What's on your workbench???

Hi Suzy,
And you have by far the cleanest work bench of any of us, by far! Do you build and test on that one? I know you test, but the building part has me curious.

My husband would disagree about the clean bit. I do soldering and delicate assembly work there, as well as test/debug, plus design work. Anything big or messy gets done in my garage, or in the laundry if I need a sink. Professionally, we’ve always had specific areas for different tasks, including clean rooms for wire bonding, and soldering areas. I guess that’s rubbed off on my hobby stuff as well.
 
1audio wrote: "...The rubber ears are silly expensive,..."
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Not only are they expensive, they have a finite life and come with an expiration date. For my low budget project I modified a pair of ears (pinnae) from Binaural Enthusiast.

Thanks for your comments. I know I have gone way to far down this rabbit hole but it has been an interesting learning experience.
 
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1audio wrote: "...The rubber ears are silly expensive,..."
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they have a finite life and come with an expiration date. For my low budget project I modified a pair of ears (pinnae) from Binaural Enthusiast.

I did not know about the expiration date. I'll check the packaging. . .

Gras has a new version with a different internal shape. Essentially obsoleting the older ears. $$$ money lost to progress. I can't really complain. I have three Tek 7854's. They cost as much as my first house in San Jose. Today the three aren't worth enough for a house payment BUT they all still work and are useful.
 
On the bench at the moment, a Philco 48-1263, my daughter-in-law got it from her grandmother. Gram purchased it in San Fran with her first paycheck around 1948. Most of the tubes tested weak and weren't difficult to source. No evidence of any prior repairs. Where to find a crystal cartridge?
 

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Hi Jack,
Nice bench! You've got everything you need there except for an oscilloscope.

-Chris

I have 5 scopes -- but three are collectors items -- a Tek 5103N with the 5L4N spectrum analyzer, and the little Eico 315. I also have a 5223N bought from a medical instruments company for a song. It was in mint condition with a bunch of plug-ins (5A22N!). If I get hit by a bus, my wife will take them all to Goodwill!

Here's the experimenting bench -- for me it's good to have one for working on receivers and amplifiers, another to test stuff out. 3 of these benches were $100 from a guy who was moving his aerospace consultancy to N. Carolina.
 

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Hi folks
my list:

Sencore SG-80 AM Stereo & FM Stereo Signal Gen
HP 3562a dynamic signal analyzer
HP 8903a audio analyzer
HP 3324a synthesis function/sweep gen up to 21MHz
HP 5382a 225 Mhz frequency counter
Tek 454a Analog 150 Mhz scope with original probe and carry case. (1967!)
Tek TDS 460a 4 Ch digitizing scope (400 Mhz)
Kenwood PAC 30-2R Regulated Bench supply (missing schematics and service info if anyone has pleas PM)

yiHua 936 solder station
hako 926 solder station

What I would like (or missing) is a Sencore PA-81 or something equivalent (suggestions welcome). This unit is too expensive for a hobby so looking for DIY unit or other brands/models. Basically a dummy load with meters but enough scales to do Stereo Separation as well as load tests.

cheers
Paul
 
Thanks

the other instrument I gave up on getting is a spectrum analyzer that covers 10.7Mhz for my FM tuner work. I will most likely just build a test jig around the AD8307 log amp. So I can sweep and match filters visually. with two log amp fixtures in parallel and my 4 ch scope I should be able to display and overlay two filter curves.
 
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Hi Paul,
HP 3585A or B.

Alternatively you can use an HP 3336B to sweep and use a scope to show the envelope. Tie in an HP 3586B and you have an accurate measurement system.

I use an HP 3585A for this work, and it is excellent. You can sweep with a 3 Hz wide filter if you want.

-Chris
 
Working on some heavy metal!

ARRL Mug -- good goin!

Hi Paul,
HP 3585A or B.

Alternatively you can use an HP 3336B to sweep and use a scope to show the envelope. Tie in an HP 3586B and you have an accurate measurement system.

I use an HP 3585A for this work, and it is excellent. You can sweep with a 3 Hz wide filter if you want.

-Chris

Doesn't the 3336B use WECO connectors? I have some WECO cables and adapters if someone needs them.
 
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