There was a very useful article in a recent issue of QST about
dip meters. Anyone with a GDO should read it!

The depth and width of the 'dip' is a function of the Q of the
circuit. Some GDO's are not very sensitive, and that may be the
case with yours. If you have an oscillator coil out of an old
AM radio, put a good quality cap (mica) across it and see
how your GDO works with it. You should be able to get a
good dip with your GDO coil about 0.5" away..

Steve W6SSP

BFoelsch wrote in message
...
Does anybody here have any honest-to-goodness experience with Grid Dip
Meters?

I have an old Heath HD-1250, which is a solid state equivalent, and I have
never been convinced that it works well. Seems like the dips are vague,
unless coupling to the circuit is awfully tight.

Anyway, looking for opinions, or preferably facts, as to which grid dip
meters are the good ones and why.

Thanks in advance.

There was a very useful article in a recent issue of QST about
dip meters. Anyone with a GDO should read it!

The depth and width of the 'dip' is a function of the Q of the
circuit. Some GDO's are not very sensitive, and that may be the
case with yours. If you have an oscillator coil out of an old
AM radio, put a good quality cap (mica) across it and see
how your GDO works with it. You should be able to get a
good dip with your GDO coil about 0.5" away..

Steve W6SSP

BFoelsch wrote in message
...
Does anybody here have any honest-to-goodness experience with Grid Dip
Meters?

I have an old Heath HD-1250, which is a solid state equivalent, and I have
never been convinced that it works well. Seems like the dips are vague,
unless coupling to the circuit is awfully tight.

Anyway, looking for opinions, or preferably facts, as to which grid dip
meters are the good ones and why.

Thanks in advance.

The James Millen meters are excellent, especially the solid state one. I've
used both with excellent results...

The James Millen meters are excellent, especially the solid state one. I've
used both with excellent results...

"BFoelsch" wrote in message
...
Does anybody here have any honest-to-goodness experience with Grid Dip
Meters?

Over the years, I have owned them all- Heath tube, solid state, tunnell (
probably the worst or maybe the MFJ add on kit for the 259 analyzer is the
worst), Knight, Millen, Eico. Heads above all the rest are the Measurements
model 159. You can take a 1 meter rod- hold the dipper head 2-3" away from
the center (current loop) and get a huge deflection at 150 MHz. Never saw
another meter that would do that at any distance.
I keep spare heads, tubes and coil sets in case of disaster.
Dale W4OP

"BFoelsch" wrote in message
...
Does anybody here have any honest-to-goodness experience with Grid Dip
Meters?

Over the years, I have owned them all- Heath tube, solid state, tunnell (
probably the worst or maybe the MFJ add on kit for the 259 analyzer is the
worst), Knight, Millen, Eico. Heads above all the rest are the Measurements
model 159. You can take a 1 meter rod- hold the dipper head 2-3" away from
the center (current loop) and get a huge deflection at 150 MHz. Never saw
another meter that would do that at any distance.
I keep spare heads, tubes and coil sets in case of disaster.
Dale W4OP