Thursday, 27 September 2012

[Amateur-repairs] Re: Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

Hi Glenn,

We both got our licenses in the same year. My first call was WN7EZI. I was a little younger when I got mine. I was also absolutely test equipment poor. I had to borrow a meter from another ham to see if I had any high voltage to a tube.

My first receiver was a Knight kit regenerative "Space Spanner" and my transmitter was a spark gap affair using an automative ignition coil and a rotory interrupter. Of course all built by hand. It worked pretty good for me on 40 meters. However, I always horrible tone reports and also was all over the band.

When I mowed enough lawns to buy the parts for a single tube crystal controlled transmitter. I thought it was the ultimate rig. :-) I still remember how much I had to earn to buy those parts. $7.00 I built it in an old cigar box.

Before I was out of high school I had worked up to using surplus equipment from old B29s and then had worked an evening job to get an AF-67 Elmac transmitter and an SX100 receiver. I think I was like some sort of heroin junky. I worked and earned money for only one reason. To feed my habit.

Michael

--- In Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com, "Glenn Crawford" <grc1939@...> wrote:
>
>
> I got my first ham license in 1955 when I was 15. At that time my family was very poor and I had no test equipment at all. By 1958, I had acquired a cheap VOM that I used constantly to repair my own meager station equipment and neighbor’s radios and black and white TVs. Tubes were tested at the local drug store. As time went on and I was able to earn money, I acquired more test equipment building from kits, and buying at flea markets, garage sales, and auctions. Now I have power supplies, a signal tracer, a VTVM, a digital VOM, an analog VOM, audio and RF signal generators, a scope, a frequency counter, a capacitor checker, and a tube tester. I don’t’ think I could do without any of them. However, the digital VOM gets used the most. 73, Glenn, W8EXX
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Jose V. Gavila" [eb5agv@...]
> Date: 09/24/2012 04:27 PM
> To: Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?
>
> Hello Boyd,
>
> > Have been doing electonic repair since 1949 so have accumulated every
> > piece of test gear imaginable. Have more than one of most. In some
> > instances you need more than the basics, but if you have a good vtvm,
> > signal generator, both audio and RF, Scope and lot's of schematic
> > knowledge, you can solve almost any problem. 73,Boyd, W0BUW
>
> I agree 110% with you :-)!
>
> I started this thread as I am in a similar position (regarding test gear
> I own). Most of it is unused 99% of the time. Well, at least I have
> fixed most of these units, so they have been already useful to learn new
> things, like working on pesky SMPSs!. And my plan is to go from fixing
> to designing, so then an, for example, HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz VNA)
> will make some sense. But for the repair work, it is seldom used.
>
> Thanks for all your contributions to this thread. Please, keep it going :-)!
>
> Regards,
>
> JOSE
>
> --
> 73 EB5AGV - JOSE V. GAVILA - IM99sm La Canyada - Valencia(SPAIN)
> http://agvradio.com AGVradio
> http://jvgavila.com Personal WEB
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Re: [Amateur-repairs] Re: Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

I have several pieces of test equipment.

The other night I powered it on, set it next to my gear,
then went to bed.

When I awoke the next morning the gear had neither been
diagnosed or repaired. I know that some of you like to
watch the test gear flash lights, flutter meters, and
display digits and graphs - but I was too tired for all
of that excitement.

Does this mean that I have to read the (children, cover
your ears) manual?

I'm guessing I set something incorrectly ... ;-)

> I have quite a bit of test equipment that works very well for me. I
> will not bore anyone with the model numbers. However, I will say that
> my weapon of choice to find problems in transceivers is my trusty old
> Tektronix 465B. I have some frequency counters of course to set those
> oscillators on frequency and an old fluke digital meter.
>
> I do not repair these radios for any money except parts. I am retired
> and have enough income to get by. I enjoy repairing my friends radios
> when they go bad. It is my way of giving back to the elmers who
> helped me when I was a child trying to do ham radio.
>
> I am currently working on an Icom 751A that appears to have an output
> transitor bad in the PA. I am awaiting transistors from China. They
> cost me 20 bucks a piece.
>
> The output from this radio is about 20 watts. It is a good sounding
> signal. However the output from the twin rf transistors into the big
> toroidal transformer is not equal. One side is 40 volts P-P and the
> other is 20 volts P-P. I could not figure out how this could lower
> the power that much because the normal reading is 30 volts per output
> transistor. Then I checked the phase. The radio has both signals in
> phase. They should be 180 degrees apart to get maximum power. So, one
> of the transistors is mostl likely bad. I ordered two.
>
> Michael

--

Thanks! & 73, KD4E.com
David Colburn nevils-station.com
I don't google I SEARCH! duckduckgo.com
Network: groups.yahoo.com/group/qrv
Restored to design-spec at Heaven's gate 1Cor15:22

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Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Re: [Amateur-repairs] Re: Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

Hello!

El 26/09/2012 14:46, qrv@kd4e.com escribió:
> I have several pieces of test equipment.
>
> The other night I powered it on, set it next to my gear,
> then went to bed.
>
> When I awoke the next morning the gear had neither been
> diagnosed or repaired. I know that some of you like to
> watch the test gear flash lights, flutter meters, and
> display digits and graphs - but I was too tired for all
> of that excitement.
>
> Does this mean that I have to read the (children, cover
> your ears) manual?
>
> I'm guessing I set something incorrectly ... ;-)

Yes, for sure!. You forgot to press the AUTO button :-)!

JOSE

--
73 EB5AGV - JOSE V. GAVILA - IM99sm La Canyada - Valencia(SPAIN)
http://agvradio.com AGVradio
http://jvgavila.com Personal WEB

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Posted by at No comments:

Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 


I got my first ham license in 1955 when I was 15. At that time my family was very poor and I had no test equipment at all. By 1958, I had acquired a cheap VOM that I used constantly to repair my own meager station equipment and neighbor's radios and black and white TVs. Tubes were tested at the local drug store. As time went on and I was able to earn money, I acquired more test equipment building from kits, and buying at flea markets, garage sales, and auctions. Now I have power supplies, a signal tracer, a VTVM, a digital VOM, an analog VOM, audio and RF signal generators, a scope, a frequency counter, a capacitor checker, and a tube tester. I don't' think I could do without any of them. However, the digital VOM gets used the most. 73, Glenn, W8EXX

-----Original Message-----
From: "Jose V. Gavila" [eb5agv@amsat.org]
Date: 09/24/2012 04:27 PM
To: Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

Hello Boyd,

> Have been doing electonic repair since 1949 so have accumulated every
> piece of test gear imaginable. Have more than one of most. In some
> instances you need more than the basics, but if you have a good vtvm,
> signal generator, both audio and RF, Scope and lot's of schematic
> knowledge, you can solve almost any problem. 73,Boyd, W0BUW

I agree 110% with you :-)!

I started this thread as I am in a similar position (regarding test gear
I own). Most of it is unused 99% of the time. Well, at least I have
fixed most of these units, so they have been already useful to learn new
things, like working on pesky SMPSs!. And my plan is to go from fixing
to designing, so then an, for example, HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz VNA)
will make some sense. But for the repair work, it is seldom used.

Thanks for all your contributions to this thread. Please, keep it going :-)!

Regards,

JOSE

--
73 EB5AGV - JOSE V. GAVILA - IM99sm La Canyada - Valencia(SPAIN)
http://agvradio.com AGVradio
http://jvgavila.com Personal WEB


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Posted by at No comments:

[Amateur-repairs] Re: Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 



I have quite a bit of test equipment that works very well for me. I will not bore anyone with the model numbers. However, I will say that my weapon of choice to find problems in transceivers is my trusty old Tektronix 465B. I have some frequency counters of course to set those oscillators on frequency and an old fluke digital meter.

I do not repair these radios for any money except parts. I am retired and have enough income to get by. I enjoy repairing my friends radios when they go bad. It is my way of giving back to the elmers who helped me when I was a child trying to do ham radio.

I am currently working on an Icom 751A that appears to have an output transitor bad in the PA. I am awaiting transistors from China. They cost me 20 bucks a piece.

The output from this radio is about 20 watts. It is a good sounding signal. However the output from the twin rf transistors into the big toroidal transformer is not equal. One side is 40 volts P-P and the other is 20 volts P-P. I could not figure out how this could lower the power that much because the normal reading is 30 volts per output transistor. Then I checked the phase. The radio has both signals in phase. They should be 180 degrees apart to get maximum power. So, one of the transistors is mostl likely bad. I ordered two.

Michael

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Posted by at No comments:

[Amateur-repairs] Re: Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

As with many others, I've accumulated some test equipment over the years. Many will have more, and know better how to use it, too, so I won't brag about my collection; I'll relate something that happened when I didn't have ANYTHING.

I was attending the Avionics school at Fort Gordon, GA in 1964-65, and I'd bought a pawn-shop clock radio to get me up early enough there was hot water in the shower. It quit on me, and, having no money and nothing else to do one weekend, I was using a screwdriver to follow the signal path back on ambient noise.

"What're you doing?"

"Oh, I'm troubleshooting this radio."

"But you don't have any test equipment!"

I explained that there's always some RF noise around, and how one starts with the last stage and works back to earlier stages until that's no longer audible.

They still acted doubtful, so, now holding onto the screwdriver shaft to improve the signal, I touched it to the 6AL5 detectur input.

A local AM station was broadcasting its weekly Science Fiction program, and JUST when I touched the input pin, a voice came from the speaker:

"Major! We are in contact with the planet Mars!"

I was not a top student -- but after that, I was the next best thing to Resident Mad Scientist.

Cortland
KA5S

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Posted by at No comments:

Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

Hello Boyd,
it is very nice!
Unffortunatelly I dont know this equipment. But I can imagine your
happyness for own it!
I can not remember my 1st buildation but I build a lot of audio amps and
ligth effects like strobos and sequential before I nkew the Ham Radio
World!!!
But I think I have to learn a lot with You all forum members!!!

Best 73's,

Silva.

On 25-09-2012 07:25, Boyd Van Horn wrote:
>
> Silva and Jose and others. Years ago spectrum Analyzers were about
> $280.00- now have gone out of sight but sure nice to have. One of the
> pieces of gear that I wore out was a combination analyzer and IF
> tracker that RCA made. You could check the RF, IF or audio sections
> and when you plugged it all together, you had a receiver. When I built
> the Transmitter in my QRZ.COM 1949 picture I was going to an
> electronic school in Omaha, NE. It had (2) 813's in the final, with a
> separate VFO. The NC 57 was purchased from Leo Meyerson at World Radio
> for $72.00 ( which amount he allowed me to pay in installments). BTW,
> This is one of the best forums on Google. 73, Boyd, W0BUW
>
> --- On Mon, 9/24/12, Silva <py8elo@yahoo.com.br
> <mailto:py8elo%40yahoo.com.br>> wrote:
>
> From: Silva <py8elo@yahoo.com.br <mailto:py8elo%40yahoo.com.br>>
> Subject: Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use
> in your radio repairs?
> To: Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Amateur-repairs%40yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Monday, September 24, 2012, 5:27 PM
>
>
>
> Hello Boyd and all,
> I has worked on electronics repairs sence 1978 and as You, I has
> purchase a lot of test equipmenet and has build some other.
> For now I have some Scopes (2 HP 54502A, 2 Kikusui COR5500U and a
> Tektronix 475A), some service monitors(01 Marconi 2955A, 01 marconi
> 2955B, 01 HP 8920A and 01 HP 8924C), some RF Power meters, some RF and
> audio generators, some Spetrum analyzers, some analog and digital
> multimeters, and another test equipments. But before I get these
> instruments, I already has solved many problems for several years.
> As Jose Gaviila I also think about to get a HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz
> VNA) or Anritisu VNA master 5KHz-6GHz MS2026B but it is too much!!!
> I hope some day I can get one these!!!
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Silva.
>
> On 24-09-2012 17:24, Jose V. Gavila wrote:
> >
> > Hello Boyd,
> >
> > > Have been doing electonic repair since 1949 so have accumulated every
> > > piece of test gear imaginable. Have more than one of most. In some
> > > instances you need more than the basics, but if you have a good vtvm,
> > > signal generator, both audio and RF, Scope and lot's of schematic
> > > knowledge, you can solve almost any problem. 73,Boyd, W0BUW
> >
> > I agree 110% with you :-)!
> >
> > I started this thread as I am in a similar position (regarding test gear
> > I own). Most of it is unused 99% of the time. Well, at least I have
> > fixed most of these units, so they have been already useful to learn new
> > things, like working on pesky SMPSs!. And my plan is to go from fixing
> > to designing, so then an, for example, HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz VNA)
> > will make some sense. But for the repair work, it is seldom used.
> >
> > Thanks for all your contributions to this thread. Please, keep it
> > going :-)!
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > JOSE
> >
> > --
> > 73 EB5AGV - JOSE V. GAVILA - IM99sm La Canyada - Valencia(SPAIN)
> > http://agvradio.com AGVradio
> > http://jvgavila.com Personal WEB
> >
> >
>
> --
> ********************************************
> CONTINENTAL TELECOMUNICAÇÕES E INFORMÁTICA
> NOVA DE SANTANA, 510 - CENTRO
> FONEFAX : +55 093 35180237
> CEP 68180030
> ITAITUBA - PA
> ********************************************
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

--

****************************************
Brazilian Ham Radio - ARRL Member
Callsign: PY8ELO
Name: Silva
Grid Locator: GI25ar
Address: POBOX 151 CEP 68180030
ITAITUBA - PA - BRAZIL
****************************************
AMAZON FOREST, THE WORLD'S LUNG!
****************************************

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Posted by at No comments:

Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

Silva and Jose and others. Years ago spectrum Analyzers were about $280.00- now have gone out of sight but sure nice to have. One of the pieces of gear that I wore out was a combination analyzer and IF tracker that RCA made. You could check the RF, IF or audio sections and when you plugged it all together, you had a receiver. When I built the Transmitter in my QRZ.COM 1949 picture I was going to an electronic school in Omaha, NE. It had (2) 813's in the final, with a separate VFO. The NC 57 was purchased from Leo Meyerson at World Radio for $72.00 ( which amount he allowed me to pay in installments). BTW, This is one of the best forums on Google. 73, Boyd, W0BUW

--- On Mon, 9/24/12, Silva <py8elo@yahoo.com.br> wrote:

From: Silva <py8elo@yahoo.com.br>
Subject: Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?
To: Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, September 24, 2012, 5:27 PM

 

Hello Boyd and all,
I has worked on electronics repairs sence 1978 and as You, I has
purchase a lot of test equipmenet and has build some other.
For now I have some Scopes (2 HP 54502A, 2 Kikusui COR5500U and a
Tektronix 475A), some service monitors(01 Marconi 2955A, 01 marconi
2955B, 01 HP 8920A and 01 HP 8924C), some RF Power meters, some RF and
audio generators, some Spetrum analyzers, some analog and digital
multimeters, and another test equipments. But before I get these
instruments, I already has solved many problems for several years.
As Jose Gaviila I also think about to get a HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz
VNA) or Anritisu VNA master 5KHz-6GHz MS2026B but it is too much!!!
I hope some day I can get one these!!!

Best Regards,

Silva.

On 24-09-2012 17:24, Jose V. Gavila wrote:
>
> Hello Boyd,
>
> > Have been doing electonic repair since 1949 so have accumulated every
> > piece of test gear imaginable. Have more than one of most. In some
> > instances you need more than the basics, but if you have a good vtvm,
> > signal generator, both audio and RF, Scope and lot's of schematic
> > knowledge, you can solve almost any problem. 73,Boyd, W0BUW
>
> I agree 110% with you :-)!
>
> I started this thread as I am in a similar position (regarding test gear
> I own). Most of it is unused 99% of the time. Well, at least I have
> fixed most of these units, so they have been already useful to learn new
> things, like working on pesky SMPSs!. And my plan is to go from fixing
> to designing, so then an, for example, HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz VNA)
> will make some sense. But for the repair work, it is seldom used.
>
> Thanks for all your contributions to this thread. Please, keep it
> going :-)!
>
> Regards,
>
> JOSE
>
> --
> 73 EB5AGV - JOSE V. GAVILA - IM99sm La Canyada - Valencia(SPAIN)
> http://agvradio.com AGVradio
> http://jvgavila.com Personal WEB
>
>

--
********************************************
CONTINENTAL TELECOMUNICAÇÕES E INFORMÁTICA
NOVA DE SANTANA, 510 - CENTRO
FONEFAX : +55 093 35180237
CEP 68180030
ITAITUBA - PA
********************************************

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Posted by at No comments:

Monday, 24 September 2012

Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

Hello Boyd and all,
I has worked on electronics repairs sence 1978 and as You, I has
purchase a lot of test equipmenet and has build some other.
For now I have some Scopes (2 HP 54502A, 2 Kikusui COR5500U and a
Tektronix 475A), some service monitors(01 Marconi 2955A, 01 marconi
2955B, 01 HP 8920A and 01 HP 8924C), some RF Power meters, some RF and
audio generators, some Spetrum analyzers, some analog and digital
multimeters, and another test equipments. But before I get these
instruments, I already has solved many problems for several years.
As Jose Gaviila I also think about to get a HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz
VNA) or Anritisu VNA master 5KHz-6GHz MS2026B but it is too much!!!
I hope some day I can get one these!!!

Best Regards,

Silva.

On 24-09-2012 17:24, Jose V. Gavila wrote:
>
> Hello Boyd,
>
> > Have been doing electonic repair since 1949 so have accumulated every
> > piece of test gear imaginable. Have more than one of most. In some
> > instances you need more than the basics, but if you have a good vtvm,
> > signal generator, both audio and RF, Scope and lot's of schematic
> > knowledge, you can solve almost any problem. 73,Boyd, W0BUW
>
> I agree 110% with you :-)!
>
> I started this thread as I am in a similar position (regarding test gear
> I own). Most of it is unused 99% of the time. Well, at least I have
> fixed most of these units, so they have been already useful to learn new
> things, like working on pesky SMPSs!. And my plan is to go from fixing
> to designing, so then an, for example, HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz VNA)
> will make some sense. But for the repair work, it is seldom used.
>
> Thanks for all your contributions to this thread. Please, keep it
> going :-)!
>
> Regards,
>
> JOSE
>
> --
> 73 EB5AGV - JOSE V. GAVILA - IM99sm La Canyada - Valencia(SPAIN)
> http://agvradio.com AGVradio
> http://jvgavila.com Personal WEB
>
>

--
********************************************
CONTINENTAL TELECOMUNICAÇÕES E INFORMÁTICA
NOVA DE SANTANA, 510 - CENTRO
FONEFAX : +55 093 35180237
CEP 68180030
ITAITUBA - PA
********************************************

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Posted by at No comments:

Re: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

Hello Boyd,

> Have been doing electonic repair since 1949 so have accumulated every
> piece of test gear imaginable. Have more than one of most. In some
> instances you need more than the basics, but if you have a good vtvm,
> signal generator, both audio and RF, Scope and lot's of schematic
> knowledge, you can solve almost any problem. 73,Boyd, W0BUW

I agree 110% with you :-)!

I started this thread as I am in a similar position (regarding test gear
I own). Most of it is unused 99% of the time. Well, at least I have
fixed most of these units, so they have been already useful to learn new
things, like working on pesky SMPSs!. And my plan is to go from fixing
to designing, so then an, for example, HP-8753C (300kHz to 6GHz VNA)
will make some sense. But for the repair work, it is seldom used.

Thanks for all your contributions to this thread. Please, keep it going :-)!

Regards,

JOSE

--
73 EB5AGV - JOSE V. GAVILA - IM99sm La Canyada - Valencia(SPAIN)
http://agvradio.com AGVradio
http://jvgavila.com Personal WEB

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Posted by at No comments:

RE: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

Have been doing electonic repair since 1949 so have accumulated every piece of test gear imaginable. Have more than one of most. In some instances you need more than the basics, but if you have a good vtvm, signal generator, both audio and RF, Scope and lot's of schematic knowledge, you can solve almost any problem. 73,Boyd, W0BUW

--- On Sun, 9/23/12, David Moisan <dmoisan@davidmoisan.org> wrote:

From: David Moisan <dmoisan@davidmoisan.org>
Subject: RE: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?
To: "Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com" <Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Sunday, September 23, 2012, 11:19 AM

 

I have a Triplett 2035, a pocket DMM with a lot of features, including C and Hz (20 MHz!!). It's not a "full" meter as it has non-detachable leads, but it's my favorite DMM and I use it for everything.

My scope is an elderly HP 1722 that works-but I wish I had a new Rigol, I so want to own a digital scope-I've played with these at trade shows more times than I can count.

One item of test equipment I want to point out is one that most on the list probably haven't heard of: the Bus Pirate. Many, if not most, modern radios in the past 15 years don't only use microcontrollers (not to surprise anyone), but also employ some kind of serial protocol to interconnect the CPU to things like display and memory. I2C and SPI are two protocols commonly in use, as well as the oldy-old RS232.

The Bus Pirate connects to your PC through USB and lets you connect to one of these serial buses. It's intended for microcontroller hacking, but with modern ham radios the distinction is minute, to say the least.

www.dangerousprototypes.com<http://www.dangerousprototypes.com> developed this, and they link to assembled Bus Pirates, which run about $40. Well worth the money if you work on more recent rigs.

Other than that, I rely on my huge collection of miniature screwdrivers, and my almost-as-huge collection of droplights, flashlights, worklights, and anything else I use to see with.

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Sunday, 23 September 2012

AW: [Amateur-repairs] Re: Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?

 

Hammer ... and for hard works ... some dynamite :-)

Dg9bfc

Sigi

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Amateur-
> repairs@yahoogroups.com] Im Auftrag von Brian Allen
> Gesendet: Sonntag, 23. September 2012 12:27
> An: Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com
> Betreff: [Amateur-repairs] Re: Poll: Which test equipment do you use in
> your radio repairs?
>
>
>
> Hp 401b, heathkit it-12, rca vtm.......
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>

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