Recommend some cheap but good and LIGHT ( not BA ) bench test gear

[N3DRB The Derb]

every time I have to move the amp I think my guts are going to herniate down my leg. I could never manage anything more heavy than that. I'm cleaning up and repositioning everything in the shack today so the operating position is just that, where I operate the DONE FINISHED radio station. the repair bench is for parts orgs and whatever test gear I get. I'm hoping I find a grungy cheap bird 43 at the frostfest.....wih a 1 kw hf slug.....

[KM1H]

If you have the bench space the HP-606A is a great sig gen. Easy to work on and very stable after a short warm up. Figure on $50-75 for a good runner, less at fests. Mine came off Craigs list for $20 several years ago before I got the 8640B and USM-323 for $200 each off Ebay and no problems.

Good 50-200 mHz Tek SS analog scopes are everywhere under $100 as there is no commercial market for them. The 453 is probably the most rugged one they ever made.

Carl
KM1H

[WB2YGF]

I have a Heath  IG-5280 solid state signal generator. (about $40 on eBay)  It's a toy compared with professional signal generators, but it is VERY light and can run off 2 9V batteries if you want to go portable.  I also have the matching FETVOM, Signal tracer, LCR bridge and power supply.

I was thinking of getting the matching audio generator IG-5282 on eBay just to have the whole set, but for what they were bidding it up to, I could get someting older but much better.

[N3DRB The Derb]

I wrote down all the suggestions an will take them to the Frostfest. 

the freed megohmeter i bought offa ebay for 10 bucks arrived today. no time to get to it even for a look....

[WB2YGF]

I'm hoping I find a grungy cheap bird 43 at the frostfest.....wih a 1 kw hf slug.....

I got a 43 a couple of years ago but I can't bring myself to pay $120 per slug for one lousy range.  IMHO, these things are money pits.

What I am thinking of doing to get some bang-for-the-buck, is to add this $59 PEP adaptor

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bird-43-Wattmeter-PEP-Adaptor-Kit-Thruline_W0QQitemZ220353588776QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item220353588776

If I am reading it correctly, you also get 2 additional user-defined ranges using this board.  So in theory, I could get a 250W slug and set the additional ranges for 500W and 1000W saving me over $200 in slugs.  I also get the additional convenience of not having to swap slugs all the time.

[WU2D]

Here you go Derb - The king of sources: http://cgi.ebay.com/EICO-MODEL-320-322-SIGNAL-GENERATOR_W0QQitemZ330305748795QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330305748795

Seriously the Eico 324 and a counter! Derb do you have a counter? - at least those are cheap and small!

The mini HP and Tek and Leader audio gens are also nice. I also have the Heath IG audio generator mentioned.
 
I paid $35 for a 1970's 606B biege model sig gen with broken meter glass which I fixed in an hour. Nice box for most bench work. At least it is not as big as a 608!

But I have to agree with the boys that the 8640 route is the way to go.

Mike WU2D

[N3DRB The Derb]

slab bacon rescued the B & K sig gen I literally threw in the trash when I went insane in he membrane some years back, and JN gave me a nice little B& K scope to go with it. So I might be on the B & K track for a while. Those Eicos are pretty little things, nice blue panels.

[N3DRB The Derb]

Well, tomorrow is the richmond frostfest - we'll see what else we can get down there -  I have $100 to spend and no more or the electric wont get paid. 

[Opcom]

What did you get?

[N3DRB The Derb]

lemme get the camera.....