One thing to look at is the Tek TM500 stuff. When I lived in a small appartment, it was very helpful. There are a wide variety of modules available, often in the $20 to $30 range. They are also mostly pretty easy to fix and use mostly standard OTS parts.
The TM500 stuff is NOT a substitute for high end instruments, but is well above hobby grade. BTW, the RF generators are not very good on frequency stability. You can get 6 lab grade instruments in a box about 9" wide x 14" high x 18" deep. FWIW, -John ================ > Hi > > Nothing about a lab is "one size fits all". That said, I think you > probably > will need to add: > > A way to come up with 3 DC voltages. Either a triple supply or 3 > independent > supplies. Something like 0-7V @ 5-10A and a couple of 0-32V at 1-3A > supplies. > > Something to measure volts and amps. Handheld meters are very neat and > they > can do a lot. I happen to like bench DVM's simply because they don't walk > around the bench as I tug on the leads. > > A bench computer. It doesn't need to be the latest and greatest. Something > that will barely run XP is probably plenty good enough. It does need to > have > a net connection, a serial port, a parallel port, and a sound card. A > (mostly) working display is also helpful. If you get exotic, it should > have > at least one USB port. > > A *good* soldering setup. I've seen more people destroy stuff with low end > soldering gear than just about any other thing. > > A stock of parts and wire. What we are talking about here is really how to > allocate a limited budget. Parts are just as important as anything else > you > set up in a lab. Save some money to at least put in a stock of resistors > and > common capacitors. > > Someplace to work. The kitchen table isn't going to cut it for long. Don't > buy more stuff than you have room to use. Also don't empty out all the > quarters from the cookie jar before a table or bench gets bought. The > strength of the bench may be a significant issue as you shop for test > gear. > > For radio specific stuff: > > Some kind of RF signal source. Usually a signal generator for the bands > that > interest you. It can be as simple as an old LM frequency meter or it can > cost as much as a new car... > > A way to measure RF power accurately. You can do this with a scope or a > spectrum analyzer, but an RF power meter is more likely to give you a good > answer. > > An audio generator. You could do it with a sound card, but that can get > pretty tedious. Audio / function generators are pretty cheap if you shop > around. If you'd been at the Dayton Hamfest in 1981 I would have gladly > sold > you a good one for $15 (your choice from the 4 pallets full). > > A radio power supply. Depending on what you run, this might not be much. A > supply that will adjust at least from 10 to 15 volts that puts out 20 to > 30A > is what I would recommend. > > The list could go on and on, but it does very much depend on what you want > to do. > > Bob > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On > Behalf Of John Foege > Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 1:35 PM > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > Subject: [time-nuts] Test Equipment > > I realize that this e-mail is somewhat off topic, however, I also > believe that I will get some of the best answers from the members of > this list: > > I have recently started to build an electronics lab, and am currently > trying to acquire test and general equipment for my little basement > workshop of horrors. So far, being on a limited budget, I have > acquired a Tek 2465A in good working order, a Fluke 1953A counter, and > my little gem (ok not quite so little) HP5345A with the 4-ghz freq > converter plugin w/ opt 11 & 12. > > I'd just like to ask everyone what they would be, if they were in my > shoes, attempting to acquire. Unforunately, however, I am just out of > engineering school and not working with much of a budget here. I'd > kill to have all the fancy gear some of you nuts have. > > I'd really love a DSO instead of the Tek 2465A I have. I'd kill for a > good spectrum analyzer or VNA etc. > > Any suggestions on what I should acquire and/or suggestions for > economical equipment that I should make that is a must have? I am a > good DIYer when it comes to building equipment, so often I attempt to > build that which I cannot afford. > > I appreciate everyone's' opinions in advance. Thank you. > > Sincerely, > > John Foege > KB1FSX > starving-engineer! > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.