Re: Test equipment for valve radio repair
As many others have mentioned earlier. Four items required to repair 99% of domestic broadcast receivers.
1 A cheap digital meter. These can be obtained for as little as £2.50 delivered including post and VAT. Incredibly they are accurate [I have a couple] and have a decent ohms and voltage range. If you blow it up accidently just buy another! If you want to keep it vintage, a working AVO 8 can be bought for not much more but can be difficult to use if your under 40....
2 A good range of screwdrivers, pliers, box spanners, cutters all of which can be purchased from time to time in stores such as Lidl for silly money.
3 The knowledge of HOW TO USE THEM with a basic knowledge of radio and valve technology. It's often the case of 'All the gear but no idea.' Technical radio books are virtually given away at table top sales.
4 A calibrated signal generator such as the Advance E2, AVO alignment oscillator and many others. Virtually given away at WB and Harpenden. You can add bits as you go along such as jump leads [short lengths of wire terminated with crocodile clips for those all important links outs when fault finding.
A good second hand scope is cheap,usefull, and a great assett to television servicing but tends to collect dust most of the time on the radio service bench.
Just my own thoughts. John.
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