[Test-Equipment] Q meter?

[Pete Lancashire]

I do agree the 4342A is something to end up with. I only mention the
260A in that if you good at scrounging you can get on for basically
free , I pull mine out about once a year to just see how its doing. As
to trying to keep the oscillator in cal, I added to mine a cheap
chinese frequency counter many examples on Ebay for under $20. But
100% agree about the 535A tube. My excuse I also collect old T&M.
I have a TS-617 but sadly it is in really bad shape picked it up a few
years as a parts unit for $5 at a swap meet.

I guess it is just what you want to use a Q-Meter for.

-pete

PS looking for the East German meter and a Yokogawa 4343B
http://www.originalmind.co.jp/useds/37669



On Wed, Jun 18, 2014 at 5:34 PM, Carl <km1h at jeremy.mv.com> wrote:
> Brian, Id suggest staying away from the Boontons as they are all based upon
> 30's technology, touchy to use, easy to damage the thermocouple, and finding
> a NOS special selected version of a 2A6 for the 260A will cost more than the
> whole meter. The Boonton tube is a BRC 535A.
>
> And to add insult to injury the readings will only agree .....maybe....with
> another of the family and not the current industry standard HP 4342A. If all
> you are interested in is relative readings then the 260A will at least let
> you make comparisons. A Heathkit QM-1 is a better choice if all you want is
> relative readings. It is somewhat based on a Boonton 190A with less hassles
> and kit accuracy.
>
> I used a 260A for many years at National Radio and bought it years later at
> auction with a set of "standard" coils. It was in need of an overhaul and
> recal and required a bit of work to get the oscillators to agree with the
> dials.
>
> I sold it in 1999 (kept the standard coils) after picking up a HP 4342A at a
> local belly up auction for $200.
>
> The military had the TS-617/U, plus an A, B, and C version. All but the C
> used the Boonton circuit. The C is a completely different design from a 1975
> USAF contract and has none of the Boonton idiosyncracies. I picked one off
> of Fleabay for $75 in 2006 and it worked well within spec without any work.
> It is tube based but no paper caps, uses A-B resistors and mil-spec
> electrolytics. All tubes tested as new.
> I use this one primarily for coils used in tube gear such as rewinding a
> front end receiver coil or input/output coils in transmitters and amps. The
> HP is used at VHF and with Litz wire at IF frequencies.
>
> Here is some good reading
> http://www.qsl.net/k5bcq/qmeter/qmeter.html
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Burns"
> <brian at lessonsinlutherie.com>
> To: "'Discussion of Electronic Test Equipment'"
> <test-equipment at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 5:39 PM
> Subject: [Test-Equipment] Q meter?
>
>
>> Hello All,
>>
>>
>>
>> There has been quite a bit of chat about Boonton Q meters, in a peripheral
>> sort of way, over on the funwithtubes group. It's made me curious about
>> the
>> usefulness of that device, or some other brand, on an RF experimenters
>> test
>> bench. Opinions?
>>
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>>
>>
>> Brian
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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