Sunday, 23 September 2012

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

 

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.

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

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: login to groups.yahoo.com, select group amateur-repairs, click on "leave group" on right side of screen and follow instructions.  PLEASE do not send UNSUBSCRIBE messages to the list.
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at No comments:

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

 

Jose

For the test bench they one item I HAVE to have is a VTVM. There are certain things that a digital meter just won't do. When tuning a radio front end it's way easier to see a peak or dip on an analog meter that looking at flashing numbers. My meter of choice is the B&K 290.

As for the picture of your test bench, should I send you my contact information so you leave it all to me in your will. I have found the PERFECT test bench is the one that works for YOU and not your co-worker or friend.

I added some photos in the Photos section under 'Test Bench'. In the photo shop3.jpg you can see a mobile cart with his tools, I talked to him and he said he made the cart to work or larger & heavier pieces such as linear amps, he can roll it around and have his tools handy, and when not in use it fits nicely under the workbench.

73 OM

Craig - N9NBO
KEC Communications

--- In Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com, "Jose V. Gavila" <eb5agv@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I am a test equipment nut, as I guess some of you are also. Anyway, even
> if you are not, for sure you use some test equipment for your radio
> repairs. I think it would be interesting to comment which are your most
> used rigs.
>
> On my side, my mostly used test equipment is a Fluke 77 II DVM,
> followed, in no special order, by a Tektronix 2465B oscilloscope, an
> HP-5384A frequency counter, a Rohde & Schwarz CMT-84 Radiocommunication
> Tester (now paired with a CMTA-94 :-) ) and a Bird 43 wattmeter along
> several slugs.
>
> This covers perhaps 95% of my work... and I fix quite a lot of units,
> from large base units to walkies.
>
> You can see an slightly outdated view of my main workbench here:
>
> http://agvradio.com/images/lab/lab3_480.jpg
>
> And you, which are your workbench mates :-)?
>
> Best regards,
>
> JOSE
>
> --
> 73 EB5AGV - JOSE V. GAVILA - IM99sm La Canyada - Valencia(SPAIN)
> http://agvradio.com AGVradio
> http://jvgavila.com Personal WEB
>

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: login to groups.yahoo.com, select group amateur-repairs, click on "leave group" on right side of screen and follow instructions.  PLEASE do not send UNSUBSCRIBE messages to the list.
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at No comments:

[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]

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: login to groups.yahoo.com, select group amateur-repairs, click on "leave group" on right side of screen and follow instructions.  PLEASE do not send UNSUBSCRIBE messages to the list.
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, 22 September 2012

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

 

I almost forgot my newly acquired HP606A signal generator.

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

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: login to groups.yahoo.com, select group amateur-repairs, click on "leave group" on right side of screen and follow instructions.  PLEASE do not send UNSUBSCRIBE messages to the list.
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at No comments:

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

 

Various DVMs, including Fluke, Dana, Valhalla, and those Harbor Freight cheapies.
Simpson 260, Triplett 630-NA, old Radio Schlock beater.
Measurements 80, AN/URM-25D, HP651B, HP203A, HP200CD.
Tektronix 465, 453.
HP5245L with a few plugins.
Several power supplies.
HP331A distortion analyzer.
HP400D, Ballantine 300.
GR bridges, three of them.
Lampkin 205A deviation meter.
A couple of tube testers, Precision and EICO.
Powerstat, 5A.
Very old Triplett line frequency wattmeter.
B&W surplus wattmeter/SWR meter, 500 W continuous.
HP628A clip on milliammeter.
HP410B VTVM.
GE and Weller soldering stations.  Ungar and American Beauty and cute tiny Asian soldering irons.  Weller soldering guns (hate them!).  Propane torch for antenna work.

Plus an assortment of backup gear in case something stops working.

Bob

--- On Sat, 9/22/12, Jose V. Gavila <eb5agv@amsat.org> wrote:

From: Jose V. Gavila <eb5agv@amsat.org>
Subject: [Amateur-repairs] Poll: Which test equipment do you use in your radio repairs?
To: "Amateur repairs - Yahoo" <Amateur-repairs@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 11:29 AM

 

Hi all,

I am a test equipment nut, as I guess some of you are also. Anyway, even

if you are not, for sure you use some test equipment for your radio

repairs. I think it would be interesting to comment which are your most

used rigs.

On my side, my mostly used test equipment is a Fluke 77 II DVM,

followed, in no special order, by a Tektronix 2465B oscilloscope, an

HP-5384A frequency counter, a Rohde & Schwarz CMT-84 Radiocommunication

Tester (now paired with a CMTA-94 :-) ) and a Bird 43 wattmeter along

several slugs.

This covers perhaps 95% of my work... and I fix quite a lot of units,

from large base units to walkies.

You can see an slightly outdated view of my main workbench here:

http://agvradio.com/images/lab/lab3_480.jpg

And you, which are your workbench mates :-)?

Best 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]

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: login to groups.yahoo.com, select group amateur-repairs, click on "leave group" on right side of screen and follow instructions.  PLEASE do not send UNSUBSCRIBE messages to the list.
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at No comments:

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

 

Hi all,

I am a test equipment nut, as I guess some of you are also. Anyway, even
if you are not, for sure you use some test equipment for your radio
repairs. I think it would be interesting to comment which are your most
used rigs.

On my side, my mostly used test equipment is a Fluke 77 II DVM,
followed, in no special order, by a Tektronix 2465B oscilloscope, an
HP-5384A frequency counter, a Rohde & Schwarz CMT-84 Radiocommunication
Tester (now paired with a CMTA-94 :-) ) and a Bird 43 wattmeter along
several slugs.

This covers perhaps 95% of my work... and I fix quite a lot of units,
from large base units to walkies.

You can see an slightly outdated view of my main workbench here:

http://agvradio.com/images/lab/lab3_480.jpg

And you, which are your workbench mates :-)?

Best regards,

JOSE

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

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: login to groups.yahoo.com, select group amateur-repairs, click on "leave group" on right side of screen and follow instructions.  PLEASE do not send UNSUBSCRIBE messages to the list.
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, 10 September 2012

[Electronics_101] Re: How to test an SC141B SILICON TRIACS

 

Thanks Frank and Donald. The component checks good but I think I will go
ahead and replace it as Donald suggests. It is mounted to a heat-sink but
I can drill that off and reattach the new one. There are other chips on
the board, some proprietary and more than likely, the Oster is fini.
Thanks again.

--
Smile Every Day
It Helps Your Face...

Bob

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

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Please trim excess when replying
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)