Re: [sdiy] A Frequency Standard for Poor People?

[Scott Gravenhorst]

=?iso-8859-2?Q?Roman?= <modular at go2.pl> wrote:
>I haven't seen a scope for years and was able to build
>a synth. DMM is really usefull, but I also had logic tester
>and RF probe. That's all I needed to find unwanted oscillations,
>or very short pulses.
>And the best test tool of all, amplifier+speaker :)

My first scope stopped working (Eico 460) so I had no scope for several years,
but I did buy one again after returning to DIY.  I was able to do quite a few
things, especially in the realm of standard well known circuits.  But when I
started designing things where I had nothing established to rely on, I needed a
scope.  Supersonic and RF OpAmp oscillation is going to be difficult to detect
with anything but a scope.  One recent example was when I was building René's
4069 VCO, I had used a different pinout than René did and the PWM part was
spitting out supersonic (or possibly RF, I can't remember now) bursts where it
should have been a transition edge.  Can't detect this with a DMM, AMM, logic
probe or speaker/amp.

>But anyway, DMMs go for about 5USD now, so choosing between
>scope or DMM is no issue. Everyone should have DMM.
>
>Roman
>
>---- Wiadomo¶æ Oryginalna ----
>Od: Ken Stone <sasami at hotkey.net.au>
>Do: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>Data: Thu, 18 Dec 2003 19:14:46 +1100
>Temat: Re: [sdiy] A Frequency Standard for Poor People?
>
>>
>>>> A simple DMM is really an entry-level thing. You should have one. 
>><snip>
>>>I seldom disagree with Magnus, but I do to a great extent here.
>>
>>>You may be able to effect simple repairs with just a DMM, or possibly assemble
>>>simple AND well engineered kits with a DMM.
>>>
>>>Almost ANY other DIY work is going to require a scope. 
>>
>>For what it's worth, I survived for many many years without a scope.
>>Certainly there are some circuits that simply must have a scope to design or
>>set up, a heck of a lot can be achieved using the combination of a DMM,
>>analog MM, a logic probe and common sense!
>>
>>That said, a CRO makes life a LOT easier.
>>
>>Ken 
>>_______________________________________________________________________
>>Ken Stone   sasami at hotkey.net.au  
>>Modular Synth PCBs for sale <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/synth/>
>>Australian Miniature Horses & Ponies <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/>
>>
>>
>

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