What test gear do folks have?

**alloydog** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 05:40

I'm just getting restarted in home building stuff. To build decent kit, I guess you need some basic test gear. Also, way, way back, when I still lived in the UK, there was a legal requirement for Amateurs to have some test gear.

Digging out the box, I have a digital multimeter (Fluke), a home made RF probe, and... an old Marconi TF2015/I signal generator!

I think I ought to knock up some sort of test receiver, maybe.

**m0bov** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 06:49

Its a legal requirement for UK stations to have a wave meter, however since many new stations don't even own an SWR meter I doubt many have one.

**M0TZO** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 08:29

Originally Posted by m0bov

Its a legal requirement for UK stations to have a wave meter, however since many new stations don't even own an SWR meter I doubt many have one.

Is it though?? What does the License document say?

I am not sure it's there any longer.

Wasn't that a BR-68 thing?

**alloydog** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 09:13

OK, probably showing my age... :lol:
You used to have to have some sort of steady frequency source, such as a crystal oscillator, that you could make sure you TX was on frequency, but it wasn't required of the rig had a crystal oscillator built in. I think it was on my first license, which was issued back in '85-'86 (my callsign is inherited from my dad - I should have been a G6.).
I would have thought, with the crowding of the RF spectrum, there would still be some sort of requirement to ensure home built kit stays within the amateur bands. Perhaps I ought to take a look at the last validation document the RA sent me. I really should read through my Finnish license as well...

**m0bov** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 11:26

Does'nt surprise me that they have withdrawn the wave meter, certainly there is no requirement for other kit. I had a QSO with a station last week who did'nt even know what an SWR meter was :evil: .

**alloydog** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 11:49

I guess it's a reflection to how many people bother to build their own stuff. I mean, what's the point of studying for and talking a technical exam, only to put together a station with commercial "plug n play" gear?

What's the score with our colonial cousins over the pond? or in the antipodes?

But lamenting aside, does anyone here have any test equipment?

**M0TZO** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 13:08

I have Analogue & Digital Multimeters and an MFJ-259b Antenna Analyzer.

**K7KBN** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 14:28

Same as Paul, plus a "sillyscope", megger, Kelvin bridge, spectrum analyzer, a couple good frequency counters and 50 years' worth of accumulated parts.

**m0lsx** · Wed 14th Oct 2009, 16:12

I have a wave meter that I keep in my portable operating box.
When I operate either at the school for the radio club, or when operating a special event station. I also have a dipper, a frequency counter & a multi meter as a minimum on site.
I also make a point of having a HF low pass & a 2 meter band pass filter available if not in line.

**5B4AJB** · Sun 18th Oct 2009, 08:30

Off the top of my head...

Heathkit Grid dip oscillator
various VSWR/power meters
Multimeters
Frequency counter
various homebrew RF/lightning detectors
homebrew signal generator

Plus the obligatory 20+ years worth of associated junk!

**techiesteve** · Sun 18th Oct 2009, 20:03

I have some test equipment left over from component level servicing, it hasn't been getting much use in my current job.

Fluke 75 DVM, Hitachi 100 MHz scope, Farnell LF1 audio generator, home made active load for PSU testing, Dick Smith capacitor ESR tester, Inductance / capacitance meter, RF millivolt meter, old AVO 7, PAT tester, semiconductor tester, and a very old and quite useless Racal frequency meter (uses bulbs that light up numerical vertical rows behind a glass front), am planning to replace it with a modern version very soon. I will be buying an SWR / power meter. I also have static dissapative matting and a weller 24v soldering station, weller mains 60W and 100W irons and a good toolkit.

I take my foundation exam in a few weeks, but unfortunately if I construct any QRP tranceiver kits I can't use them until I take the intermediate exam next year.

**5B4AJB** · Tue 20th Oct 2009, 14:45

Originally Posted by techiesteve

if I construct any QRP tranceiver kits I can't use them

You mean you can't transmit on it, not from home at least. Take it to a local ham or club and use their callsign under their supervision.

No problem with building & listening to a transceiver without a license.

I should think a club would be happy to align and test a beginners radio...