How much is enough?

[Frank MacDonell]

I like building QRP radios. What is the group's opinion on basic test/calibration equipment one should have in the shack? Thanks in advance!
Frank KD8FIP

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[Tony Estep]

On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 1:11 PM, Frank MacDonell <[hidden email]> wrote:
> ...basic test/calibration equipment one should have...
========
Frank, you'll get plenty of opinions, but in addition to the obvious
stuff I would highly recommend the LC meter kit at:
http://www.aade.com/lcmeter.htm

Since you like building, you'll like this kit. It gives much more
accurate readings of L and C than the LC readings on my fancy digital
VOM, and it's a great help when winding and/or debugging toroids and
identifying capacitors with tiny cryptic markings or none at all.

Of course, you need a VOM, maybe a nice signal generator like the
XG-3, and an RF probe for your VOM. I love my scope but it's certainly
not a necessity. I also have an audio generator I built from a
Sparkfun kit that could sometimes be helpful.

Tony KT0NY




--
http://www.isb.edu/faculty/facultydir.aspx?ddlFaculty=352
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Frank,

Build your array of test equipment around your needs - and build it up
as you have need.

If you are building kit radios, then you may only need a DMM and a good
dummy load.  OTOH, if you are designing and testing your own
experimental designs or building from a schematic you discovered, you
may need more than that.

An oscilloscope is really a handy tool, and a frequency counter is also
good to have.  A precision dummy load and an oscilloscope with a 10X
probe will allow you to measure RF power - of course, the Elecraft DL1
qualifies and has a built-in detector diode.  An RF Probe will work in
many cases in place of the oscilloscope.

Signal generators are also good to have - the Elecraft XG3 is quite a
versatile generator
You need a PC with a soundcard at the workbench - so you can run
Spectrogram or SpectrumLab and have a mini-DB and mini-Ring-Core
calculators available - there is a lot that you can do with a PC on the
workbench.

I would refer you to the Measurements chapter of Experimental Methods in
RF Design (ARRL Publication) for a more complete list of test
equipment.  The degree of precision you need/want to achieve will
dictate your selection of equipment.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/10/2012 2:11 PM, Frank MacDonell wrote:
> I like building QRP radios. What is the group's opinion on basic test/calibration equipment one should have in the shack? Thanks in advance!
> Frank KD8FIP
>
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[Chip Stratton]

A nice scope is sure fun to have around the old test bench. Perfectly
good  analogue scopes that cost many thousands 20 to 40 years ago are
available for less than a penny on the dollar these days, and are more
than enough for work on HF gear.

Chip
AE5KA
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

All,

For those with sincere interest in obtaining a 'scope (Tektronics), I
would suggest you contact Mr. Scope - Bob Garcia
([hidden email]) to see what he has available.  Bob is a former
Tek technician and offers Tek 'scopes at very reasonable prices.  He is
also quite the gentleman - one of the 'scopes I ordered from him, he
sent and did not expect any payment until I was satisfied with the
product.  You just cannot get any better service than that.

73,,
Don W3FPR

On 2/10/2012 7:41 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> I have an HP1740A analog scope (from the 1970's) that is my workhorse. After
> 40 years in service it still takes a lick'n' and keeps on tick'n'.
>
> Equally importantly, we 'understand' each other.
>
> If one doesn't learn to use a tool, understanding its idiosyncrasies and
> limitations, it's not worth buying it. That includes any piece of test
> equipment. Without that knowledge, the best gear will lead the user astray
> more often that help inform.
>
> So, being a touch lazy, I put making the jump to the latest and greatest
> until I see a specific need.
>
> 73,
> Ron AC7AC
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> A nice scope is sure fun to have around the old test bench. Perfectly
> good  analogue scopes that cost many thousands 20 to 40 years ago are
> available for less than a penny on the dollar these days, and are more
> than enough for work on HF gear.
>
> Chip
> AE5KA
>

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