The next best-kept test equipment series

[K7SGJ]

I wasn't aware you were doing any R&D, and that particular piece is an odd one to have around just for service work. I'm sure it can be valuable in isolating logic application problems, but for the average repair bench, you don't usually see one in the mainframe. Glad you were able to resurrect a few. I think you have the right idea of buying several pieces of what you need, fixing them up, and selling off the repaired units you don't need. If done carefully, one can equip a very nice high end bench for a very modest overall investment. That's how I always equipped my benches in the past. Of course, there are times when you have to bite the bullet and buy new, but fortunately, they are few and far between. Thanks for making these posts on your progress with the test equipment. I find it interesting as it is an area in which I have spent a lot of my time, as well.

[N8YX]

Thanks for making these posts on your progress with the test equipment. I find it interesting as it is an area in which I have spent a lot of my time, as well.

Eddie,

I'm glad to do so - both from an "interest" standpoint and a roadmap-to-repair perspective. Many folks I know have never heard of the various Tek equipment lines and it's always enjoyable to show them how to have champagne on a beer budget.

A lot of this gear - albeit used - is much better in its designated role than just about any 'hobbyist'-grade equivalent and can often be had for the same (or less) money.

This:

TM5006.jpg
Plus these:

tek5001.jpg

can be anything you want on a bench. Only have room for one power module? Swap plugins and it becomes a scope calibration center...a TTL/CMOS design center...RF/IF/AF signal source/measurement platform, audio distortion analyzer - the possibilities are endless.

Think of this equipment as the Legos of the E-E world. True, Tek/Tegam or the other gear manufacturers didn't make high-end signal or sweep generator, vector network analyzer, LCR/Q/ESR meter or service monitor plugins for the series (and in monolithic form, those are gonna co$t me dearly!) but for the average tinkerer/hobbyist the generally available TM stuff is perfect.

[N8YX]

Bump.

I just scored a trio of these plus an RTM-506 mainframe:

$_57.jpg

A Digital Audio Corp DSP unit, RCW-320T. Multiple filtering modes - I don't know if the unit incorporates an auto-notch function like my DSP-599s do but it'll be worth checking out.

Research 'round the 'Net shows these were built under contract for the NSA and were used to process COMINT audio for recording purposes. Upper audio B/W of 7KHz - perfect for ham-station or general communications audio work.

Plans are to mount the mainframe in one of my equipment racks then feed the line-level audio of both of the co-racked Mackay Marine receivers to the processors. Two SC501 scopes will handle post-processing monitoring.

This leaves one of the units free as a spare or for use in the lab.

[K7SGJ]

Bump.

I just scored a trio of these plus an RTM-506 mainframe:

$_57.jpg

A Digital Audio Corp DSP unit, RCW-320T. Multiple filtering modes - I don't know if the unit incorporates an auto-notch function like my DSP-599s do but it'll be worth checking out.

Research 'round the 'Net shows these were built under contract for the NSA and were used to process COMINT audio for recording purposes. Upper audio B/W of 7KHz - perfect for ham-station or general communications audio work.

Plans are to mount the mainframe in one of my equipment racks then feed the line-level audio of both of the co-racked Mackay Marine receivers to the processors. Two SC501 scopes will handle post-processing monitoring.

This leaves one of the units free as a spare or for use in the lab.

Nice. Where did you find them?

[N8YX]

Nice. Where did you find them?

Where I always find stuff like this. Hint: Not your local hamfest...hasn't been anything good at one in years.

[N8YX]

One of those 320T's had a problem...seems it wouldn't process audio. Of course with no schematic to go on, things became...interesting.

It's always the simple stuff, however. In this case the +15v regulator had gone bad. I had a few left over from the Stoner CB project and after swapping them the unit was fixed.

This model of DSP is by far the most flexible I've ever used. It ought to be, for the price which was charged when new.