[sdiy] Funky Beta

[Kyle Stephens]

I've been working on a PNP-NPN expo converter. Knowing it's conducive to the unit doing its job if the transistors involved are beta matched, I started running the transistors I had (2N3904s and 2N3906s) through my new multimeter (it has an Hfe test socket). The meter is a cheapo one I should say.

The 3904s had numbers between 100-199, nothing below three digits. The 3906s however were far more measly. Like 6...5...8... nothing above a 9.

Any idea what's going on?