Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[mnementh]

Might be worth grabbing a cheap Chinese Saleae clone these days. I’ve got one. I haven’t actually needed it yet.

I bought one of the USBeeAX (The model with a single 'scope channel as well) clones before I discovered it used stolen/hacked software. It serves quite well on an old Toughbook I keep for knockabout work; it is still my go-to for quick automotive diag with a 10X probe.

Just be aware you need 32-bit OS to run it. There is a newer version of the software that is also 32-bit, but that will nuke the firmware in the clone USBee if you don't lift the write-enable pin on the FLASH ROM. PM me if you need it... I have both. You'll need DotNet 3.5 as well.

mnem
*Home alone with the kid, and quite outnumbered*

[mnementh]

Good books. Have both. Make sure you check the errata in the learning book. It’s extensive.

Yeah, they just had to go and actually LOOK at the little bastards moving... and discovered we had it bass-ackwards all these years. 

mnem
"Electrons may be very, very small... but when they gang up on you, they always win." ~ me

[Gribo]

I think I am on the right path.

[mnementh]

*Makes sign of warding against the horrific visage of a HAKKO FX-951*

"Back...! Back you fiend; back to the depths that spawned you!!!"

Seriously... of all the Txx-compatible models you could have chosen from, you HAD to pick the one designed by a sociopathic reject from the Doofenschmirtz School who clearly HATES anybody who has to actually USE the Ifni-accursed thing? 

The murrr-furrr who designed that thing needs his nutsack ground into a fine paste under the heel of a rhinoceros in heat. 


mnem
"Kill it! Kill it with FIRE!!! It's just going to catch fire by itself and burn down your workbench anyways!!!" ~ me

[Mr. Scram]

What's up with everyone seemingly casually having 3000X series on their desks? It makes me feel.. inadequate. 

[Specmaster]

I think I am on the right path.

The right path to what??

[bd139]

What's up with everyone seemingly casually having 3000X series on their desks? It makes me feel.. inadequate. 

If it makes you feel any better, merely the TDS210 here and that's good enough! My bench is looking very sparse today, since I tidied it. Playing with VFO feedback and "finding the cheapest ass FET that isn't useless so I can buy a couple of hundred of them":



(33120A and TF930 are on the shelf above and that is all I have out at the moment - rest is stashed away where I can't get distracted by it!!!!  )

Edit: just meant to add, I am really so happy with this set up. Everything works just how I want it to. I don't want to change a thing for once!

[med6753]

What's up with everyone seemingly casually having 3000X series on their desks? It makes me feel.. inadequate. 

No need to feel inadequate. This SDS-1052DL does just fine thank you very much. But if it does get out gunned I have an extensive analog fleet to back it up.

[med6753]

The transformer I use right now has two heater windings, but since the mains voltage was raised to 230 volts, they're a tad too high (7.1 volts) for my taste. And I prefer DC, of course. Alas, 7 volts AC doesn't leave enough headroom for regulation to 6.3 volts after full-wave rectification.
A third transformer  just for that? These are the reasons for my undecidedness. And I have plenty of lab supplies (remember the 9 HP E6114A).

That should not be an issue. As soon as you load the filament windings with tubes it will drop to closer to 6.3 volts. And tubes aren't real fussy with their filament voltage anyway as long as it isn't ridiculously high or low.

[djos]

What's up with everyone seemingly casually having 3000X series on their desks? It makes me feel.. inadequate. 

I get jealous seeing those pics too, I've just got a cheap ass Uni-T UTD2102CEL scope on my workbench.

[Gribo]

On the right path of giving my wife a heart attack when she sees the bill 

[Mr. Scram]

I have to be mindful to be very happy with what I have, rather than being too busy with or unhappy about what I don't have. I'd have killed for my current kit not too long ago, and can tackle some rather interesting projects. Yet I catch myself looking at what's next a bit too much sometimes.

[Mr. Scram]

I get jealous seeing those pics too, I've just got a cheap ass Uni-T UTD2102CEL scope on my workbench.

Don't knock that Uni-T. Their oscilloscopes are comparatively good compared to their other products and that model line is basic, but quite useful.

[djos]

I have to be mindful to be very happy with what I have, rather than being too busy with or unhappy about what I don't have. I'd have killed for my current kit not too long ago, and can tackle some rather interesting projects.

Good point, I might upgrade to a 4 channel Rigol at some point, just because it's hard to watch RGB signals with only 2 channels. Otherwise my Uni-T is good enough for everything else I use it for.

Ps it only cost me $100 aussie pesos so I can't complain. 

[Mr. Scram]

Good point, I might upgrade to a 4 channel Rigol at some point, just because it's hard to watch RGB signals with only 2 channels. Otherwise my Uni-T is good enough for everything else I use it for.

Ps it only cost me $100 aussie pesos so I can't complain. 

Maybe one of those cheap logic analysers would do the job? Or do you need signal integrity too?

[djos]

Good point, I might upgrade to a 4 channel Rigol at some point, just because it's hard to watch RGB signals with only 2 channels. Otherwise my Uni-T is good enough for everything else I use it for.

Ps it only cost me $100 aussie pesos so I can't complain. 

Maybe one of those cheap logic analysers would do the job? Or do you need signal integrity too?

Quite possibly. 

[Neomys Sapiens]

Aah, damnit.

Wolfgang, I owe you an apology. I really should have credited the HV PSU's original designer right at the first post (I was also unaware that the very designer was participating here). I never meant to imply it was my design. My linear design capabilities are, alas, not quite top notch.

Totally unrelated:

There's an Agilent 54641d (complete with probes!) on german fleabay. https://www.ebay.de/itm/302962251973 As I'm not at all happy with my Rigol's logic analyzer, that thing looks interesting to me. What do you think?

So? Did you get it? Even as I am not exactly a fan of this series (and manufacturer, when talking scopes), it should be much better that a Rigol and the end price seemed quite adequate.

On the topic of enclosures. for standard instrument needs (anything below 19" and not RF or environmental, and needing no special form factor) I can only recommend the range from Feltron Zeissler.
Especially the possibility to insert a mounting plate at mid-height lends itself to nice solutions.

[tggzzz]

I have to be mindful to be very happy with what I have, rather than being too busy with or unhappy about what I don't have. I'd have killed for my current kit not too long ago, and can tackle some rather interesting projects.

Good point, I might upgrade to a 4 channel Rigol at some point, just because it's hard to watch RGB signals with only 2 channels. Otherwise my Uni-T is good enough for everything else I use it for.

Ps it only cost me $100 aussie pesos so I can't complain. 

Make sure you understand the limitations of protocol decoding on those scopes, and assess whether it affects your use cases.

General principal: use a scope to assure the signal integrity of the analogue signals. Once that is assured, flip to using a digital device (e.g. logic analyser or printf()) to capture the digital signals.

[Neomys Sapiens]

*Makes sign of warding against the horrific visage of a HAKKO FX-951*

"Back...! Back you fiend; back to the depths that spawned you!!!"

Seriously... of all the Txx-compatible models you could have chosen from, you HAD to pick the one designed by a sociopathic reject from the Doofenschmirtz School who clearly HATES anybody who has to actually USE the Ifni-accursed thing? 

The murrr-furrr who designed that thing needs his nutsack ground into a fine paste under the heel of a rhinoceros in heat. 


mnem
"Kill it! Kill it with FIRE!!! It's just going to catch fire by itself and burn down your workbench anyways!!!" ~ me

Is that the thing coloured like a sort of evil parrot?
Nevertheless: don't go postal.  Reptile, take your medicine!
(I deem it ok, for a Highland)

P.s.: I was just waiting for any opportunity to throw this pic at you
p.s.2: Empty by now

[Zucca]

If it makes you feel any better, merely the TDS210 here and that's good enough!

I feel now I have to stop to buy toys and start to play with them. My problem I never use my brain before using the wallet.
I am such a TEA addicted... Maybe I need to find a wife to cure my TEA, or should I buy more now because I am SWMBO free?

[med6753]

If it makes you feel any better, merely the TDS210 here and that's good enough!

I feel now I have to stop to buy toys and start to play with them. My problem I never use my brain before using the wallet.
I am such a TEA addicted... Maybe I need to find a wife to cure my TEA, or should I buy more now because I am SWMBO free?

No SWMBO? Shop 'till you drop!    (Or go broke)

[bitseeker]

On the right path of giving my wife a heart attack when she sees the bill 

That scope will probably do the trick quite nicely. Welcome to the TEA house, Gribo!

[0culus]

If it makes you feel any better, merely the TDS210 here and that's good enough!

I feel now I have to stop to buy toys and start to play with them. My problem I never use my brain before using the wallet.
I am such a TEA addicted... Maybe I need to find a wife to cure my TEA, or should I buy more now because I am SWMBO free?

No SWMBO? Shop 'till you drop!    (Or go broke)

OK, what does SWMBO mean? It's not in the glossary in post 1! 

[xrunner]

OK, what does SWMBO mean? It's not in the glossary in post 1! 

She Who Must Be Obeyed. 

[0culus]

OK, what does SWMBO mean? It's not in the glossary in post 1! 

She Who Must Be Obeyed. 

And now it makes sense!