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Used test equipment websites? - RF Cafe Forums
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| Jimmy
Burrows |
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Post subject: Used test equipment websites?
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:33 pm
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Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2003
6:38 pm
Posts: 8
Location: City of Industry,
CA |
I'm looking to set up a simple electronics test
station for working on old AM and FM radios. Thinking
about maybe doing some restoration in my soon-to-be
retirement. Any suggestions for where to pick up
reliable used TE (other than eBay or Craig's list)?
I've found some Ham sites but am leery about dealing
with unknowns. How about new TE (signal generator,
bench supply, spectrum analyzer, etc) at a decent
price? I've done a lot of searching and know there's
a lot out there for the taking, but I'm looking
for some direction from someon who has done this
already. No sense reinventing the wheel. BTW, I
did mostly digital electronics so the RF world is
kinda new. Any suggestions for books would be appreciated
too. I've made enough bad purchases in my days (about
62 x 365 of them) that any sage advice would be
appreciated.
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Richard |
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Post subject: Re: Used test equipment websites?
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:51 pm
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Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2006
9:16 am
Posts: 11 |
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I have bought a lot of test equipment off of ebay
and never had a problem. You have a chance to ask
questions before making a bid. Also ebay will settle
disputes if someone tries to rip you off. I think
most credit card companies also protect you against
fraud. Your most risky option is to deal personally
with cash. Go for it!
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biff44 |
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Post subject: Re: Used test equipment websites?
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:57 pm
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Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009
11:07 am
Posts: 48 |
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5 years ago you could have great luck finding bargains
on ebay. Now about half of the stuff for sale is
junk/non working.
You need to stay with sellers
that have a rating of better than 300 reviews and
no less thatn 99.5% positive ones! You also need
to check to see if the guy routinely sells equipment!
You do not want to buy a $3000 spectrum analyzer
from a guy that has a great reputation selling womens
handbags! That is almost certainly a sign of a scam!
AM/FM stuff....there are good deals on ebay
for E4401B spectrum analyzers that will work up
to 1.5 Ghz. Make sure the options are right (50
ohms, etc). If that does not work, you can go cheaper
with an 8566b. In that case, make sure the screen
is bright and sharp.
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SunshineDesign |
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Post subject: Re: Used test equipment websites?
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:30 pm
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Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008
11:35 pm
Posts: 31
Location: Ramona, CA
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Jimmy I recently started buying some new test gear
at great prices to setup a nice electronics test
lab at home. Not only was I able to find great prices
on new equipment, it has great capability and remote
interface, so I can automate the measurements. B&K
Precision, Rigol, GW Instek, Hameg and a few others
(see elexp.com Electronics Express to see some of
it). I was amazed at some of the prices and capibility.
I got a B&K 2.4GHz freq counter and 4 3/4 digit
DMM for just over $400 each. I got a 100MHz dual
channel Oscope from Rigol for under $1000 and I
am looking to get the 4000 series 60MHz function
generator for about $800. They have a lot of digital
equipment at good prices as well. The equipment
all has remote interface so I can automate them.
I saw several Spectrum Analyzers for about $4000-$5000
that go to 3GHz and have RBW's down to 1-10Hz and
DANL's lower than -140dBc and again with full remote
interface. I do not recommend a Spec An with RBW >30Hz
minimum.
The Rigol function gen had AM/FM and
PSK, Full arb waveform and over 200 waveforms available.
Contact me by email and we can discuss more. Also
See the B&K, RigolNA.com (Rigol North America)
websites and the others for more info on latest
equipment. All new with warrenties and certificates
of accuracy.
_________________
Sunshine Design Engineering
Services
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Posted 11/12/2012
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