TIL: TinySA-Ultra has a quick screenshot shortcut on the front panel. To use this function:
1) Check AUTO NAME on STORAGE menu
2) Set the DATE TIME on CONFIG menu
3) Be sure to have a microSD card inserted
4) Using a small plastic pointer (i.e., PalmPilot extra stylus you’ve been saving all these years), press the small green text/outline SD card symbol just above the battery indicator
5) Presto: Screen captured to card in .bmp format with date/time file name
#HamRadio #TestEquipment
#testequipment
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Continued thread
Completed repair of the inoperative HP8447E RF Amplifier with PS modification from +20VDC to +15VDC (1 added trim resistor) and installation of a Mini-Circuits ZFL-2000 amp module replacing the failed 5086-7768 hybrid. The “HP8447E”chassis now has good gain over the 10-2000 MHz range. A few mechanical mounting steps needed to wrap up this project but 95% complete at this moment. 3/
#HamRadio #TestEquipment
Continued thread
The HP8447E RF Amplifier module is certainly dead, with double-checked failure on the input side. Measured S11 earlier with the vector probe and found bad S11 on input and good S22 on the output. Next step will be to pick a replacement amp module and determine if the power supply needs tweaking (likely down to +15V from the current +20V output level). Will review on-hand replacement modules to maximize performance and usability of renovated amplifier chassis. 2/
#HamRadio #TestEquipment
Troubleshooting task: What’s wrong with this HP8447E RF Amplifier? Very clean but no output with test signal applied. Good news is that the power supply is working and putting out +20 VDC. Also, the RF cables both ohm out good. No open pins or connections. Bad news is the RF amp appears to be dead. 1/
#HamRadio #TestEquipment
Now in stock on Lectronz: NEW! PORTABLE OSCILLOSCOPE DSO 138PRO https://lectronz.com/products/new-portable-oscilloscope-dso-138pro
#Tools #Equipment #TestEquipment
lectronz.comNEW! PORTABLE OSCILLOSCOPE DSO 138PRODSO 138PRO portable oscilloscope : UPDATED version more Power in your pocket
Ever wonder what the input impedance/VSWR is for your inexpensive TinySA-Ultra spectrum analyzer? The specs page provides this info: Input impedance 50 ohm when input attenuation set to 10dB or more. Decided to measure one with a CMT R54 vector analyzer to see just how close to 50 ohms it is from 85-5400 MHz. TLDR: It’s pretty good at both high and low source power settings (better than expected with tinySA 0 dB input attenuator setting). #HamRadio #TestEquipment #TinySA
Got a new filter buddy for the music studio.
This thing is in brand new condition. I'm researching when it was produced, though I know the model before it was made in 1966.
Like I stole it off the shelf and hopped back into my time machine.
For the interested, it's two independent filters housed in one chassis. Each one can act as a low-pass or high-pass filter, or you can connect them and use the combo as a single band-pass or band-reject filter. Pretty versatile.
I have yet to test it, as it just arrived.
Using DuPont connectors in the ZIF socket made it wear out a bit. The first three positions don't grip as tightly as they should. So I modified my component tester. Now it has a three pin DuPont socket at the top. I like how it looks.
I should've done it from the beginning.
#soldering #hardwaremodding #electronics #componenttester #testequipment #hardwarehacking
DRAM Tester for Vintage Computers #TindieBlog #TestEquipment #DRAM #VintageComputers #4116 #4164 #Commodore64
https://blog.tindie.com/2025/06/dram-tester-for-vintage-computers/
Tindie Blog · DRAM Tester for Vintage ComputersOne of the most common issues with vintage computers is faulty RAM. For whatever reason, certain manufacturers and part numbers seem to fail at a much higher rate than others. Being able to test su…
Capturing Screenshots Using a Fake Printer - If you have very old pieces of analogue test equipment with CRTs on your bench, th... - https://hackaday.com/2025/06/17/capturing-screenshots-using-a-fake-printer/ #testequipment #classichacks #oscilloscope #screenshot #toolhacks #gpib
Hackaday · Capturing Screenshots Using A Fake PrinterIf you have very old pieces of analogue test equipment with CRTs on your bench, the chances are they will all have surprisingly similar surrounds to their screens. Back when they were made it was c…
Got time measurements working via manual cursors. Problem was in Stop Comparator card. Did a swap for now, but suspect Q54, will do component level troubleshooting next, but for now happy to get this closer to working.
0% zone still not working, which means no voltage measurements, and thus no automatic risetime measurements; that’s next on the list.
#tektronix #1960s #oscilloscope #electronics #testEquipment #retroTech
Next on the bench, the Tektronix 567 oscilloscope with possibly the first digital readout facility on any oscilloscope.
Swapping a bad tube in the regulator got all the rails up to spec. A few bad Nixie tubes in the readout unit were swapped, and now the real troubleshooting begins.
#tektronix #tek567 #oscilloscope #1960s #electronics #testEquipment #retroTech
This was an easy win. Pulse generator initially had a slow rise time. Some disassembly, cleaning and reassembling got it working properly.
#tektronix #1960s #electronics #testEquipment #retroTech
PoE-powered GPIB Adapter with Ethernet and USB-C Support https://hackaday.com/2025/05/10/poe-powered-gpib-adapter-with-ethernet-and-usb-c-support/ #poweroverethernet #PeripheralsHacks #Retrocomputing #testequipment #ethernet #gpib
Hackaday · PoE-powered GPIB Adapter With Ethernet And USB-C SupportIn the world of (expensive) lab test equipment the GPIB (general purpose interface bus) connection is hard to avoid if you want any kind of automation, but nobody likes wrangling with the bulky cab…
PoE-powered GPIB Adapter with Ethernet and USB-C Support - In the world of (expensive) lab test equipment the GPIB (general purpose interface... - https://hackaday.com/2025/05/10/poe-powered-gpib-adapter-with-ethernet-and-usb-c-support/ #poweroverethernet #peripheralshacks #retrocomputing #testequipment #ethernet #gpib
Hackaday · PoE-powered GPIB Adapter With Ethernet And USB-C SupportIn the world of (expensive) lab test equipment the GPIB (general purpose interface bus) connection is hard to avoid if you want any kind of automation, but nobody likes wrangling with the bulky cab…
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9/ very confident that it’s a blanking issue with the plug-in - tried it with another horizontal plug-in just to make sure it wasn’t the mainframe.
A few other interesting features of the 3B5:
The delayed magnification feature. Instead of a separate timebase & intensification zone, it has a selectable 10x & 100x magnification, and the delay control changes the point at which the sweep goes into the magnified rate, so you can still accurately zoom into a specific portion of the waveform. I think this is how some of the later 400 series scopes did it. I like it.
The sweep speed goes up to 10nS / division which is the fastest of any of the 560 series plug-ins. Note while it’s labeled 10nS on the silkscreen, the illuminated indicator uses ‘mili micro seconds (m u S)’ to avoid adding a 3rd prefix.
#tektronix #electronics #retroTech #vintageTech #1960s #testEquipment
Continued thread
7/ It was the nuvistor. It’s always the f$&king nuvistor. Both autoranging plug-ins are somewhat working.
Vertical plug-in still has some ranging issues, and the horizontal plug-in is slow to un-blank, which becomes a problem at higher sweep speeds. I’ll tackle that next.
#retroTech #vintageTech #tektronix #1960s #testEquipment #electronics