System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Bennett Prescott

Bennett Prescott

Just This Guy, You Know?
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Jan 10, 2011
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Wallingford, CT
www.bennettprescott.com
I am looking to add or replace a few items in my toolkit over the next few months. I have done the research on some of them and found what is likely the best possible option, but there are a few outside my area of expertise. I am hoping that some of you use these items semi-regularly and have a favorite. I don't want to buy these items more than once, if the right item costs more I will just save up longer. I have a strong preference for AA or AAA batteries (in that order), long battery life, and smaller is always better... all these items need to fit in my carry-on sized Pelican case along with my Smaart gear, and other tools.

Electrical Meter:
The clamp ammeter on my Ideal 61-702 electrical meter recently gave me some useless readings, so I am thinking about replacing it. My needs are mostly tie-in related, with some occasional electronics diagnosis. I want true RMS voltage, AC and DC, preferably auto ranging but not a requirement. Non-contact voltage sensing would be nice, so would frequency, but neither is mandatory. Beep continuity and resistance into kOhms. Big, easy to read display, long battery life, and it would be great if it held onto its own leads for storage. Clamp ammeter would be very nice but not an absolute requirement, and if it has one it needs to fit around 4/0 feeder. It would be nice if it could put a load on an electrical service to help diagnose against loose neutral/ground.

Wireless Signal Strength Meter:
I find myself coordinating more and more wireless... never many channels, but it needs to be right. It would be nice to have a device that lets me monitor not only my own wireless, but also find interfering frequencies to enter into intermod software (Like WWB or WSM). I only need a frequency range that covers general wireless use, say 450-950mHz. I would like something I can fit in a Pelican case with my other tools... is maybe a computer based system the best approach? If so I would strongly prefer Mac compatibility. Is buying a modern USB or Ethernet monitored wireless receiver from Shure, Sennheiser, or Lectrosonics the best option?

Long Range Laser Distance Meter:
For spotting delay tower distances, obstructions, throw target distances, etc. I am looking at the Nikon 8377 or Prostaff 550. I like the latter's small size and price, and I don't know that I have any reason to be measuring longer distances than that. I just want it to be able to do it in direct sunlight. I have a Leica for shorter distances but it doesn't deal well with bright objects outdoors. Would like the ability to grab closest as well as farthest target, true horizontal distance nice but not a requirement. For longer distances I use GPS, so 400 yards or so is probably plenty as long as it will really do it.
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Meter, Fluke. Get the one of the good DVMs or a standalone clamp. For years I had a standalone, analog Amprobe brand, probably older than Grampa Lee. I think my pals next to the BBQ joint have it now.

RF Spectrum analyzer. If you really want to be the big swingin' johnson you get one of these, http://www2.rohde-schwarz.com/en/products/test_and_measurement/spectrum_analysis/FSH4_8.html . Back in reality where regular guy roadies, even pretty well paid ones can't justify 6k for a box, we found the TTI works well for the money. http://www.tti-test.com/psa/rf-spectrum-analyser.htm We use it as a portable in addition to our big dog box. Also want some intermod calculation software. I like IAS. Does no good to look at it alone if you don't know were the intermod trouble spots are. http://www.professionalwireless.com/ias/

Measuring distance I would have said a Disto. Have you looked at the full line? Construction guys use them outside a lot so I'd reckon they have some that deal with sun light. But of course, the cost.
 
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Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

For field electrical test gear, you want to stick with Fluke. Their stuff feels "Fisher-Price" in the best way - it ain't gonna break. None of the clamp meters are, IMO, appropriate for anything beyond the most rudimentary electronics testing (Go-No Go testing only), but they're fine for that. I've been quite happy with my Fluke 322, but it only measures resistance up to 400 ohms (which I've found adequate for most things). My biggest complaint is the lack of a backlit display. If I were looking today, and willing to drop some more coin (the 322 is one of the cheapest Fluke meters available), I'd be looking at the Fluke 375, as it will measure true-RMS current and frequency. You also want a "rudolph" or volt-tic (non-contact voltage probe). They're available from various sources, and are all about the same in my experience.
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Dave Stevens said:
Measuring distance I would have said a Disto. Have you looked at the full line? Construction guys use them outside a lot so I'd reckon they have some that deal with sun light. But of course, the cost.
Click to expand...

Woof, I don't know that I can even justify $1,300 for a spectrum analyzer. I just don't do that much wireless. I see even the WinRadio receivers are up in the $1,000 price range... this may be a piece of kit I'll have to do without, and rely on local transmitter info to be good enough.

I have a Leica Disto D5, which is really excellent, but outdoors just doesn't do the trick for ranging distant targets if it's moderately sunny. Indoors there's no arena I've been in it can't handle, and of course its accuracy is several orders of magnitude better than the longer distance rangefinders I'm looking for.
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Pat, what's the difference between the 321 and the 322? My father has one or the other in his shop and it works great, and is much smaller than my current clamp meter. It doesn't have any of the advanced features I would like, but it does have everything I need in one convenient package.

Edit: Never mind, I see the 322 does DC. The Fluke website is helpful on some models, and on others isn't exactly forthcoming with information!
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

We have the TTi PSA270 spectrum analyzer. I like it a lot. I haven't used the high end models, but so far, it works for everything I've done with it. Be sure to get the teloscopic antenna with it, and a SMA to BNC adapter so you can connect your cardioid or helical antennas. There is even a mode where you can plug in a set of headphone and listen to the frequency that you are monitoring (although it only works for that specific frequency, and not in the sweep mode). I haven't tried it yet, you can save your scans and connect the analyzer to a computer and print them out.

For RF coordination I have been using Shannon Slaton's RF Guru. Takes some getting used to, and the documentation is a little sparse, but it works well so far. I like it because you can even enter in your own generic gear and it will coordinate between several different manufacturers.
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Bennett Prescott said:
I am looking to add or replace a few items in my toolkit over the next few months. I have done the research on some of them and found what is likely the best possible option, but there are a few outside my area of expertise. I am hoping that some of you use these items semi-regularly and have a favorite. I don't want to buy these items more than once, if the right item costs more I will just save up longer. I have a strong preference for AA or AAA batteries (in that order), long battery life, and smaller is always better... all these items need to fit in my carry-on sized Pelican case along with my Smaart gear, and other tools.

Electrical Meter:
The clamp ammeter on my Ideal 61-702 electrical meter recently gave me some useless readings, so I am thinking about replacing it. My needs are mostly tie-in related, with some occasional electronics diagnosis. I want true RMS voltage, AC and DC, preferably auto ranging but not a requirement. Non-contact voltage sensing would be nice, so would frequency, but neither is mandatory. Beep continuity and resistance into kOhms. Big, easy to read display, long battery life, and it would be great if it held onto its own leads for storage. Clamp ammeter would be very nice but not an absolute requirement, and if it has one it needs to fit around 4/0 feeder. It would be nice if it could put a load on an electrical service to help diagnose against loose neutral/ground.
Click to expand...

Have you looked at the Fluke 179?
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Fluke 117- $189

Fluke 322- $99

Combo Pack 117/322 with nifty carrying case - $265

Knowing you carry the same meters as Graham - Priceless
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Meter- Fluke 373 for most electrical service work, if you're doing electronics you'll want something else with better resistance measurement.

RF- covered by Dave Stevens & Henry.. but the TTi shows up regularly as does the Invisible Waves/WinRadio package. Contact Winkler regarding the Lectro units (software improvements).

Rangefinder- I own & use both Leica Disto and the Nikon Prostaff 550 and recommend them both for the reasons you outline. You'll need to experiment with the Prostaff to find out what it's grabbing onto, but it's fairly tight. For the most part, what you see in the cross hairs is what you're measuring.

Have fun, good luck.

Tim Mc
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Henry Cohen said:
I think you're missing a "1" in that price. Then again, if it's fully loaded FSH4, you're missing a "2" :D~:-D~:grin:
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Meh, not like it's my money.... ;) I thought when we did the change over the base unit with no tracking gen was $6300 to us out the door. Maybe it was another model or a refurb. Or maybe I'm just remembering wrong. The base model, no frills for the least expensive in that link is about $9300 from what I could find.
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Regardless of Graham's association, the 117 looks like a sure winner, and pairing it with the 322 seems like a better idea than spending just as much money to add a clamp to it. Maybe next time I'm in Rhode Island (like today, through Wednesday, hint hint) I can take a look at Graham's kit and see if I think it's compact enough or if I should just get a 117 and call it a day.
 
Re: System Tech Toolkit Item Preferences

Bennett Prescott said:
Regardless of Graham's association, the 117 looks like a sure winner, and pairing it with the 322 seems like a better idea than spending just as much money to add a clamp to it. Maybe next time I'm in Rhode Island (like today, through Wednesday, hint hint) I can take a look at Graham's kit and see if I think it's compact enough or if I should just get a 117 and call it a day.
Click to expand...

Not sure I helped any. I am however out of beer now...
 
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