[Icom] Last Word on Internal Keying Relays (I hope...)

[Paul Playford]

I share your attitude Tony.

Test equipment suitable for amateur radio use is very inexpensive today.
What we considered as lab equipment just a few years ago is now available at
hamfests for pennies on the dollar.  I assume the reason for this is that
most manufacturers have gone to push button, pre-setup instruments or test
instruments under computer control.  Or maybe they require measurements up
to a Gigahertz or so?  The slightly older stuff, such as a Tektronix 465
oscilliscope, requires a small amount of knowledge to use, and is very well
suited for amateur radio use.  I bought mine for $100 a couple of years ago
and last month I saw one offered for $125 at the Florida Hamcation.  And I
recently purchased a set of Tektronix probes for $40 at a hamfest.

Equipment of this caliber will measure waveforms from DC up to 100 MHz
easily.

Some use the "but it's all surface mount components" as an excuse.  I love
circuit mount components because you have two test points (at least)
accessable at each component.  And they are not hard to replace, just takes
a little time and patience.  My hands are not as steady as they used to be
and my eyes arn't as good anymore so it takes me a little more time and
patience, but it's still better than sending the equipment off to
never-never land for a possible repair.

And then you just have to remember:  "It's broke, so I really can't hurt
it".

de Paul, W8AEF

----- Original Message -----
From: Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
To: <icom@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Icom] Last Word on Internal Keying Relays (I hope...)


> Hi,
> For couple hundred bucks, used 'scope is a plenty. I just took some old
> 'scope home when I retired. People owning a radio like that ought to
> have some decent test gears. I'm old fashioned ham, not satisfied with
> just pushing buttons. I gotta poke, pick, break and fix things myself.
> 73,
> Tony, VE6CGX
/