Re: Tube Testers


Ian Iveson wrote:

I agree broadly with what your points about the utility of valve testers. Not
with the position on your list of an oscilloscope though.

I keep a very good 250mhz dual-trace scope (of the proper "T" brand, of
course) which has been useful. I do relatively little audio work, or I
should say relatively little work where I am looking for niggles that
only a scope can find, so although it is a gorgeous scope capable of
many things, it really does not get used all that much. Mostly, I can
get to the circuit that is problematic, and look there with a meter
before I have to trot out the scope.

That rant was directed towards vintage radio work primarily. For
serious audio work, I would re-write it, and place it just behind the
scope and drop out the signal generator from the list as there is not
much alignment to be done with amps, and FM-stereo alignment is on an
entirely different order-of-magnitude. But in the Audio hobby, a
well-kept, properly calibrated tube tester is the only way to go.

I keep a very nice Simpson 555 emissions-type tester that travels with
me if needed, and a calibrated Hickok 539B for those few times I need
the big guns. But tube testers, though impressive, are really not
terribly important instruments... with a few important exceptions.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

.

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