Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[mnementh]

I didn't mean to win, honest! 

So there was this TDR 1502 on ebay. All the bits were there, and it had a trace in the photo. There was a single bid, of nine bucks, and I thought, well let's buy a ticket and see what happens. I use a sniping service, so I set a bid of 24USD and forgot about it.

I won the damn thing for 22.51USD. So now I have three TDRs. Maybe it is time for me to add a rule the router firewall.

Yup. That's the one I highlighted a few daze ago: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/msg2441703/#msg2441703

Good to know SOMEBELLY wuz payin' atten-shun. 

TDRs are fun to play with. If the tunnel diodes on the 1502 aren't trashed, it will be a good buy. I can fix the two 1503s before deciding which to keep and which to sell to make space for some other fetish object. Or I could keep one of each to do both short and long cable tests. Not that I need to do that but you never know. 

And why did they make them waterproof? They don't seem to be mil spec equipment otherwise.

   Telephony, RADAR Installations, CATV, Cellular, Marine Radio, ARPANET... Guys troubleshooting that shit up on a tower, boom truck or down in a manhole can't wait for it to stop raining. Some of those holes, it never stops. 

Not sure how much underwater cabling they would expect to troubleshoot... but for sure you want a 'scope with focus divider voltage right behind the front panel to be immersion waterproof if you're going to use it in the rain or sea spray.  or worse.

This idea of getting more and more test equipment all the time is really putting a cramp on the room I have available. I can see that I will have TESLA syndrome really bad in the future if this keeps up. The addiction to TEA is powerful I don't know if I could ever overcome the withdrawal symptoms.

TESLA quickly resolves into JENGA. No problem. 

I've taken to having a "tidy bench policy". I've got a 12 way block under the bench and only get gear out I need to do a specific job now.

Same thing here. I have several pieces of gear on the bench that I use all the time. If I need anything else, I set it up and when I am done, take it down and put it away. My work area is too small to do anything else.

EDIT: And lest I sound a bit too self-satisfied about how neat and tidy I am, I should mention that the floor on one side of the workroom is strewn with components I am sorting, inventorying, and bagging. It looks like a bomb went off in the middle of a digikey warehouse. 

   Yeah, good luck widdat. My entire living room is occupied with dozens of 55L storage bins strewn from hell to breakfast right now.

Both couches, even the kids' play table.    I'm trying to power through one major JENGA obstruction before both my kids are up my butt for the summer. 

mnem
RIDE THE WALRUS!!!

[Neomys Sapiens]

I can't wait to have that much space, med. Most of my gear is currently stacked on a 1000 lb capacity DeWalt portable bench for lack of space. I'm using about half that capacity... 

I'm considering, once I know what space I will have, dropping some coin here: http://www.benchpro.com/

the prices aren't as bad as I thought they would be, and I will be able to get exactly what I want.

And without a splinter under a fingernail or sawdust-filled sinuses! Woodwork be gone!
Remainder: the carpenter is called a car-penter because he leaves in his car after the work is done.

[Housedad]

Whoa, Mnem, you have TEA far more than I realized.  You are a God among men. 

Lucky dog.  My wife would kill me in my sleep. 

[Housedad]

I can't wait to have that much space, med. Most of my gear is currently stacked on a 1000 lb capacity DeWalt portable bench for lack of space. I'm using about half that capacity... 

I'm considering, once I know what space I will have, dropping some coin here: http://www.benchpro.com/

the prices aren't as bad as I thought they would be, and I will be able to get exactly what I want.

And without a splinter under a fingernail or sawdust-filled sinuses! Woodwork be gone!
Remainder: the carpenter is called a car-penter because he leaves in his car after the work is done.

I dunno. I like woodworking and metalwork.  There is a current woodwork project I expect to finish this weekend for something on the test bench.  Table saw, radial saw, router, and stain/poly work.  I'll  post it when done.

[mnementh]

Whoa, Mnem, you have TEA far more than I realized.  You are a God among men. 

Lucky dog.  My wife would kill me in my sleep. 

Well, no. My wife would kill me if I didn't. This is part & parcel of the major hoeing-out for the move. There's everything in there from wiring sundries to gaming stuff to RC model aircraft and tools. She'll let me get away with it looking like this for a day or three at a time, but only because the crunch is on us. And it's not PMS time yet. When that time rolls around all bets are off; I just make myself scarce.

mnem
*tinkerdwagon survival-skillz 101*

[Neomys Sapiens]

   Telephony, RADAR Installations, CATV, Marine Radio, ARPANET... Guys troubleshooting that shit up on a tower, boom truck or down in a manhole can't wait for it to stop raining. Some of those holes, it never stops. 

Not sure how much underwater cabling they would expect to troubleshoot... but for sure you want a 'scope with focus divider voltage right behind the front panel to be immersion waterproof if you're going to use it in the rain or sea spray. 

mnem
RIDE THE WALRUS!!!

I worked once with the local traffic control department (traffic lights, advisory displays, parking guidance system etc). Whenever there was a thunderstorm, a number of traffic lights failed. One generation of the installed systems was particularely troublesome. If you were alone (like at night or weekends, when the thunderstorms struck), the only possibility to get the invariably failed component removed without the remainder of the rack becoming soaked was to place yourself on the pavement face-up and reach under the frame with your hands above your head in order to release a catch. If you tried to do it blind, you faced the possibility of a shock and/or bruised fingers.

No pinnipedia were hurt or otherwise discomforted during the production of this post

[Housedad]

Ah, I get it. Temporary arrangement. 

[med6753]

I can't wait to have that much space, med. Most of my gear is currently stacked on a 1000 lb capacity DeWalt portable bench for lack of space. I'm using about half that capacity... 

I'm considering, once I know what space I will have, dropping some coin here: http://www.benchpro.com/

the prices aren't as bad as I thought they would be, and I will be able to get exactly what I want.

And without a splinter under a fingernail or sawdust-filled sinuses! Woodwork be gone!
Remainder: the carpenter is called a car-penter because he leaves in his car after the work is done.

While I make no claims to being a decent carpenter or cabinetmaker I much prefer my benches made of wood. For several reasons but most of all they are in my living room and fit the decor much better. Industrial or metal benches just wouldn't look right. 

[med6753]

I can't wait to have that much space, med. Most of my gear is currently stacked on a 1000 lb capacity DeWalt portable bench for lack of space. I'm using about half that capacity... 

I'm considering, once I know what space I will have, dropping some coin here: http://www.benchpro.com/

the prices aren't as bad as I thought they would be, and I will be able to get exactly what I want.

.

You'd be surprised how quickly you fill it up. You see all that empty space under the long bench? No more. There's at least 5 scopes under there now and I'm running out of space. 

[0culus]

I can't wait to have that much space, med. Most of my gear is currently stacked on a 1000 lb capacity DeWalt portable bench for lack of space. I'm using about half that capacity... 

I'm considering, once I know what space I will have, dropping some coin here: http://www.benchpro.com/

the prices aren't as bad as I thought they would be, and I will be able to get exactly what I want.

And without a splinter under a fingernail or sawdust-filled sinuses! Woodwork be gone!
Remainder: the carpenter is called a car-penter because he leaves in his car after the work is done.

While I make no claims to being a decent carpenter or cabinetmaker I much prefer my benches made of wood. For several reasons but most of all they are in my living room and fit the decor much better. Industrial or metal benches just wouldn't look right.

I plan to have a room dedicated to it and not have it in the living room. I do agree that wood (if done well) looks better, but I'm choosing a bit of convenience in lieu of matching the decor. 

I can't wait to have that much space, med. Most of my gear is currently stacked on a 1000 lb capacity DeWalt portable bench for lack of space. I'm using about half that capacity... 

I'm considering, once I know what space I will have, dropping some coin here: http://www.benchpro.com/

the prices aren't as bad as I thought they would be, and I will be able to get exactly what I want.

.

You'd be surprised how quickly you fill it up. You see all that empty space under the long bench? No more. There's at least 5 scopes under there now and I'm running out of space. 

Oh I know...stuff expands to fill the space. That's why I won't be getting a warehouse anytime soon.   

[med6753]

I can't wait to have that much space, med. Most of my gear is currently stacked on a 1000 lb capacity DeWalt portable bench for lack of space. I'm using about half that capacity... 

I'm considering, once I know what space I will have, dropping some coin here: http://www.benchpro.com/

the prices aren't as bad as I thought they would be, and I will be able to get exactly what I want.

And without a splinter under a fingernail or sawdust-filled sinuses! Woodwork be gone!
Remainder: the carpenter is called a car-penter because he leaves in his car after the work is done.

I dunno. I like woodworking and metalwork.  There is a current woodwork project I expect to finish this weekend for something on the test bench.  Table saw, radial saw, router, and stain/poly work.  I'll  post it when done.

I got something in the works too. 

[Housedad]

It's nice to know that I'm not alone in  loving rc planes. 
I wrote this a few years ago of my enjoyment of that hobby.


http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/kit-building-121/6780895-why-i-want-build-kits-again-just-old-fart-story.html

[mnementh]

Ah, I get it. Temporary arrangement. 

Oh, yeah. 

Sure, I'm a bachelor-grade slob left to my own devices; like any single male I'd fall into those old habits faster than you can say dumptown shave-denial syndrome. 

But parenthood kindof crystallizes the more adult need to prevent insectia and rodentia from overrunning the childrens' sleeping quarters and such, where such need never was so obvious before. 

mnem
I have become an egghead of convenience in my old age, however. I shave it when it gets long enough to need brushing. 

[med6753]

Ah, I get it. Temporary arrangement. 

Oh, yeah. 

Sure, I'm a bachelor-grade slob left to my own devices; like any single male I'd fall into those old habits faster than you can say dumptown shave-denial syndrome. 

But parenthood kindof crystallizes the more adult need to prevent insectia and rodentia from overrunning the childrens' sleeping quarters and such, where such need never was so obvious before. 

mnem
I have become an egghead of convenience in my old age, however. I shave it when it gets long enough to need brushing. 

Remember "The Odd Couple"? Well....I'm Felix but no where near as neurotic and not getting over a divorce. But messy makes me go ape shit. 

[Specmaster]

@med, I think you benches look pretty dammed good if I'm honest and I'd love to have that much bench space to play with, and I'd love to know what those 2 model planes are, they look like they might be Mosquitos? 

[Housedad]

They look like a P-38 lightning and a H-111.

Edit:  closer look, yeah, you're right.  The back one is  A Mosquito.

[med6753]

Yep.....P-38 and Mosquito. 

[Carl_Smith]

Enjoying my morning Folger's Columbian with no sugar and half and half. If you don't have half and half over there is half whole milk and half cream.

Every time I hear "half and half" it makes me think of this:

[Cubdriver]

Imagine this, but with a greater density of stuff, and most of that stuff being old HP and Tek test gear:



-Pat

[mnementh]

It's nice to know that I'm not alone in  loving rc planes. 
I wrote this a few years ago of my enjoyment of that hobby.


http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/kit-building-121/6780895-why-i-want-build-kits-again-just-old-fart-story.html

   Great story.  This is my baby when I fly planks: That's right, Launchpad McQuack is my spirit animal.      and this is my beater.       Though I also, of course, have a Cub.

They've mostly been shelved since I moved away from my club, and so far I haven't found a new club that isn't all just geriatric old buzzards with no respect for rotary-wing craft. If my helis & quads aren't good enough to fly with ya, neither am I.

   Too bad you're so far away... I have an 80" Hangar 9 Piper Pawnee I bought as a project a few years ago but never got around to fixing the smashed tailfeathers. It needs a new home before I move.

mnem
*toddling off to ded*

[worsthorse]

There is no cure. 

Edit...I also have an entire walk-in closet full of parts and parts mules.

That's a pretty nice setup. Especially the walk in closet part. 

Yup. That's the one I highlighted a few daze ago: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/msg2441703/#msg2441703

Good to know SOMEBELLY wuz payin' atten-shun. 

Yeah, it was more like subliminal suggestion because I wasn't really paying attention.

   Telephony, RADAR Installations, CATV, Cellular, Marine Radio, ARPANET... Guys troubleshooting that shit up on a tower, boom truck or down in a manhole can't wait for it to stop raining. Some of those holes, it never stops. 

Not sure why I didn't think of this myself. Yeesh. 

   Yeah, good luck widdat. My entire living room is occupied with dozens of 55L storage bins strewn from hell to breakfast right now.

Both couches, even the kids' play table.    I'm trying to power through one major JENGA obstruction before both my kids are up my butt for the summer. 

That is a serious amount of binning. How many will there be when you are done?

[GregDunn]

GregDunn...remember this guy? He made bold claims and but so far he hasn't delivered the goods.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/old-fluke-multimeters/msg2438619/#msg2438619

Well, to be fair, according to the forum he posts 0.02 times per day and it's only been less than a week.   

[nfmax]

Yep.....P-38 and Mosquito.

My father flew Mossies. We visited Salisbury Hall for a special event for Mossie aircrew a few years ago. Loads of people in their 80's & 90's standing under the nose hatch and asking 'did we really used to be able to climb up in there?'

[Specmaster]

The last flying UK mossie I rememberer seeing at the Southend annual (or used to be) airshow many years ago and I hope that someday we might get another one airworthy and flying at airshows, a very capable aircraft.

[med6753]

The last flying UK mossie I rememberer seeing at the Southend annual (or used to be) airshow many years ago and I hope that someday we might get another one airworthy and flying at airshows, a very capable aircraft.

I think it's almost criminal that the UK has no flyable Mossie's. There are several flying in other parts such as here and I think in Canada, NZ, and perhaps in Aus. Part of the problem is it's greatest strength....being made of plywood.....is it's biggest downfall because the plywood rots.