In the summer of 2021 I bought a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) for my electronics workshop – a Hantek DSO2D15. This model is from the DSO2000 series and offers two channels with 150 MHz and an integrated signal generator with up to 25 MHz. There are also variants with 100 MHz (DSO2D10) and without a signal generator (DSO2C10 and DSO2C15). Now that I’ve been using it for over a year, it’s time for a review.
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Tag: Workshop
M-Tester
A whole range of devices is available under the name “M-Tester” which can automatically detect electronic components such as transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc. and test their properties. Hence the name: “M-Tester” is the abbreviation for “Multi-function Tester”.
All products of this type go back to the article “AVR Transistortester” at mikrocontroller.net, which first described a transistor tester based on an ATmega8/168/328 and an LCD with 2×16 characters in 2012. The latest version of these devices, such as the “M-Tester T7” or “M-Tester TC1”, offers a color display with a graphic display of the components and an infrared sensor with which the function of remote controls can also be checked.
Hakko FX-888D
In August 2021 I bought a Hakko FX-888D soldering station. Hakko has been active in this area for decades and the products are considered to be of high quality and durable. The operation takes getting used to, but the set temperature is reached very quickly after switching on and also kept well under load.
Brymen BM257s multimeter
I had already bought a digital multimeter in the late 1990s, specifically a Mastech MS8200G. This model is still available today under a different name and with a dark housing instead of a light one as “Testboy 313”, but with an otherwise identical construction. Generally the device still works, but the accuracy is questionable after more than 20 years, the resolution is only 2000 counts (0-1999) and there is no automatic range setting. So I bought a Brymen BM257s to replace it.
Brymen is a Taiwan manufacturer specializing in multimeters and measuring equipment. See also http://www.brymen.com. The devices are not only sold under their own name, but also as an OEM variants by other companies, such as the Metrel MD9016, Greenlee DM-200 or Greenlee DM-510A. There is even an “EEVBlog edition” of the BM235.
A bit of luxury
In March 2017 I visited the Berliner Fahrradschau and besides many other interesting things I also discovered the bicycle bell by Spurcycle. I could have bought a copy a the booth but I postponed that since I didn’t know where to mount it – because the handle bar was already quite cramped due to the gear indicators of the shift levers. The mounting of the old bell, a “Charly” by Mounty, was already cumbersome under the gear indicators and I never was very happy with this solution.
Rail, accident, ouch
A couple of weeks ago it happened again after more than 10 years… I managed to get the front wheel of my every day crosser into to a tram rail at the underbridge to Pfersee next to the Augsburg main station and crashed at a speed of about 35 km/h :-(. The result: A scrape on the right knee, handle bar of the bicycle damaged, right brake lever broken out of its stay. Fortunately the accident was at night where there was barely any traffic at this place – otherwise it could have been much worse.
Peugeot PX-10 with light
Recently I mounted a bit more comfortable handlebar on my Peugeot PX-10. However it still lacked a solid mount for a light. The intended light, Ixon IQ by Busch und Müller, provides a mount for the handlebar – but this is not very stable (at least in the variant of my copy) and the light tends to turn very easily due to its weight.
Peugeot PX-10 with “moustache” handlebar
Nearly two years ago I had the opportunity to buy an old Peugeot PX-10 in a very good condition. With a longer seat post, new handle bar tape and new brake pads it also still rides quite good. However the drop handlebar and the quite stretched posture on the bicycle caused by this is not very suitable for rides in the city which I did realize not at least on my last ride at the critical mass.
For the upcoming sommer I wanted to have a bit more comfortable solution. A good compromise which also allows to use the old brake levers is a “moustache” handlebar. With this kind of handlebar you don’t sit so stretched and the brake levers are reachable quickly.
New wheels for the every day bicycle
The wheels of my every day crosser are now nearly 10 years old – and therefore the rims as well. Due to the use of rim brakes the flanges became quite worn, especially on the front wheel where I could feel the brake pads sticking to the flanges with every revolution when applying the brake lightly which caused a “stuttering” of the wheel.
The hubs – in the front Schmidt hyb dynamo and in the back a DT Swiss 340 – still work fine despite their age why I laced new rims.
Defect at the Ortlieb Office Bag
Since about two years I often and gladly use a “Office Bag M” by Ortlieb. So far the bag worked fine – until today :-(.
