[time-nuts] Test Equipment

paul swed paulswedb at gmail.com
Fri Jan 22 03:38:18 UTC 2010


I have 3 5345s with the good ovens and indeed they are very stable.
Use the gps just to check things.
Keep it simple.
Its unfortunate but there used to be flea markets with truckloads of test
equipment.
Very inexpensive power supplies and everything else. But much of that has
gone to ebay.
You still find a bargain now and again. But nothing like 5 years ago.
You are doing well. Another thing I have noticed is even the cheap digital
voltmeters are really very good these days. Technology moves on. Sometimes
for the good and the bad.
Good luck

On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 4:39 PM, Bob Camp <lists at cq.nu> wrote:

> Hi
>
> Nothing about a lab is "one size fits all". That said, I think you probably
> will need to add:
>
> A way to come up with 3 DC voltages. Either a triple supply or 3
> independent
> supplies. Something like 0-7V @ 5-10A and a couple of 0-32V at 1-3A
> supplies.
>
> Something to measure volts and amps. Handheld meters are very neat and they
> can do a lot. I happen to like bench DVM's simply because they don't walk
> around the bench as I tug on the leads.
>
> A bench computer. It doesn't need to be the latest and greatest. Something
> that will barely run XP is probably plenty good enough. It does need to
> have
> a net connection, a serial port, a parallel port, and a sound card. A
> (mostly) working display is also helpful. If you get exotic, it should have
> at least one USB port.
>
> A *good* soldering setup. I've seen more people destroy stuff with low end
> soldering gear than just about any other thing.
>
> A stock of parts and wire. What we are talking about here is really how to
> allocate a limited budget. Parts are just as important as anything else you
> set up in a lab. Save some money to at least put in a stock of resistors
> and
> common capacitors.
>
> Someplace to work. The kitchen table isn't going to cut it for long. Don't
> buy more stuff than you have room to use. Also don't empty out all the
> quarters from the cookie jar before a table or bench gets bought. The
> strength of the bench may be a significant issue as you shop for test gear.
>
> For radio specific stuff:
>
> Some kind of RF signal source. Usually a signal generator for the bands
> that
> interest you. It can be as simple as an old LM frequency meter or it can
> cost as much as a new car...
>
> A way to measure RF power accurately. You can do this with a scope or a
> spectrum analyzer, but an RF power meter is more likely to give you a good
> answer.
>
> An audio generator. You could do it with a sound card, but that can get
> pretty tedious. Audio / function generators are pretty cheap if you shop
> around. If you'd been at the Dayton Hamfest in 1981 I would have gladly
> sold
> you a good one for $15 (your choice from the 4 pallets full).
>
> A radio power supply. Depending on what you run, this might not be much. A
> supply that will adjust at least from 10 to 15 volts that puts out 20 to
> 30A
> is what I would recommend.
>
> The list could go on and on, but it does very much depend on what you want
> to do.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> Behalf Of John Foege
> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 1:35 PM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
>
> I realize that this e-mail is somewhat off topic, however, I also
> believe that I will get some of the best answers from the members of
> this list:
>
> I have recently started to build an electronics lab, and am currently
> trying to acquire test and general equipment for my little basement
> workshop of horrors. So far, being on a limited budget, I have
> acquired a Tek 2465A in good working order, a Fluke 1953A counter, and
> my little gem (ok not quite so little) HP5345A with the 4-ghz freq
> converter plugin w/ opt 11 & 12.
>
> I'd just like to ask everyone what they would be, if they were in my
> shoes, attempting to acquire. Unforunately, however, I am just out of
> engineering school and not working with much of a budget here. I'd
> kill to have all the fancy gear some of you nuts have.
>
> I'd really love a DSO instead of the Tek 2465A I have. I'd kill for a
> good spectrum analyzer or VNA etc.
>
> Any suggestions on what I should acquire and/or suggestions for
> economical equipment that I should make that is a must have? I am a
> good DIYer when it comes to building equipment, so often I attempt to
> build that which I cannot afford.
>
> I appreciate everyone's' opinions in advance. Thank you.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> John Foege
> KB1FSX
> starving-engineer!
>
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