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[Jukin' Geo]

Hello all,

I have a question that I believe may have come up time and time again before
and that is the use of two tube testers. Originally I had a Hickok Military
I-177 (my first tube tester) and I was able to test just about all the older
tubes with that tester, including VR tubes and eye tubes (which I test alot
of). The biggest problem was that I couldn't test 9 pin Novel tubes on the
I-177. One day I found a really good deal on a Precision tube tester. I
learned how to use it very quickly...it was much more intuitive than the
I-177 and I could test modern tubes with it...mainly 9 pin tubes and Euro
eye tubes (another type of tube I test alot). The Precision tester was
labeled 'Mutual Conductance', but it really was not as good at doing such
than the I-177. I was even told that the Precision was NOT true Mutual
Conductance testing. Overall I preferered the I-177 over the two as it did
quite a bit and it was small for it's size. I later learned that a
breakout box was available that would allow 9 pin and compactrons to be
tested on the I-177. The breakout box usually sells for almost the same
price I paid for the I-177 itself though and even though it (the box) is
very capable and can test just about any tube, the box was time consuming to
set up. I began to seriously consider a better tester that could replace
the two I had.

I did some research and the first tester I came across was the Hickok 539C.
While true it could replace both my testers, at a price of $500 (more now),
it was out of the question. It was also a huge behemouth.

I asked around, looked around and finally began to settle on the 600 and 800
series. An 800k came my way for a decent price and I snatched it up.
True, unlike the 800A, it didn't have the compactron and Nuvistor sockets,
but it had everything else. When I got the tester, I found it actually
performed better than the I-177. The tube chart was inplace and I did
notice certain tubes missing from the list...so I figured that like with
I-177, I needed to get an updated tube chart. No problem, right? Or so I
thought. I tested quite a few tubes using the existing tube chart and
everything was fine. I figured there was going to be more than enough
documentation to cover all my tube testing needs on the 800k (as it follows
the 600's circuit). So I then sold off both my Precision and I-177 tester.

Enter last week. I bought a bunch of voltage regulator tubes and European
eye tubes. Now I encountered my first problem. My roll chart WAS up to
date. But I needed another 'Obsolete tube list'...got it. But still the
Euro tubes and VR tubes were not listed. Only American tubes that were
missing from the roll chart were present. Still to this day no one was able
to help me further on the Euro eye tubes. One fellow did help me with a
Russian eye tube configuraion and still another helped me with other
information. It was through him that I found out the 800k (nor any Hickok
in the 600, 800or 6000 series) can test voltage regulator tubes. So now
this poses a big problem. I would like to test Euro tubes and VR tubes as I
come across them often. I tried to figure out the selection controls
myself...but they don't match up to the pin socket numbers. On that token
it is far from intuitive. Now I am at a point that I feel that I made a
major mistake with going with the 800k.

So this is where I am now. I feel I made a mistake selling off my I-177 in
favor of the 800k. I am wondering that if the I-177 was used with it's
adapter that I could have my complete tube testing rig. I am also getting
the gist that without that set up, and without going with the Hickok 539
that I will always be strapped down with a two tester set up. If that is
the case, then I would prefer the I-177 with it's break out box.

So these are my questions: Is really, overall, the I-177 tester (with it's
breakout box) more capable than the Hickok 600, 800 series of testers? Is
there a complete all in one tester that will do the job without breaking the
bank and going for a 539C? Or is it simple a case of always having to have
two testers.

Thank you in advance for your help

Geo

[Rick Yerke]

In my opinion you will need 2 tube testers to test both the old and newer
tubes.I use 4 different tube testers to test all the tubes i have...Rick


In article <RRQ6f.18568$Hm3.15457@fe09.lga>, "Jukin' Geo"
<jukingeo@optonline.net> wrote:

[Sander deWaal]

yerke@adelphia.net (Rick Yerke) said:

[Lou deGonzague]

Don't despair George. Here is all you need
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ultimate-Manual-Hickok-800A-Tube-Tester_W0QQi
temZ7552232546QQcategoryZ25409QQcmdZViewItem
I have data for the common reg tubes I got from Wendell Hall I can send
you. The foreign tubes chart has eye tubes on it. Actually all you need
to test the reg tubes is a variable DC power supply. I kept my I-177
just because I like it and is easy to use for the old tubes. The 800 is
capable of anything the 177 can do and more. The MX-949 adapter for the
177 is a real pain and the listings are very limited. Get that manual
and you will be happy.

Jukin' Geo wrote:

[vinylbigot]

Same for the Hickok 533A. With the breakout sockets you can do pretty much
anything.

"Sander deWaal" <nospam@wanadoo.nl> wrote in message
news:18vnl1da85fu7t3chdhsm0sc00gkkinu0o@4ax.com...

[notubes?ulose!]

Thanks. (sigh)
"Jukin' Geo" <jukingeo@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:RRQ6f.18568$Hm3.15457@fe09.lga...