MS16 Calabration

  • Thread starter Thread starter ron-e-g
  • Start date Start date
My arsenal so far. Also have a Tektronix 2213 on it's way!

SANY0257.webp
 
He's an audio technician. He's basically THE MAN for tape recorders. He's got a website.
 
James He would be great if he was fairly close. But..London....

fgonza2 Thanks, Glad you like it. I got it for the same price as a HP 204, or most others.:eatpopcorn:
 
Sorry, I forgot to find out where you were. I live in Hastings so he drove down and did it on site. Obviously if you live up north or outside of England it may be more of a problem!
 
there are technicians in so.cal as well, i have heard of some that i can ask if you are interested
 
No problem James. I appreciate your help.


fgonza2 said:
there are technicians in so.cal as well, i have heard of some that i can ask if you are interested
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Yea, Northern too. My problem..I live in central. I haven't inquired but I'm pretty sure it would be way too pricey for me to have one show-up so I could watch, and (pick their brain) as they went through the process of alignment, and calibration. So on one hand, it's a bad thing, the other..when I learn, I might have a future in this area. Who knows! But, I would be curious what one would charge. So it wouldn't hurt to ask. I suppose I could pack it up, and travel with it but as you know..not an easy task.

Thanks fgonga2.

Ron
 
Thanks for the link fgonza2. Would I use one of these connected to only the red terminal on the Multimeter or, two and add a RCA- Y before the scope? Will that fit the banana plug threads on the leader outputs?

Ron
 
I'm working through the first step in alignment and calibration...Azimuth. The following pictures show the trace I get and the settings used.
I'm not so sure about the settings and the trace does not look anything like the MS16 manual. It does look very similar to the Tektronix illustration per their recommended settings. Any input or advice greatly appreciated.

SANY0284.webpSANY0285.webpSANY0286.webp

Ron
 
You should probably set the scope into X/Y mode (bottom setting on the Sec/Div control). That will give you the circular pattern usually used for head alignment.
 
Thanks for your response jpmorris. What should the volts/div for channel 1&2 be? I notice it makes a huge difference in the pattern.

Ron
 
ron-e-g said:
Thanks for your response jpmorris. What should the volts/div for channel 1&2 be? I notice it makes a huge difference in the pattern.

Ron
Click to expand...

I'm no expert, but I don't believe it matters as long as they're both set the same. What's supposed to happen is that you get a line around 45 degrees (or mirrored - this may indicate a 180 degree phase error, or it may simply be that the connections are reversed). Typically you'll get an ellipsoid instead, but by adjusting the azimuth screws on the head you should be able to make it close and flatten out into a line.
 
With both channels set the same I get this;
SANY0288.webpSANY0287.webp

This would seem to indicate an adjustment needed?
 
I think you'll have to find someone better than me to ask. It should look something like this:
scope.webp

...I don't know what it means when it's lying on its side like that. I didn't think that could happen.
 
Thanks jp. Maybe someone who has some more experience with this will chime-in.

Ron
 
so, you get the image off center, because:

a. You have not adjusted the ground to zero in the scope. So on CH1. Put it in CH1 only , then switch to GND mode, and adjust the "position" knob on the scope so it is perfectly lined up in zero (y=0), the horizontal line that you see should be in zero. Do the same with both channels.

b. For the Level, 100mV per division should do it, but get the best view possible, needs to be the same for both channels. If you get a very bad proportion, (horizontal vs vertical) it means one channel is giving much higher output than the other. If this is the case, go back and adjust levels first. Switch to input mode temporarily to verify the perfect 45 degree line. What i mean with levels it will be both input levels and repro/sync levels. All that has to be done first, otherwise it will be very hard or impossible to adjust. I think that is the order on the service manual. You can also do that to figure out the order of channels when connecting to the scope (so it looks like in the manual or the pic that jpmorris posted above)

Now, after that go to XY mode. The order of the channels really doesn't matter. you are looking to minimize the "hole area" in the ellipse. Ideally zero, so it looks like a line. Now that in practice is not impossible, but a little space is ok. You will notice that it changes from 1khz to 10khz. Start adjusting with 1khz, then move to 10khz. Use tracks 2 and 15 for hooking up the scope. Tracks 1 and 16 will be mor unstable due to being on the edge. You will notice noise and fluctuation which will be an indicator of how smooth the tape goes over the head, and also how smooth your transport is. Some of the pictures above don't load.
 
fgonza2,

Just to eliminate any confusion. You mention to disconnect the probe. By this do you mean the RCA cable's connecting the recorder to the scope CH 1&2? Put in in Channel 1 only mode in the Vertical section, or the trigger section? By "pos" knob do you mean position? And position 1 first then switch to Channel 2 and do the same?

b= set the volts/div knob to;100mV. Would that be .1 on the dial(s)?

By "now after that" do you mean set the sec/div knob to y/x?

What change are you referring to? the change as the test tape goes from the 1khz to the 10khz?

Lastly..what pictures don't load? Sorry to be so confused. I'm easily confused!;)
 
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