crimso
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Grid dip meter.
Also known as a "Dipper" it is often described as one of the most useful bits of radio test equipment there is.
The dipper has many uses, it measures resonant frequencies in antennas & filters, capacitance, inductance, the Q of a coil etc. etc. It really is a useful bit of kit.
A dipper is cheap & simple to build, but if that’s not for you then commercially build dippers are readily available at sensible prices on ebay.
A dipper can be adapted for modern tastes & for greater accuracy by the addition of a frequency counter.
Last edited by crimso, 11/Aug/2009, 4:26 pm
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11/Aug/2009, 4:24 pm
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Hot Fusion
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Re: Grid dip meter.
I wonder how many are still in use with a real grid?? 
I'll second the remarks about this being a really useful piece of test equipment, especially if you are into building RF tuned circuits of any kind.
---
Andy - 26 FB107
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17/Aug/2009, 8:28 pm
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crimso
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Re: Grid dip meter.
I have an MFJ HF SWR analyser which is useful, but only tells part of the story.
But my dipper is in regular use & put together with a frequency meter, which is a very simple add, it has become far more usable.
Looking on ebay dippers are normally in spotless condition, as they come from older owners & go for silly money as younger people either do not know they exist or do not know how to use them.
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18/Aug/2009, 1:28 pm
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26fb010
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Re: Grid dip meter.
when you say "easy to build". how easy?
is there a kit available, or do i need to be an inventor??
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1/Sep/2009, 12:57 pm
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crimso
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Re: Grid dip meter.
There are some kits about, but also a LOT of diagrams & instructions.
Traditionally this would be the first piece of equipment that any one would build for themselves, mainly because of a mixture of simplicity, usefulness & the fact that it's RF equipment so forms a good basis for later transmitter / receiver builds.
A Dipper would be a weekend projoct even for a first time builder, so is not a difficult or complicated project.
A quick google will provide all the infomation that you need & more, as it is such a common self build.
http://w1.859.telia.com/~u85920178/use/gdo.htm
http://www.bignick.net/Morgan_Radio/Radio_17.htm
http://www.noding.com/la8ak/m11.htm
http://www.qsl.net/iz7ath/web/02_brew/15_lab/02_dipper/pag01_eng.htm
http://home.att.net/~w4cwg/ngdip.html
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1/Sep/2009, 1:40 pm
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John193
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Re: Grid dip meter.
Shame you chose the cheapest one on the market to picture lol. I agree its a great tool if you want to go further in to tuned circuits but useless if you don't know how to use it or how it effects or interacts with the circuit under test. It is simple to build just a wide band astable oscilator with plug in inductor for band changes. Go for the best you can afford here as the MFJ one is rather unstable under load, i think its alot to do with poor power supply, that tiny 9v battery I reckon.
John193
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27/Sep/2009, 11:33 pm
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crimso
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Re: Grid dip meter.
quote:
John193 wrote: Go for the best you can afford here as the MFJ one is rather unstable under load, i think its alot to do with poor power supply, that tiny 9v battery I reckon.
John193
Just standard MFJ build quality then. For MFJ quality control is something that the customer does for you when they return it because it does not work.
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28/Sep/2009, 10:44 am
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John193
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Re: Grid dip meter.
Aint that the truth lol.
193 
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28/Sep/2009, 9:04 pm
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