New Addition To My Workbench

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by delta5, Aug 21, 2016.

  1. delta5

    delta5 Road Train Member

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    Just snagged a nice Sencore CB42 test center today. Here is what I have for test gear so far:
    Sencore CB42
    Heathkit IM4100 freq counter
    Elenco SG 9500 RF Signal Generator
    A good VOM
    Workman watt and mod meter
    Kenwood SM220 monitor scope

    Next on the list is a decent VTVM.

    Not bad for a noob?
     
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  3. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    The sencore is a nice unit.

    Good addition to the bench.

    I had a few of them and sold one of them to some CB guy in Ohio who moved out west and setup shop some where out there.

    Why the VTVM?

    I hardly use any of mine.

    Get a really good high impedance VM (20k or higher) and use that. I just bought a German made one (DDR) off of eBay that came recommended from a guy who restores high end audio stuff. He grew up in the DDR and said that they were made like tanks and hardly ever go bad unless abused.
     
  4. delta5

    delta5 Road Train Member

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    I thought a vtvm could only be used across the speaker terminals when aligning the receiver section.
     
  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    TO start with I made a typo, it should be 10 to 11 Mohm impedance, not 20k. I was thinking about something else when I posted that. My daughter "corrected" me.

    Anywho ... You would think the VTVM is needed because the service lit says so but at the time there was nothing else nor anyone thought of updating the lit. What a VTVM provides is the high impedance input needed to measure the voltage across the output without effecting the readings. A good VM (FET type will work) with high impedance does the same thing as does a digital multi meter like any fluke 8000 series DMM. I just looked on ebay, there are a bunch for under $100.
     
  6. rabbiporkchop

    rabbiporkchop Road Train Member

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    You mean this guy from Hubbard Ohio?
    [​IMG]
     
  7. delta5

    delta5 Road Train Member

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    Well, crap. My new Sencore CB42 arrived today, but I had to leave for Florida before it got here. Anyone know of a place that can check it out and calibrate it? I'm sure it will probably need new electrolytic caps etc due to its age.
     

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  8. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Why would it need caps?

    If it has been used often enough, they should be fine. It is only when things sit for long periods of time is when you worry.
     
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  9. delta5

    delta5 Road Train Member

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    Would the display react slowly enough when you are peaking the IF stages? it seems to me that a mechanical movement would be better for that.
     
  10. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I don't really understand the question, I've always used a scope and/or audio meter (heathkit) when tuning the if strip.

    The audio watt meter to me was useless on the sencore.
     
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  11. delta5

    delta5 Road Train Member

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    Oh I see, you were using the scope to read voltage on the speaker terminals?
     
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