Grid Dip Meters
 

Hi gang,

I've never had a lot of luck with GDMs for some reason. Even with a
decent meter, it seems such a drag tuning across such a vast range
looking for a tiny, easily-missed dip which you have to screw out of
the meter by forcing the sensing coil so far into the circuit
concerned you practically break the circuit board. Am I alone in
finding this potentially invaluable device practically useless in
practice? Is there a more viable alternative?

p.
--

"I expect history will be kind to me, since I intend to write it."
- Winston Churchill

"Paul Burridge" wrote in message
...

Hi gang,

I've never had a lot of luck with GDMs for some reason. Even with a
decent meter, it seems such a drag tuning across such a vast range
looking for a tiny, easily-missed dip which you have to screw out of
the meter by forcing the sensing coil so far into the circuit
concerned you practically break the circuit board. Am I alone in
finding this potentially invaluable device practically useless in
practice? Is there a more viable alternative?

p.
--

First rule is to get a good dip meter- the stuff made for the amateur
community is very poor- the Eicos, Heath Millen etc. Pick up a Measurments
model 59. With this meter you can take a 1/2 wave wire- say at 2M and hold
the meter a couple inches from the center and see a huge dip. Other meters
don't even respond when held to the wire. Dips on conventional L-C circuits
can easily be full scale.

Dale W4OP

"Paul Burridge" wrote in message
...

Hi gang,

I've never had a lot of luck with GDMs for some reason. Even with a
decent meter, it seems such a drag tuning across such a vast range
looking for a tiny, easily-missed dip which you have to screw out of
the meter by forcing the sensing coil so far into the circuit
concerned you practically break the circuit board. Am I alone in
finding this potentially invaluable device practically useless in
practice? Is there a more viable alternative?

p.
--

First rule is to get a good dip meter- the stuff made for the amateur
community is very poor- the Eicos, Heath Millen etc. Pick up a Measurments
model 59. With this meter you can take a 1/2 wave wire- say at 2M and hold
the meter a couple inches from the center and see a huge dip. Other meters
don't even respond when held to the wire. Dips on conventional L-C circuits
can easily be full scale.

Dale W4OP

"Paul Burridge" wrote in message
...

Hi gang,

I've never had a lot of luck with GDMs for some reason. Even with a
decent meter, it seems such a drag tuning across such a vast range
looking for a tiny, easily-missed dip which you have to screw out of
the meter by forcing the sensing coil so far into the circuit
concerned you practically break the circuit board. Am I alone in
finding this potentially invaluable device practically useless in
practice? Is there a more viable alternative?

p.
--

It is kind of hard to get the proper coupling on PCB style coils.
You may have to use a link coupling system (came with some
of the Millens); also solid state circuits can have fairly low Q
circuits, again making it hard to see the dip.

Those were intended for larger tube circuit designs, not PCB
based gear.

Pete

"Paul Burridge" wrote in message
...

Hi gang,

I've never had a lot of luck with GDMs for some reason. Even with a
decent meter, it seems such a drag tuning across such a vast range
looking for a tiny, easily-missed dip which you have to screw out of
the meter by forcing the sensing coil so far into the circuit
concerned you practically break the circuit board. Am I alone in
finding this potentially invaluable device practically useless in
practice? Is there a more viable alternative?

p.
--

It is kind of hard to get the proper coupling on PCB style coils.
You may have to use a link coupling system (came with some
of the Millens); also solid state circuits can have fairly low Q
circuits, again making it hard to see the dip.

Those were intended for larger tube circuit designs, not PCB
based gear.

Pete

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR MILLEN. BILL T.

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR MILLEN. BILL T.

On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:06:34 -0500, " Uncle Peter"
wrote:


It is kind of hard to get the proper coupling on PCB style coils.
You may have to use a link coupling system (came with some
of the Millens); also solid state circuits can have fairly low Q
circuits, again making it hard to see the dip.

Those were intended for larger tube circuit designs, not PCB
based gear.

Item 2.4 described on http://home.online.no/~la8ak/5c.htm
is the solution for dipping pcb coils, and you don't need a
griddipmeter, at all. Another problem with the pcb coil is low
Q-value, and if the coil is loaded too much it won't dip with any
arrangement tried.
also described some GDMs on http://home.online.no/~la8ak/5a.htm -
haven't got the time to re-edit these pages

Jan-Martin
LA8AK
--
remove ,xnd to reply (Spam precaution!)

On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:06:34 -0500, " Uncle Peter"
wrote:


It is kind of hard to get the proper coupling on PCB style coils.
You may have to use a link coupling system (came with some
of the Millens); also solid state circuits can have fairly low Q
circuits, again making it hard to see the dip.

Those were intended for larger tube circuit designs, not PCB
based gear.

Item 2.4 described on http://home.online.no/~la8ak/5c.htm
is the solution for dipping pcb coils, and you don't need a
griddipmeter, at all. Another problem with the pcb coil is low
Q-value, and if the coil is loaded too much it won't dip with any
arrangement tried.
also described some GDMs on http://home.online.no/~la8ak/5a.htm -
haven't got the time to re-edit these pages

Jan-Martin
LA8AK
--
remove ,xnd to reply (Spam precaution!)

Yep...He probably bought it from you.

Tracy

On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:23:50 -0600 (CST), (Bill
Turner) wrote:

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR MILLEN. BILL T.