Category Archives: Test Equipment

New Bench Gear: September 2026

Posted on September 4, 2026 by retrovoltage

A few new pieces of gear join the bench in September 2026: an HP 53181A frequency counter, and a Tektronix 434 Storage Oscilloscope. Continue reading →

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Bad Caps in Everything

Posted on July 20, 2016 by retrovoltage

I just had a bit of a scare with my Audio Precision analyzer. The 2004-era Dell OptiPlex GX270 which drives the AP hardware decided it would refuse to power up – just flashing the “ON” light for a fraction of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, DIY, Electronics, Test Equipment | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Bose® Active Equalizer Test Platform

Posted on April 13, 2016 by retrovoltage

This project is going to take a while since I’m slammed in the shop, but I’m in the process of converting a Bose® 901 Series I Active Equalizer to  a test platform. With sockets for the transistors, and clip connections … Continue reading →

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Retro 1956 Cyclometer VTVM – Hycon Model 615

Posted on February 19, 2016 by retrovoltage

A pretty cool, very rare piece of test equipment turned up on eBay recently: a 1956 Hycon model 615 AC/DC VTVM. This was a precursor of today’s digital, using analog servo circuitry to drive the numeric digit display. These were … Continue reading →

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What’s On Your Workbench? 2015 Edition

Posted on December 20, 2015 by retrovoltage

This post was from 2015! I’ll have a new one at some point. People ask me what kind of gear I use at Retrovoltage for projects. So, here we go: While it’s by no means the best-equipped workbench out there, it … Continue reading →

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Collector or Bargain-Hunter? There are Craigslist deals out there.

Posted on December 12, 2015 by retrovoltage

If you’re like me and have a liking for vintage electronics, you’ll know that they turn up in a lot of places. Craigslist tends to be a pretty good spot for radios and even piles of tubes from time to … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Test Equipment, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mailbag: What’s the best multitester for vintage radios?

Posted on November 2, 2015 by retrovoltage

I recently got this question in the mailbag, and it seemed like a good one to answer: What’s the best multitester for vintage radio repair? That’s actually a tougher question than it seems. The short answer? Well…it depends a bit, but … Continue reading →

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Hands On with the FLIR One for Android

Posted on October 9, 2015 by retrovoltage

Several months ago I ordered a FLIR One for Android, a small attachment which adds infrared thermal vision capabilities to most Android smartphones and tablets. After the backlog of pre-orders finally cleared out, I got my hands on mine today! … Continue reading →

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New Test Equipment Day!

Posted on August 19, 2015 by retrovoltage

I’ve added a new analysis system to my stereo bench…the Audio Precision System One. Amplifier measurements just got a whole lot more precise.

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Revitalize HP and Tek digital scopes with a NewScope LCD kit

Posted on August 1, 2015 by retrovoltage

I’ve been trying to figure out if I want to bother repairing my old HP 1222A oscilloscope which I’ve been using as a waveform monitor attached to the scope ports of my Sencore PA81 Stereo Power Amplifier Analyzer. It’s been … Continue reading →

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