Most amateurs have a modicum of tools at their disposal, including electrical and electronic specific tools such as wire strippers, cable cutters, DMM, etc; but what would you recommend as a time saver or frustration saver.
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- Thread starter GlobalNorth
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I always use an illuminated magnifying glass mounted on my desk. One is an LED illuminated 5" glass not plastic (plastic tends to melt if you accidentally touch it with a soldering iron) and the other one is a much older one with a 5" glass and a circular fluorescent tube. Both are 5x magnification. I use the fluorescent one the most and both have adjustable booms.
Since I have had both eyes operated on to replace the lenses because of glaucoma, I have to wear readers to see up close. Originally, I had to wear very thick glasses to correct my myopia which was -8 or -9. The magnifiers on a boom save me time, money and the liberal use of curse words...
To me, that is the most important tool that I use.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
3/4" hole saw for doing proper antenna installations.
That wouldn't work well on our solid 8" concrete walls. lo.l I actually drilled through for my BNC last week to the scanner. I think it was 5/16".
k6cpo
Member
THIS^
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Nope, but it's the right tool when you need to do a good install in a vehicle.
Some hams will make up all kinds of excuses for not doing proper mobile installations. I do my best to poke holes in those excuses.
Only excuse that works on me is "Wife won't let me". That one I can understand. The rest of the excuses are USDA Grade A ham B.S.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Honestly, biggest 'frustration saver" for me was a set of coaxial crimpers and a decent soldering iron.
I've seen too many struggle with either an iron that is way too underpowered for the job, or has such a huge tip you can't do anything carefully with it. I've got a number of soldering irons, but the basic Weller 40 watt iron is pretty useful. Solder flux is also your friend for making good connections.
A basic coax termination set allows you to install crimp coax connectors easily. Again, I've watched people do it with the wrong tools and end up with flaky connections that cause issues.
Basic hand tools that most already have is easy enough.
Having a multimeter and knowing how to use it is another key.
LOL
This, I think, is the first requirement after basic hand tools (screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, etc.). A good multimeter gives you instant feedback for continuity or power supply issues.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Would be a useful thing for ham clubs to teach, if they don't already. A single instructor (not a group of experts all contradicting each other) teaching new hams how to use the basic functions would be beneficial.
Multimeter is usually the first tool I grab at work when I get called out for something. Gives me a good starting place.
As for other tools, amateur radio is a pretty big hobby with a lot of areas of interest. Tools used will depend on which part of the hobby interests you the most.
Watt meter/SWR meter and a dummy load will tell you a lot really quick. Doesn't need to be fancy, just an indication that your radio is actually transmitting tends to answer a lot of questions for new hams.
To all, thanks for the suggestions.
I have the hole saws, the soldering gun [pistol style - but I should get a small and large pencil type iron, and I have the illuminated magnifier lamp in my garage thanks to my time as an armorer.
A "basic coax termination set" - that I do not possess. Recommendations?
I have the hole saws, the soldering gun [pistol style - but I should get a small and large pencil type iron, and I have the illuminated magnifier lamp in my garage thanks to my time as an armorer.
A "basic coax termination set" - that I do not possess. Recommendations?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I've got the fancy high end stuff at work, but I needed something at home. Didn't want to spend a lot of money for occasional use, but I was also well aware that buying crap tools is usually a disappointment.
I took a chance and bought a set very similar to this one off Amazon:
Is it super high grade military spec? No. Is it good for home/hobby use? Sure.
You can shop around and find the same tool set cheaper, that's just the one I found for a link on Amazon.
It'll do all your common coax sizes, I think up to LMR-400.
Comparing it to the higher end stuff I bought from Tessco, it's hard to tell the difference. The crimps are similar, and they've been working fine for 10+ years.
For $100 (or less if you shop around) you get a set that will do most of what a ham operator needs.
But, make sure you practice with it. It's not a foolproof tool. Get some scrap coax and a few connectors and try it out a few times.
And before any hams jump in and tell you that -ALL- coaxial connection must be soldered, I'll raise the preemptive B.S. Flag to head that off.
Industry rarely uses solder on coax connectors due to the difficulty of doing it on top of a tower. Aviation, especially military, do not permit soldered connectors since it's a common failure point. Crimp/clamp on connectors are universally accepted in the industry and work just fine. Anyone that tells you they don't, is full of crap and either is using the wrong tools, the wrong connectors, or is just low in the skills department.
Sure, coax connectors can be soldered, and that's fine for hobby applications, but there's a lot more crimp connectors in use than solder on.
Your tool selection is going to be dictated by they type of equipment you are working on.
For general radio and electronic component work, I think a quality set o screwdrivers (including hex and Torx) and pliers is a good addition. I have a set of Craftsman small screwdrivers and a set of pliers that I've had for years. A set of nutdrivers or a small socket wrench set is very handy along with a pair of precision wire cutters and a good wire striper (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OQ21CA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1).
Another tool I've found extremely useful is a clamping hemostat. I have both straight and curved models that I gout at a medical supply store years ago. These are really great for handling small parts, precision wire bending and clamp on heat sinks when soldering.
Lastly, a heat gun for softening/bending plastic and closing heat shrink tubing is a useful and low cost accessory. I got mine from Harbor Freight.
For general radio and electronic component work, I think a quality set o screwdrivers (including hex and Torx) and pliers is a good addition. I have a set of Craftsman small screwdrivers and a set of pliers that I've had for years. A set of nutdrivers or a small socket wrench set is very handy along with a pair of precision wire cutters and a good wire striper (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OQ21CA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1).
Another tool I've found extremely useful is a clamping hemostat. I have both straight and curved models that I gout at a medical supply store years ago. These are really great for handling small parts, precision wire bending and clamp on heat sinks when soldering.
Lastly, a heat gun for softening/bending plastic and closing heat shrink tubing is a useful and low cost accessory. I got mine from Harbor Freight.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
YES!!!! Absolutely. I have a couple of sets I use all the time.
I originally had them from working in the telephone industry. Sometimes I'd need to reterminate a single conductor that was messed up and just needed to pull a few fractions of an inch of slack to get it on the terminal block. These saved me a lot of time.
Also excellent as you get older and manual dexterity starts to slide a bit. Being able to grab small parts with them makes life a bit easier. You can get them on e-Bay pretty cheap.
Another excellent suggestion. I wish more hams used heat shrink tubing on their installs.
ladn - I have Wiha small screw and Torx drivers for detail work and a set of larger 48 screwdrivers. Heat gun? Got that too for shrinking around crimped wire fasteners. I also have and use a micro butane torch as well.
The only thing I lack from your post is hemostats and I'll start looking for those. Another thing that came to mind was a small table vise that uses suction to retain itself if place.
Thanks for the suggestions!
The only thing I lack from your post is hemostats and I'll start looking for those. Another thing that came to mind was a small table vise that uses suction to retain itself if place.
Thanks for the suggestions!
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Panavise. I remember I had one of those in my first tech job.
PanaVise Products, Inc.
PanaVise is market leader in the design and manufacturing of mini vises, circuit board holders, work holding tools, mini arbor presses, mobile electronics mounts for hands-free kits, GPS units, satellite radio receivers, mobile video screens, two-way radios, laptops, mobile data terminals, CCTV...
www.panavise.com
They're great! I also have a holder assembly that I got from All Electronics. It's basically a weighted base with an alligator clip on each end of a horizontal arm and a magnifying glass in the center. Pretty handy for working with small cable assemblies and holding small parts.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I have a few of those. I used to have to build custom DB connectors for doing T-1 connections on some of our equipment and it made life much easier in the field.
robertwbob
KE0WRU
i go with multi meter after those basic tools.when soldering pl 259 continuality test is in order just for peace of mind. 1 thin strand of wire can make 1 cuss blue after installing coax on antennas waaay up there
If you're getting screwdrivers, it's worth getting a set with JIS tips.. Similar to these: Amazon.com : JIS screwdriver
Most Japanese radios use this type of screw to hold on the case panels, PC boards etc.. JIS is very similar to Phillips and in most cases you can remove/replace the screws with a Phillips screwdriver, but the JIS will fit much better.. You'll have less chance of marking or rounding off a really tight screw.
Most Japanese radios use this type of screw to hold on the case panels, PC boards etc.. JIS is very similar to Phillips and in most cases you can remove/replace the screws with a Phillips screwdriver, but the JIS will fit much better.. You'll have less chance of marking or rounding off a really tight screw.
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