From: pfjw@aol.com   
      
   On Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 2:32:01 PM UTC-4, Big Bad Bob wrote:   
   > On 09/06/16 10:58, Big Bad Bob so wittily quipped:   
   > > I envision the project as having 5 or 6 simultaneous source voltages to   
   > > put on a pin (plus "no connect).  So 3 bits to assign it, per 'circuit'.   
   > >  repeat that circuit 12 times, one for each pin, then connect 12 wires   
   > > to a 'bus' (basically) that wires up all of the sockets.   
   >    
   > was thinking for a moment, and the EASIEST way to implement this would   
   > be to use a microprocessor on each board, one that either uses a simple   
   > external clock or has an internal clock available.  ok you'd have to   
   > flash each one but so what.  A $2 microprocessor would substitute for   
   > many $ worth of components, and you could PROGRAM it to do 'whatever'.   
   > Well, _I_ could.  downside, having to FCC the board because of the CPU   
   > clock, but getting that to pass is pretty easy [it just costs you $ to   
   > certify it].  Tube testing equipment _MIGHT_ qualify as 'A' type gear   
   > though... [so just use decent engineering practices, yeah].   
   >    
   > anyway, if you use a CPU then you could put everything on an I2C bus,   
   > and just give each board a different I2C address.  That's 2 wires plus   
   > power and ground [not including the 6 voltages] going to each board, and   
   > since they'd all have "those wires" connected to the same things, it   
   > would be 'busses' again and wiring would not be so difficult.   
   >    
   > yeah. I like that.  use a micro-P to control the 6 voltages.  minimal   
   > external components, using opto-isolators for the high voltage stuff,   
   > drive directly from the output pins.  nice!  An ATMega 328 would do it,   
   > and it's got a 32-pin QFP that's pretty easy to solder.   
   >    
   > now I just need to get $ to fund it... [am I begging too hard?]   
      
   Not hardly begging too hard... But you are looking at a very small market of   
   well-heeled tube fanatics who have the means to indulge themselves in esoteric   
   equipment, and who are not satisfied with legacy equipment, however high-end.   
   A small subset of a    
   small subset at the least.    
      
   I do suggest you go to any of several Crowdfund sites and see what you might   
   be able to arrange. You would have to have a plan, a budget and a schedule,   
   but I expect that if this happens, it would happen there.    
      
   Writing for myself and my own needs, I have one basic emissions tester that is   
   enough for 95% of my needs, and one very high-end legacy tester (Hickok 539B)   
   that more than handles the other 5%. That 5% was less than 2%, but I am   
   gradually shifting more    
   and more to tube audio lately, so a tester that actually can test tube   
   quality, including 6550s at proper voltages, is useful - and it does allow me   
   to actually match properly.    
      
   But, I cannot imagine needing a curve-tracer now or in my future.    
      
   Best of luck with it!   
      
   Peter Wieck   
   Melrose Park, PA   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)