To Make or Not to Make an Active Probe Power Supply

What is it you want that your existing probe does not do? Mike

I often have to factor in my probe capacitance for misc. tests. Perhaps a lower probe capacitance will simplify my testing as opposed to using misc. techniques to dodge passive probe capacitance (in my case 15pf).

D from BC myrealaddress(at)comic(dot)com BC, Canada Posted to usenet sci.electronics.design

D from BC wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

ISTR that TEK makes a standalone power supply for their active probes.

the PS for the older TEK active probes wasn't complex,just the connector.

Do you know if you can buy that connector anywhere (that "tekprobe" type)? Seems like one could make some cool "add-ons" with it.

Yup. The worst scope I ever used was a Military-Grade HP. The knobs were all waterproof, which meant they had rubber boots rubbing against their shafts. Un-fragging-believable backlash!

It was packed in one of those hermetic military cases that would float, so it wouldn't even be able to act as a boat anchor. ;-)

Yes, HP scopes are crap.

Sorry. )-; Rich

Every 20 years or so, HP/Agilent figures out how to make scopes, and Tek figures out how to make spectrum analyzers. They're both in that state right now. Weird.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Ah, yes - I _did_ have occasion to use HP spectrum analyzers. They were pretty OK. Maybe the two different departments had different front panel people. ;-)

I used a TDR, once, and I honestly don't remember who built it. Every time I try to write, "tek", a little gnome pops up in my head and says, "Yabbut", and shows me another image from my hazy memory that makes me think "HP".

But it found the defect for me,

... unfortunately it was right smack-dab in the middle of that part of the F-4C[1] phantom jet right over the exhausts[2]. You can't sit on the inside of the skin, because it's got a billion[3] sheet metal screws poking through it. I had to disassemble a military connector[4], fix the wire, stick the wire back into the connector, and make the whole bundle airworthy - nay, combat-worthy, while crouching in this little space about the size of a doghouse.

John Devereux wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@devereux.me.uk:

you have to get a service manual or datasheet from TEK that lists the part number,then try to order the connector from TEK.It won't be inexpensive...

You might be able to download a manual from

Phil Hobbs wrote in news:XdSdne6iC55oGl_XnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@supernews.com:

TEK is back to making their OWN spec analyzers?? amazing. Unbelievable,actually.They had lost all the engineers in those disciplines.

They have been on a (poor)trend of buying other companies stuff and reselling it.(with the resultant service and support nightmares) They never learned from the Telequipment experience. Maybe its the new ownership...(Danaher)

I can recall when every instrument in the TEK catalog was made by TEK itself,and mostly right in the US of A. And they had their own Service Support Group,that could actually answer customer questions.Even printed a Support newsletter one could subscribe to.

Thanks Jim! (Never thought of actually trying that!...)

Thanks, will have a browse.

Made by Lemo..thy have a lot of cool connectors.

Check LEMO connectors, Switzerland.

Jeroen Belleman

=A0 =A0 =A0 Mike

Had a similar issue a while back... I found that all the new scope probes we had were 15pF. But an old TEK had only 8.5 pF. And if you've got enough signal you can make it a X100 scope probe and reduce the capacitve loading even more.

George H.

That's just like electronics.. Push here...pops up over there.. Lowered probe capacitance... but signal may drown in the noise.

D from BC myrealaddress(at)comic(dot)com BC, Canada Posted to usenet sci.electronics.design

I'm disappointed.. I thought there would be more good stuff on ebay for cheap from US companies that crash from the economic low..

D from BC myrealaddress(at)comic(dot)com BC, Canada Posted to usenet sci.electronics.design

D from BC wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

TANSTAAFL(from R.A.Heinlein;The Moon is a Harsh Mistress)

There aint no such thing as a free lunch.

I wonder if it's possible to track down the history of this factoid, to see if Heinlein really originated it or if it was more like lore, around forever?

Heinlein did have a universe-sized ego, so it could be questionable. ;-)

Cheers! Rich