Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxf.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass
From: parnass@ihuxf.UUCP (Bob Parnass, AJ9S)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: Cheap RF Signal Generators?
Message-ID: <2082@ihuxf.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Mar-84 09:30:48 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxf.2082
Posted: Tue Mar 13 09:30:48 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Mar-84 07:16:17 EST
References: <2413@brl-vgr.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 35


       I've had	a few tube type	Heath RF signal	 generators.   They
       drifted	and tuned very coarsely.  For fine tuning, I varied
       the distance between the	generator and my  hand	(ala  "hand
       capacitance").

       I too am	curious	about the newer	solid state  Heath  genera-
       tor, although I am not curious enough to	buy one.

       The AN/URM25 and	26  series  of	military  sig  jennies	are
       decent.	 Although  they	 have  AM/CW/PULSE output only,	the
       output is much closer to	sinusoidal.  Cheapies have  perver-
       ted  output  waveforms  so  the harmonics can be	used on	the
       higher frequencies.  I have a 26	made by	Boonton.  It was  a
       hamfest	special	at $15.	 I rewound some	coils and installed
       a tube (the last	owner didn't realize  that  the	 oscillator
       tube  was  missing!).  Unfortunately, the bolometer assembly
       is defective, so	the output calibration circuit is  inopera-
       tive.

       The Precision Apparatus (forerunner of B&K Precision) E200-C
       is  often found at hamfests.  It's an old model,	with tubes.
       My $15 was well invested.  It's much better than	 its  Heath
       and  Eico counterparts.	It was made for	real (?) techs,	and
       has a good amount of shielding in its inner construction.

       The E-200D is B&K's solid  state	 replacement.	I've  heard
       second  hand  that  this	unit drifts a lot for a	solid state
       generator.  It's	always	priced	over  $100   at	 the  local
       fests, usually much more.


-- 
==========================================================================
Bob Parnass,  AT&T Bell Laboratories - ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass - (312)979-5760