Old vs. New Scopes

[Electronic M]

Another option is to get an analog scope and a separate digital frequency counter, maybe a sin wave generator with a wide frequency range too... That is what I do since I basically never sink more than $50 into any single piece of test gear. For clean sin waves or square you can feed the counter directly, but on complex waveforms like synchroguide h osc waveforms one can match an outboard sin osc to the number of divisions on the scope (dual channel makes it easier) and feed the matched sin osc to the counter.

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

Another option is to get an analog scope and a separate digital frequency counter, maybe a sin wave generator with a wide frequency range too... That is what I do since I basically never sink more than $50 into any single piece of test gear. For clean sin waves or square you can feed the counter directly, but on complex waveforms like synchroguide h osc waveforms one can match an outboard sin osc to the number of divisions on the scope (dual channel makes it easier) and feed the matched sin osc to the counter.

Some good tips here. To blazes with a fortune in test gear, most of which won't get a lot of use, push what you have right to the edge.

What would be considered a wide frequency range in a sine wave generator? I picked up a Hewlett-Packard 652A a couple of months ago for free, apparently in working condition, the only catch being the meter is loose and slapping about in there. Its frequency range is 10Hz to 10MHz. I had no idea what I might be able to do with the thing, I just thought it was kind of neat.

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by Jon A.

Some good tips here. To blazes with a fortune in test gear, most of which won't get a lot of use, push what you have right to the edge.

What would be considered a wide frequency range in a sine wave generator? I picked up a Hewlett-Packard 652A a couple of months ago for free, apparently in working condition, the only catch being the meter is loose and slapping about in there. Its frequency range is 10Hz to 10MHz. I had no idea what I might be able to do with the thing, I just thought it was kind of neat.

You got a good generator. I had one about 7 years ago that I managed to damage (was doing some tube RF experiments and messed up) and later sold it. Those are useful for audio and you can get interesting video patterns feeding them into a tube set past the detector. You could use it with a scope and counter...Heck if you build or find an outboard AM or FM modulator you could use it as a test generator for radio work*.

*You can without it by tuning for minimum noise (generator carrier swamping ambient noise), but a modulator with tone is more fun to use.

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

You got a good generator. I had one about 7 years ago that I managed to damage (was doing some tube RF experiments and messed up) and later sold it. Those are useful for audio and you can get interesting video patterns feeding them into a tube set past the detector. You could use it with a scope and counter...Heck if you build or find an outboard AM or FM modulator you could use it as a test generator for radio work*.

*You can without it by tuning for minimum noise (generator carrier swamping ambient noise), but a modulator with tone is more fun to use.

Sweet, it's well worth fixing up then. I really need to open it and secure that meter, I'm concerned about it shorting something.

So I would need a tube set to create the video patterns? I wish I could find a later model tube colour to mix things up a little.

What would you recommend for a counter? Good to know my HP is good for radio work as well, could be handy for whenever I'm able to resume work on that Pye. I'd prefer to resurrect ready-made AM and FM modulators but if I need to build them so be it.