The single piece of test equipment I've found most useful over the years in troubleshooting circuits is a simple device called an Octopus. It's called that because the test leads typically sprawl out like arms of an octopus (are they called arms or legs? I'm not sure.) It's a simple circuit and easily thrown together in one evening. I just built myself a second one (see photo at right) for my ham shack, as I keep my other at work. I also picked up a Heathkit O-9 Oscilloscope off ebay for $5 and just finished refurbishing it to work together with the new octopus. |