I am fairly new to the hobby but have reached the point where I would like to have a tube tester. Can anyone suggest a certain type, or types, that I should look for as well as where I could purchase one. Approximately what should I expect to pay for one?

Thank you for your help in advance.

Nick Bettis

: I am fairly new to the hobby but have reached the point where I would like to have a tube tester. Can anyone suggest a certain type, or types, that I should look for as well as where I could purchase one. Approximately what should I expect to pay for one?

: Thank you for your help in advance.

: Nick Bettis

The best tube tester brand to buy is a Hickok. Most of them are Mutual Conductance tube testers that read in micro ohms to determine a tubes quality. If you are just buying it to test older tube types, you might want to get a Hickok I-177 or I-177B. They are usually being auctioned off all the time on e-bay.

The subject comes up fairly often in rec.audio.tubes. You could do a Deja search on "tube tester" in that newsgroup and get a range of opinions. Use this URL:

http://www.deja.com/=dnc/home_ps.shtml

Change the "results type" box from "discussions" to "Deja Classic." This is what the "=dnc" in the URL means: Deja News Classic. This brings up results in the old format of a numbered list, so you can find your way back when you start sampling some of the hits. It also bypasses the advertising pages.

Prices depend where you shop. At flea markets and garage sales, an emission tester like an Eico 666 or a Heath TC shouldn't run more than $30, and a Hickok more than $100. There are lots of other brands too.