On Sat, 18 Dec 2021 11:51:12 -0500, Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:>Rich S wrote: >>>>> Amazing. Someone could set up a garage lab and do some serious stuff >>>>> really cheap these days. >>>>> >>>> ** How about a VHF/ UHF SA for A$220 ? >>>> >>>> https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/174645368295?hash=item28a9acd5e7:g:vKgAAOSw7WJgUjkv >>>> >>>> Thousands of uses...... >>>> ..... Phil >>> Microwave frequency synthesizers can be had for literally 1/1000 of >>> what they cost 20 or 30 years ago. >>> If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, >>> but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. >>> Francis Bacon >> >> what is everyone's opinion about "USB scopes" and "USB SA", etc. >> where the computer does all human interface & control, and >> a little black box handles the in's & out's. >> I think I like it since the laptop has UXGA resolution or better, way >> beyond what these stand-alone pieces have. >> > >I'd way rather have a stack of boat anchors for the same money. My lab >has nearly $2M worth of top-of-the-line test gear (at list prices) that >I've paid probably $50k for over the years. > >SDR-style spectrum analyzers are okay for spur chasing, but mostly >useless for the kind of RF stuff I do, which requires low phase noise. > >USB things are great for portable use, of course, but AFAICT they tend >to be limited by their software. > >The Ocean Optics spectrometers are the same way--the software is >infinitely flexible if you want to spend a week setting it up, but it's >a huge pain if you just want to turn it on and measure a spectrum. > >Machines should do as they're damn well told. > >Cheers > >Phil HobbsGot a boat? RL
$161 oscilloscope
Started by ●December 17, 2021
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
In article <6v6srghgh40h1tfq0db7g942cjvbjleqda@4ax.com>, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com says...> > Like kitchen ranges and front doors. They should have knobs and not > quit working when you can't find your phone or when AWS crashes. > > My neighbor has a fake LED fireplace with a remote. He's very proud of > it. > > >I bought a house about 15 years ago with a fire place. Wanted to use it mainly at Christmas with the whole family. I have only been able to use it 2 times due to the weather being so hot Yesterday it was 70 deg. Should be below 50 deg. About 45 years ago I had just gotten married that summer. Christmas it was about 7 deg F. I may have to look into the LEDs myself it this keeps up. This is the middle of North Carolina.
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:> On Sat, 18 Dec 2021 08:27:49 -0500, Phil Hobbs > <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote: > >> Rich S wrote: >>> On Friday, December 17, 2021 at 10:54:41 PM UTC, John Larkin wrote: >>>> On Fri, 17 Dec 2021 16:32:48 -0500, Phil Hobbs >>>> <pcdhSpamM...@electrooptical.net> wrote: >>>> >>>>> John Larkin wrote: >>>>>> I was looking for something else and this showed up: >>>>>> >>>>>> https://www.amazon.com/s?k=0751300436685&crid=21WX22FGW2XXG&sprefix=0751300436685%2Caps%2C262&ref=nb_sb_noss >>>>>> >>>>>> Amazing. Someone could set up a garage lab and do some serious stuff >>>>>> really cheap these days. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> Potentially pretty useful, especially in a tool bag. >>>>> >>>>> Cheers >>>>> >>>>> Phil Hobbs >>>> I could keep one at home. Or in my car. >>>> -- >>>> >>>> If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, >>>> but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. >>>> Francis Bacon >>> >>> "Debugging Weapon" >>> finally, Amazon is selling weapons. >>> Kill those lousy oscillations. >>> >> >> Not with a 100 MHz scope! I did see one at 38 MHz a couple of months >> ago, but it's more usually 300 MHz or above. (My current record is 14 >> GHz iirc.) It's pretty cool to be able to get magic 60 GHz transistors >> for 20 cents. >> >> I remember designing 70-MHz crystal oscillators with 2N5179s back in the >> day, because 2N3904s were slightly too slow. (Yikes, that was 40 years >> ago!) >> >> Cheers >> >> Phil Hobbs > > In my mis-spent youth I designed an RC emitter follower + 7414 schmitt > gate as a system power-on reset. The 2N2219 oscillated so hard at 100 > MHz it never got the gate input high. > > Transistors are so much better now!Of course a CK722 would probably have worked too. ;) (plus the base leakage would have lengthened the TC). Cheers Phil Hobbs -- Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics Briarcliff Manor NY 10510 http://electrooptical.net http://hobbs-eo.com
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
> > Kill those lousy oscillations. > > > Not with a 100 MHz scope! I did see one at 38 MHz a couple of months > ago, but it's more usually 300 MHz or above. (My current record is 14 > GHz iirc.) It's pretty cool to be able to get magic 60 GHz transistors > for 20 cents. > > I remember designing 70-MHz crystal oscillators with 2N5179s back in the > day, because 2N3904s were slightly too slow. (Yikes, that was 40 years > ago!) > Cheers > Phil Hobbs > > -- > Dr Philip C D Hobbs > Principal Consultant > ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics > Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics > Briarcliff Manor NY 10510 > http://electrooptical.net > http://hobbs-eo.comahem, well, some of us are still using low f_T devices... B-| even tho', that was purely my attempt at being snarky.
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
On Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 5:38:35 PM UTC, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:> On Sat, 18 Dec 2021 11:51:12 -0500, Phil Hobbs > <pcdhSpamM...@electrooptical.net> wrote: > > >Rich S wrote: > >>>>> Amazing. Someone could set up a garage lab and do some serious stuff > >>>>> really cheap these days. > >>>>> > >>>> ** How about a VHF/ UHF SA for A$220 ? > >>>> > >>>> https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/174645368295?hash=item28a9acd5e7:g:vKgAAOSw7WJgUjkv > >>>> > >>>> Thousands of uses...... > >>>> ..... Phil > >>> Microwave frequency synthesizers can be had for literally 1/1000 of > >>> what they cost 20 or 30 years ago. > >>> If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, > >>> but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. > >>> Francis Bacon > >> > >> what is everyone's opinion about "USB scopes" and "USB SA", etc. > >> where the computer does all human interface & control, and > >> a little black box handles the in's & out's. > >> I think I like it since the laptop has UXGA resolution or better, way > >> beyond what these stand-alone pieces have. > >> > > > >I'd way rather have a stack of boat anchors for the same money. My lab > >has nearly $2M worth of top-of-the-line test gear (at list prices) that > >I've paid probably $50k for over the years. > > > >SDR-style spectrum analyzers are okay for spur chasing, but mostly > >useless for the kind of RF stuff I do, which requires low phase noise. > > > >USB things are great for portable use, of course, but AFAICT they tend > >to be limited by their software. > > > >The Ocean Optics spectrometers are the same way--the software is > >infinitely flexible if you want to spend a week setting it up, but it's > >a huge pain if you just want to turn it on and measure a spectrum. > > > >Machines should do as they're damn well told. > > > >Cheers > > > >Phil Hobbs > Like kitchen ranges and front doors. They should have knobs and not > quit working when you can't find your phone or when AWS crashes. > > My neighbor has a fake LED fireplace with a remote. He's very proud of > it. > -- > > I yam what I yam - PopeyeOur facilities staff setup a fake "den" in one part of the building. The fake fireplace hosts a flat panel TV, to tightly conform to the space. The fire video running on continuous loop (they originally used a DVD player; sometime later, realized a USB thumb drive would do better...) ..At least the TV can be repurposed someday... if it doesnt die first.
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
On Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 9:56:26 AM UTC, Jan Panteltje wrote:> On a sunny day (Fri, 17 Dec 2021 18:10:31 -0800 (PST)) it happened Rich S > <richsuli...@gmail.com> wrote in > <eee32e67-f710-4a69...@googlegroups.com>: > >> >> Amazing. Someone could set up a garage lab and do some serious stuff > >> >> really cheap these days. > >> >> > >> >** How about a VHF/ UHF SA for A$220 ? > >> > > >> >https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/174645368295?hash=item28a9acd5e7:g:vKgAAOSw7WJgUjkv > >> > > >> >Thousands of uses...... > >> >..... Phil > >> Microwave frequency synthesizers can be had for literally 1/1000 of > >> what they cost 20 or 30 years ago. > >> If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, > >> but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. > >> Francis Bacon > > > >what is everyone's opinion about "USB scopes" and "USB SA", etc. > >where the computer does all human interface & control, and > >a little black box handles the in's & out's. > >I think I like it since the laptop has UXGA resolution or better, way > >beyond what these stand-alone pieces have. > I have several RTL_SDR USb sticks, accuray 1 ppm, range about 30 MHz to 1.8 GHz > cost abut 30$ > https://www.ebay.com/itm/272411458376 > > There is plenty of software for it online, but wrote my own stuff: > http://panteltje.com/pub/xpsa_audio_sinc_filter_3.gif\old version from 2017, > more option have been added... > > These new sticks have a software mod somewhere to go below 30 MHz, but have not needed / used it. > But these things are super cool, I plug it into the laptop and type > xpsa > http://panteltje.com/pub/xpsa-0.7.gif > 7.5 cm antenna.. > > But again there is a lot of open source software online, some with more features, for these sticks > I just write what I need for fun....Thanks Jan. Fascinating, i looked over the website. SDRs are a vast area to explore, if not for testing application, just for fun. Another thing to add to my "someday" list of projects. (when all those time-demands cease.).
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
John Larkin wrote:> I was looking for something else and this showed up: > > https://www.amazon.com/s?k=0751300436685&crid=21WX22FGW2XXG&sprefix=0751300436685%2Caps%2C262&ref=nb_sb_noss > > Amazing. Someone could set up a garage lab and do some serious stuff > really cheap these days. > > > >MAJOR problem: You will be stuck with the Extra charges recurring from "prime". -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
On Sat, 18 Dec 2021 16:28:08 -0500, Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:>jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote: >> On Sat, 18 Dec 2021 08:27:49 -0500, Phil Hobbs >> <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote: >> >>> Rich S wrote: >>>> On Friday, December 17, 2021 at 10:54:41 PM UTC, John Larkin wrote: >>>>> On Fri, 17 Dec 2021 16:32:48 -0500, Phil Hobbs >>>>> <pcdhSpamM...@electrooptical.net> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> John Larkin wrote: >>>>>>> I was looking for something else and this showed up: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> https://www.amazon.com/s?k=0751300436685&crid=21WX22FGW2XXG&sprefix=0751300436685%2Caps%2C262&ref=nb_sb_noss >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Amazing. Someone could set up a garage lab and do some serious stuff >>>>>>> really cheap these days. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> Potentially pretty useful, especially in a tool bag. >>>>>> >>>>>> Cheers >>>>>> >>>>>> Phil Hobbs >>>>> I could keep one at home. Or in my car. >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, >>>>> but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. >>>>> Francis Bacon >>>> >>>> "Debugging Weapon" >>>> finally, Amazon is selling weapons. >>>> Kill those lousy oscillations. >>>> >>> >>> Not with a 100 MHz scope! I did see one at 38 MHz a couple of months >>> ago, but it's more usually 300 MHz or above. (My current record is 14 >>> GHz iirc.) It's pretty cool to be able to get magic 60 GHz transistors >>> for 20 cents. >>> >>> I remember designing 70-MHz crystal oscillators with 2N5179s back in the >>> day, because 2N3904s were slightly too slow. (Yikes, that was 40 years >>> ago!) >>> >>> Cheers >>> >>> Phil Hobbs >> >> In my mis-spent youth I designed an RC emitter follower + 7414 schmitt >> gate as a system power-on reset. The 2N2219 oscillated so hard at 100 >> MHz it never got the gate input high. >> >> Transistors are so much better now! > >Of course a CK722 would probably have worked too. ;)No, I needed an NPN. But CK722 was my first transistor. It cost $7, a couple of months' allowance. https://www.dropbox.com/s/wuv7xjd5jg1i3lx/Ck722-0A.JPG?raw=1 -- I yam what I yam - Popeye
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
On Sat, 18 Dec 2021 13:55:38 -0800 (PST), Rich S <richsulinengineer@gmail.com> wrote:> >> > Kill those lousy oscillations. >> > >> Not with a 100 MHz scope! I did see one at 38 MHz a couple of months >> ago, but it's more usually 300 MHz or above. (My current record is 14 >> GHz iirc.) It's pretty cool to be able to get magic 60 GHz transistors >> for 20 cents. >> >> I remember designing 70-MHz crystal oscillators with 2N5179s back in the >> day, because 2N3904s were slightly too slow. (Yikes, that was 40 years >> ago!) >> Cheers >> Phil Hobbs >> >> -- >> Dr Philip C D Hobbs >> Principal Consultant >> ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics >> Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics >> Briarcliff Manor NY 10510 >> http://electrooptical.net >> http://hobbs-eo.com > >ahem, well, some of us are still using low f_T devices... B-| >even tho', that was purely my attempt at being snarky. >Some transistors, like BCX70, have hundreds of ohms of Rbb. I wonder if that keeps them from oscillating. -- I yam what I yam - Popeye
Reply by ●December 18, 20212021-12-18
On 18/12/21 22:27, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:> On Sat, 18 Dec 2021 16:28:08 -0500, Phil Hobbs > <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote: > >> jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote: >>> On Sat, 18 Dec 2021 08:27:49 -0500, Phil Hobbs >>> <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote: >>> >>>> Rich S wrote: >>>>> On Friday, December 17, 2021 at 10:54:41 PM UTC, John Larkin wrote: >>>>>> On Fri, 17 Dec 2021 16:32:48 -0500, Phil Hobbs >>>>>> <pcdhSpamM...@electrooptical.net> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> John Larkin wrote: >>>>>>>> I was looking for something else and this showed up: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> https://www.amazon.com/s?k=0751300436685&crid=21WX22FGW2XXG&sprefix=0751300436685%2Caps%2C262&ref=nb_sb_noss >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Amazing. Someone could set up a garage lab and do some serious stuff >>>>>>>> really cheap these days. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> Potentially pretty useful, especially in a tool bag. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Cheers >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Phil Hobbs >>>>>> I could keep one at home. Or in my car. >>>>>> -- >>>>>> >>>>>> If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, >>>>>> but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. >>>>>> Francis Bacon >>>>> >>>>> "Debugging Weapon" >>>>> finally, Amazon is selling weapons. >>>>> Kill those lousy oscillations. >>>>> >>>> >>>> Not with a 100 MHz scope! I did see one at 38 MHz a couple of months >>>> ago, but it's more usually 300 MHz or above. (My current record is 14 >>>> GHz iirc.) It's pretty cool to be able to get magic 60 GHz transistors >>>> for 20 cents. >>>> >>>> I remember designing 70-MHz crystal oscillators with 2N5179s back in the >>>> day, because 2N3904s were slightly too slow. (Yikes, that was 40 years >>>> ago!) >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> Phil Hobbs >>> >>> In my mis-spent youth I designed an RC emitter follower + 7414 schmitt >>> gate as a system power-on reset. The 2N2219 oscillated so hard at 100 >>> MHz it never got the gate input high. >>> >>> Transistors are so much better now! >> >> Of course a CK722 would probably have worked too. ;) > > No, I needed an NPN. > > But CK722 was my first transistor. It cost $7, a couple of months' > allowance. > > https://www.dropbox.com/s/wuv7xjd5jg1i3lx/Ck722-0A.JPG?raw=1That's why it was SOP to "repurpose" transistors scavenged from redundant PCBs. My school even had some on the floor in the "photographic darkroom", and my physics teacher was more than happy for me to take a couple of boards.
