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A sensitive RF probe is very useful in a situation where an oscilloscope is not available

Test equipment maker, digital oscilloscopes, generators and counters, multimeters, logic probes testers and more

Banana plugs, coaxial cable assemblies, patch cords, oscilloscope and DMM test lead and probe kits and accessories, IC test clips, boxes, RF connectors, XLR and 75-ohm cable assembly products.

The SETI League, Inc., founded in 1994, focused on participatory science, developing technology to seek definitive answers to the question of extraterrestrial intelligence. The organization operated in five dozen countries across all seven continents, maintaining the quest for cosmic companions through the efforts of its 1500 members. Although the organization shuttered its virtual doors after thirty years in 2024, the website remains for educational and historical purposes, documenting past research and activities. Key technical resources include the _SETI League Mini-Manual_ for constructing a 12 GHz radio telescope under $200, and software like _SETIFox for Windows_ and _Radio Eyes_ for radio astronomy sky viewing. The site also features _Project Argus_ detections, moonbounce signal detections, and space probe signal detections, providing concrete examples of amateur radio astronomy applications. Publications such as the quarterly newsletter _SearchLites_ and various articles by Dr. SETI (H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D.) are available, alongside information on the Third Penn State SETI Symposium in 2025. The site also offers insights into hydrogen line emission observations, presented in time domain, frequency domain, waterfall, and surface plot formats.

The "Shortish Guide to Using an Oscilloscope" elucidates the fundamental operation of oscilloscopes, detailing the purpose and function of vertical, horizontal, and triggering controls. It explains how vertical gain in Volts/cm and horizontal scale in sec/cm enable measurement of signal amplitude and timing, respectively. The resource differentiates between analog and digital scopes, noting that digital scopes often feature "soft" controls and are inherently storage scopes capable of capturing non-repetitive events. The guide dedicates a significant section to the critical role of oscilloscope probes, emphasizing their design to transmit waveforms without distortion or added noise. It explains the concept of a 10x passive scope probe, which reduces circuit loading by a factor of ten and eliminates waveform distortion through probe compensation, typically adjusted using a 1kHz square wave reference output. The document also provides practical advice on probe care and compensation procedures. Further sections address grounding considerations, explaining how a scope measures voltage relative to its chassis ground, which is tied to the protective earth. It offers troubleshooting steps for a blank screen and outlines essential good practices, such as checking input gain and probe attenuation, while explicitly warning against misusing probes or connecting the ground clip to mains voltage.

Probemaster manufacturers probes of all kinds, including oscilloscope probes, differential probes, test leads and much more, all proudly made in the USA