"Leonard Martin" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"DaveM" wrote:

"Leonard Martin" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"DaveM" wrote:

"Leonard Martin" wrote in message
...
Hello! I've been reading the mail with pleasure. But I'm sad that it
seems like electronics has progressed so much that it's hard to have
fun
with if you're only half-smart, like me. My solution is to work on
old
tube radios.

For this I need a frequency counter that goes to maybe 500 MHZ (I
might
want to use my ham ticket on VHF someday). I'd like it to be fairly
cheap (no more than $300) and above all reliable and sturdily built.
I'd
like it to be new. I want this thing to last!

I've completely lost track of who makes such things and which makers
are
good. Would anyone care to recommend a company or model or both?
Even
the simplest knowledge would be more than I have now.

Thanks in advance

Leonard



I recommend that you go for one of the HP 5328A counters that are on
Ebay
quite frequently. They are workhorses, very well built, and the
military
models with a 500MHz C channel and hi-stability time base are
exceptional
values. You should be able to find one of those counters for $75 -
$150
easily, and a copy of the manual for $10 (on CD). You'll never be
sorry
with one of those units.



I agree. In fact I did just that 5 years ago! But the HP 5328A I bought
back in 2000 died a couple of weeks ago. That has made me think that
maybe surplus test equipment, especially this model, just doesn't have
much life left in it. In addition, I have had disappointing experiences
buying other test equipment on the main emporium for such, eBay.

So after that experience I would kind of like to buy a NEW basic and
sturdy counter (no fancy menus, please) for $300 or less. In addition
to
maybe getting longer life than the 5328A gave me I would like to get a
counter with a smaller footprint on my workbench.

What are the standard bench test equipment brands these days? Does
anyone have any favorite models within those brands?

Leonard
--

Just because your surplus used counter had a failure doesn't mean that a
new
one won't fail just as quickly, or much faster. For analogy, would you
throw away your car just because it failed to start the next time you
want
to go shopping?

I have two of those surplus HP 5328A counters that I bought in 1996 at a
hamfest in Atlanta, and they're still going strong. Best counters I've
ever
used. I don't use them daily, but 2-3 times a week and they've never
failed to perform.

Your counter may be repairable. What failed in the unit, or did you even
bother to investigate? I have a nearly complete unit that I bought just
to
have spare parts, but so far, I've never had to use anything from it.
Finding parts for these units is not a big problem as it might be with
some
other counters, especially those that are uP driven.



This has been great advice. I realized the next day after I wrote about
the failure of the HP 5328A that just because one fails after 5 years,
that doesn't mean they all will.

You know, it did seem to be the time base that had failed in my 5328A.
Testing showed signals being squared up at the input circuits. The
display was working completely. The unit would just not count anything,
period. I do not feel competent to work on such equipment. My hold on
electronic knowledge has always been shaky. It might go far enough to
fix simple old tube radios, but more complex stuff, either theory or
hands-on troubleshooting techniques, just doesn't stay with me. After
years of breaking electronic things worse trying to fix 'em, I know my
limitations.

Therefore I just threw this fine old piece of equipment away. It was
like parting with a sleek grayhound who just hadn't worked out as a pet.

Leonard
--


Good of you to admit your abilities. Sorry that you threw the old
instrument away.. I would have taken it off your hands in a heartbeat. If
the problem was, in fact, the timebase, it could have been fixed in just a
few minutes.
I have a couple of the HP high stability oscillators that the 5328A counters
use as a timebase oscillator. Am planning to build a GPS-controlled
frequency standard with them. Now, before all you folks start blasting me
about it, I already know about the HP Z3801A GPS receivers. But I want to
build one from scratch, just for the fun of it. I have a GPS receiver
module, a couple oscillators, and some uP's to glue it all together. I'm
thinking about what the software has to do to make it all work. will be an
interesting project, for sure.

Back to your original post, I still recommend another 5328A (or the military
version) as a replacement., for all the reasons already posted. And if you
should have trouble with any of your instruments in the future, please ask
here before doing anything so drastic as trashing it without an attempt at
repair. Even if you decide to trash, I'm sure somebody here would love to
take it off your hands in an attempt to revive.

Cheers
--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in
the address)

Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!