

Ohhh... man... I'm proud of you. You managed to say that with a straight face.

Somewhere around -200 at last count... oh wait, since bd139 brought you over, make that  -201... and counting. 

We're a support group, in that we support each other in our collective collecting addiction, not that we make ANY efforts whatsoever at curing each other of it. Yours is a prime example; we seek to dilute the madness by spreading it across as much of the population as possible. 


mnem
Good luck widdat. 

[Miti]

Love it, I was afraid it cures. I need the support cause I don't get much from me wife.

[Cerebus]

24 clock vs AM/PM : The military uses it. Most government agencies, such as police/fire, use it. But in everyday domestic situations AM/PM prevails. Call me ignorant but I didn't realize that many countries use 24 clock as standard. But in reality going back and forth between the two is ridiculously easy. So what's the issue? 

I keep all the clocks in the house that don't have actual physical hands set to use a 24h display, but I think in AM/PM so when I look at the time and it says 17:05 internally I read that as five past five. I've kept odd enough hours over the years that I prefer the lack of ambiguity of a 24h display, in my world a windowless room with a clock that says 1:00 could quite easily be day or night.

Don't understand what 90 degrees F is? Google is you friend.  Simply type 90F to C and you get your answer. (32 C). I do it all the time when presented with temperatures in C and I don't fuss and whine about it.

Google? Really? I just grab a calculator or do it in my head: (F - 32) * 5/9 = C, C * 9/5 + 32 = F.

So that's it in a nutshell. Call me arrogant. Call me stupid. Call me backward. I really don't care. 

Call me anything you like as long as you don't call me late for dinner.

[mnementh]

Excellent. I've got access to a whole box of  HP 643932's I think (assuming they came from DL380 G8's). Will nick a couple.

LOL @ UV-5R. I owned one. In fact the one I owned is for sale on eBay at the moment as I got the FT-818. They're pretty good actually. I did my first licensed QSO on one. The antenna that comes with it is total shit but you can get a cheap one off amazon that does the job reasonably well. Make sure you get a USB data cable for it as it's a pile of shit to program via the interface. Use CHIRP to program it. They're only killing these not because they are dangerous but they allow transmit on emergency channels AFAIK.

The only annoying thing about the radio is that the thing is totally unmanageable with a large antenna on it. Falls over and off everything.

I can't believe you're letting it go; they're so cheap new, they must bring less than shipping used. Seems to me they're worth more as a spare or 2nd station to actually communicate with somebody than you should be able to get for them on fleaBay.

Or are we talking a unit with *~UPGRADES~* ?

I still have a couple handheld scanners from back in the day... I'm painfully aware of the arseache of managing a large antenna.    Now I have a 3D printer, I can make my "strap-on" with the computer, instead of in the workshop.


mnem
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2955797

[tggzzz]

Now before I pay my dues, how many addicts found cure through this thread?

A1: Aw, bless. That question is conclusive proof that you are new here.
A2: All of us, given the appropriate definition of "cured".

[bd139]

Yes this isn’t a self help thread 

[Miti]

A2: All of us, given the appropriate definition of "cured".

Translation: We can't be cuckoo because there's so many of us? 

[mnementh]

Now before I pay my dues, how many addicts found cure through this thread?

A1: Aw, bless. That question is conclusive proof that you are new here.
A2: All of us, given the appropriate definition of "cured".

If you mean "cured" as in "Cured meat"... well, I'm in the process of getting nicely pickled at the moment, since nobody else in the house seems to want this bottle of wine...


mnem
I'm not as thunk as you drinkle peep I am.

[Miti]

Now to make full disclosure, so I don't get kicked out of this thread later for... precondition, I also have:

2 spectrum analyzers
2 frequency counters
2 waveforms generators
2 RF signal generators
4 power supplies
10 multimeters ...ten... oh dear, now I really question my sanity...
1 ESR meter
1 LC meter
1 nuclear radiation monitor
1 LF EMF meter

[xrunner]

I need the support cause I don't get much from me wife.

Put her on the forum here - I'll talk to her. 

[Specmaster]

Now to make full disclosure, so I don't get kicked out of this thread later for... precondition, I also have:

2 spectrum analyzers
2 frequency counters
2 waveforms generators
2 RF signal generators
4 power supplies
10 multimeters ...ten... oh dear, now I really question my sanity...
1 ESR meter
1 LC meter
1 nuclear radiation monitor
1 LF EMF meter

10 multimeters is fine, no problem with that but WTF do you want with a nuclear radiation monitor, thats not normal....

[med6753]

Now to make full disclosure, so I don't get kicked out of this thread later for... precondition, I also have:

2 spectrum analyzers
2 frequency counters
2 waveforms generators
2 RF signal generators
4 power supplies
10 multimeters ...ten... oh dear, now I really question my sanity...
1 ESR meter
1 LC meter
1 nuclear radiation monitor
1 LF EMF meter

You are a perfect fit for this group of crazies. Welcome! 

[Miti]

I need the support cause I don't get much from me wife.

Put her on the forum here - I'll talk to her. 

No way! She keeps joking that when I go in my basement, I cheat on her with the oscilloscope. Singular... oscilloscope. Do you realise what happens if she finds out that I have five?

[Miti]

Now to make full disclosure, so I don't get kicked out of this thread later for... precondition, I also have:

2 spectrum analyzers
2 frequency counters
2 waveforms generators
2 RF signal generators
4 power supplies
10 multimeters ...ten... oh dear, now I really question my sanity...
1 ESR meter
1 LC meter
1 nuclear radiation monitor
1 LF EMF meter

10 multimeters is fine, no problem with that but WTF do you want with a nuclear radiation monitor, thats not normal....

Oh, wait, do you have to do something with any of them? That's new...

[xrunner]

No way! She keeps joking that when I go in my basement, I cheat on her with the oscilloscope. Singular... oscilloscope. Do you realise what happens if she finds out that I have five?

I have heard stories of wives that have found out about this addiction. Five, ten, or even fifteen scopes is not at all an uncommon amount that they do not know about. Plus all the hidden DMMs and function gens ... much of the time counseling will help the spouse understand and deal with it.

But, pretty soon you will have to choose between her and your test equipment. Before making a rash decision, just remember: your test equipment will always be there for you, and her? 

Think about it. Think about it very, very hard. 

[Miti]

No way! She keeps joking that when I go in my basement, I cheat on her with the oscilloscope. Singular... oscilloscope. Do you realise what happens if she finds out that I have five?

I have heard stories of wives that have found out about this addiction. Five, ten, or even fifteen scopes is not at all an uncommon amount that they do not know about. Plus all the hidden DMMs and function gens ... much of the time counseling will help the spouse understand and deal with it.

But, pretty soon you will have to choose between her and your test equipment. Before making a rash decision, just remember: your test equipment will always be there for you, and her? 

Think about it. Think about it very, very hard. 

I did think many times and I decided. I want them both. She calls me a nut, she calls me a cheater, an addict but she also calls me to dinner. I can't loose that. 

[Cubdriver]

Now to make full disclosure, so I don't get kicked out of this thread later for... precondition, I also have:

2 spectrum analyzers
2 frequency counters
2 waveforms generators
2 RF signal generators
4 power supplies
10 multimeters ...ten... oh dear, now I really question my sanity...
1 ESR meter
1 LC meter
1 nuclear radiation monitor
1 LF EMF meter

Cure....      We don't cure (at least not in the generally accepted usage of the term) - we listen, and encourage.   

At this point I'm afraid to count scopes, frequency counters, signal generators and meters.  Suffice it to say that as counters go, I'm trying to 'collect the whole set' of HP units that used ionized neon in any form for their readouts.  Beware of them, they're addictive.  And heavy.

And welcome to the looney bin! 

-Pat

[Brumby]

I am Miti and I'm a scopoholic...

Hello Miti.

Ok, BD139 convinced me to join this therapy thread before my wife leaves me and my kids starve.
So here I am.

Welcome.  You can expect empathy and validation here - and if the wife leaves you, you will find support.

FYI: "Cure" is a word that is only used here in reference to resins and, sometimes, the flu.  It might also be used in adjunct discussions regarding concrete (for the floor of a new workshop, as an example).

[xrunner]

Cure....      We don't cure (at least not in the generally accepted usage of the term) - we listen, and encourage.   

A cure for TEA is like finding a cure for eating. 

[Brumby]

My scope count is way down on the average here.  Down Under is not known for its burgeoning second hand test equipment market.

Power supplies - well, they vary in style, but I would still be down, I think.  10 Multimeters?  Even I can beat that - and that's not even counting the cheapies in the cars.

SA?  I've often thought it would be nice - but I've never been able to justify the need, let alone the cost.  Something cheap or even a fixer-upper doesn't show up around here very often - and if you're not looking in the right place at the right time.....


There is a wide range of "collections" held by members here.  You are well within the ^*norm.


^{* That is, by our standards.}

[bitseeker]

Ok, BD139 convinced me to join this therapy thread before my wife leaves me and my kids starve.
So here I am.
I am Miti and I'm a scopoholic...

That didn't take long. Welcome aboard, Miti!

[Berni]

That is quite a nice collection of stuff, more than well fitting for the TEA group.

I think you have me well beat on most fronts, except for power supplies. I haven't counted them, but im pretty sure i have quite a few more than i actually need.

[URI]

Welcome Miti!

[..] im pretty sure i have quite a few more than i actually need.

I think that's not the category to think in here.
Do we really need our stacks of TE that defines our TEA?   
I could survive without it, physically, I think. Saying it in the style of Loriot*:
A life without Test Equpiment is possible but pointless.   


*-  Loriot was a famous (if not the) german comedian and humorist, look for him at wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loriot
(I hope I hit the point using "pointless" for the german "sinnlos")