[R-390] Signal Generators (was: Deoxit)

Michael Drum [email protected]
Sun, 07 Dec 2003 11:45:26 -0500 

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the info and the kind words. Those generators
were mucho dinero a while ago, so I am very happy that
circumstances have caused them to come down in price
so I could finally get one!

The rat's auction is still on Ebay. He lists them one at a
time. I can't tell you how low this guy really is. His email
back to me was enough to make a normal person vomit.
It was rich in 4 letter words, calling me a Jersey inbred and
a host of other adjectives. He also sells downloads to Yeasu
manuals he gets for free too. As a community service, here
is the link to his site. If you look at his other auctiuons you
will see the other manuals. Caveat Emptor was quoted for
low life's like him.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2578219742&category=25407

Ebay knows what he is doing because I told them. Hopefully
the legal department at HP will put him out of business.

Mike

At 09:35 AM 12/7/2003 -0600, Robert Nickels wrote:
>Hi Mike,
>
>You got a good deal, it's a nice generator.  A test equipment rental company
>in the Chicago area has been selling them for $100-150 at hamfests, often by
>the van-load, as they are basically useless in the wireless manufacturing
>biz today where the action starts well above 1 gig.   So lots of us have
>benefited from the digital cellphone craze!
>
>Thanks for the heads-up on the rat selling BAMA manuals, that's pretty low.
>I looked but couldn't find anyone selling just a download, but I think we'll
>all be aware if he pops up again.  Hopefully eBay pulled the auction.
>
>73, Bob W9RAN
>
>PS:  The name of the outfit is Valuetronics, if yours happens to have one of
>their stickers on it ;-)
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Michael Drum" <[email protected]>
>To: <[email protected]>
>Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 7:36 AM
>Subject: Re: [R-390] Signal Generators (was: Deoxit)
>
>
> > Cecil,
> >
> > I wanted a 8640B years ago, but it was over my head price
> > wize.  I just found one on the auction place for $150
> > using the buy it now option! It is in working shape
> > and looks to be in good cosmetic condition as well.
> >
> > I don't think I'm ever going to get one cheaper then that.
> >
> > Beware of a seller offering a manual download for the
> > 8640B. It's available as a free download from the BAMA
> > web site. This guy is trying to profit from other peoples
> > work. I told him he was selling Copyrighted work and he
> > responded with the must vulgar language I've ever heard.
> > I'm sorry to say he is a ham too...Guy actually charges a
> > shipping fee for a download he is selling! He does not
> > even provide a CD! He gets it from BAMA and puts it on
> > his server, then charges the uninformed for the privledge
> > of getting it from him. I reported him to Ebay and HP.
> >
> > Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's to all.
> >
> > At 01:25 PM 11/29/2003 -0600, Cecil Acuff wrote:
> > >Well just another update....I was wrong on the pricing of the
>8640B's...the
> > >market has gotten softer than I knew...Looks like one can buy a nice one
>for
> > >$300 to $400 bucks...that is a steal of a deal on a very nice
> > >generator....They were double that 2 years ago!  I may buy me a spare
>just
> > >for the parts at those prices!
> > >
> > >Cecil...
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Don Reaves W5OR" <[email protected]>
> > >To: <[email protected]>
> > >Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 11:18 AM
> > >Subject: RE: [R-390] Signal Generators (was: Deoxit)
> > >
> > >
> > > > I second the HP-606 boatanchor nomination, especially the HP-606B
>model.
> > > > It has a high level secondary output, independent of the calibrated
> > > > output, that is useful for connecting to a frequency counter.  As
>Cecil
> > > > says, they are built like tanks, and the only trouble I've had with
>mine
> > > > is that the grease in the band turret got old and gummy and finally
> > > > prohibited easy band changing.  I used a degreaser to soak out the old
> > > > grease over a period of a week and then applied new lubrication.
>Works
> > > > like new.  Be careful buying signal generators - they often have the
> > > > attenuator fouled up and you will need a functioning calibrated output
> > > > for tweaking your R-390.
> > > >
> > > > The URM-25 is the genny called out in the manuals.  They are much
> > > > smaller and compact and a bit harder to work on should you need to
> > > > repair one.  But it is the classic choice.
> > > >
> > > > I've never owned an 8640B but you can trust Walter's recommendation.
> > > > 8640s are on the workbenches of Chuck Ripple and Rick Mish.  Be sure
>you
> > > > get one that does not have the attenuator burned out.
> > > >
> > > > A friend who is tuned into the used test equipment market says prices
> > > > for high quality older test equipment are just absolutely sinking.  So
> > > > it's a great time to upgrade your workbench.  At a recent Texas
>hamfest
> > > > test equipment was nearly being given away.  For example, I picked up
>an
> > > > HP-3586B Selective Voltmeter, an HP-3330B Synthesizer, and several
> > > > Watkins Johnson counters.  The pile was less than $200.
> > > > Manuals for this stuff will probably cost more than the equipment.
> > > >
> > > > DeOxit.
> > > > For a while, you could find DeOxit on their web site in ten dollar
> > > > sample kits, which was enough to cure several R-390s of oxidized
> > > > contacts.  They furnished an assortment of their products in 2cc
>plastic
> > > > tubes in the kit.  Part number 2C-SAMP.  Included CaiLube (for pots)
>and
> > > > R-5 (good for flashlight batteries).  I just checked, they still have
> > > > web specials, called survival kits (hehe).  K2C is the closest match
>to
> > > > what they used to offer.  Still ten bucks.  www.caig.com
> > > >
> > > > Don Reaves
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > >
> > >
> > >
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