0154 - Is the GM328A the Best of the mini-testers? 

Thank you for this! I've been looking for a tester made with the original chip for a while. Much appreciated.

I bought a much simpler version of one of these component testers a number of years ago. At the time I put it together from a kit and didn't expect a lot. Salvaging components from all kinds of things made me start using it and I have to say its been one of the most used tools I have. Recently I bought the GM328 and hope to start using it along with its increased capabilities. I'm sold on these and the price you can pick one up for it's abilities is incredible.

I think I've finally found some time to start playing with mine, so I figured I'd rewatch this video as a reminder since I'm old and forgetful. Being old-fashioned I've found it handy to print up a binder with the operating manuals and specifications of my small test equipment and radio gear, gear that isn't too simple to bother with, or so sophisticated that it has a 250 page manual. Everything just has so many features these days that it's hard to stay on top of them all. The sophisticated gear, along with component datasheets and technical articles are all stored in a folder on my laptops and a couple of USB memory sticks for backup that I try to update every couple of months as I add to the data. (Information management is a much bigger job than when I just had a stack of data-books, even when I had a whole bookshelf of them. Fortunately, memory sticks are small and cheap.) Thanks again for posting these videos. I find them both interesting and useful. You possess both technical knowledge and a common sense perspective on electronics that I enjoy. That's uncommon on RU-vid.

Great device, thanks for the review...cheers.

Great review, thank you.

I got burned by the Fnirsi tc3 component tester and scope. Reviewers raved about how good it was. I paid a very high premium to import one and it's crap. My 7 dollar no case T4 M328 beats the pants off the Fnirsi as does my Bside component tester. The one thing the Fnirsi does is testzeners up to 30 plus volts. I am going to give the gm238 a try soon. Thanks again for showing what it can do.

You're right. It's a very handy tester. My GM328 is the old kit one and I 3d printed a case for it. You should consider getting a 3d printer they're great for making cases and other useful things.

nice video

Looks great. I'll have to pick one up. It would have been better to be zoomed in more and have less table so I can see the screen on my phone A 3d printed case would be fine. There would probably be a design already I'll share mine when I get it if there is not one. I kinda like the dual layer of perspex for this sort of thing.

Where do you get the idea that it will lose the cal information only on USB-C power? The mega328 has EEPROM and AFAIK any normal distribution of transistor tester software uses it You can probably even recalibrate any of the boxed testers to get better results. If you get access to the programming pins you can even reprogram them most of the time to the latest firmware, rather than the one the chinese picked X years ago.

My T7 was some £22. GM328A is half the price. Just tried to order one using your link, unfortunately: "This product can't be shipped to your address. Select another product or address." Could you provide link working globally? And what is affiliate link supposed to do?

"Just ignore him, he'll go away." 🐕 Tbh, I'd rather you halt proceedings for 30 seconds so you can ruffle his ears & tell him he's a good dog than just dismissively ignoring him. He'd die protecting you out of pure love without hesitation if you were ever in serious trouble. It just rankled is all. I gave Asperger's & I've been asked by my psychologist to practice putting myself into other people's shoes. Well, I'm including paws, claws & fins too & this one needed a comment. Excellent video though, in spite of a very good boy being offhandedly snubbed. No video is worth more than acknowledging a friend's arrival...

When you say it might be the best, you're comparing to the LCR-T7 (and all the similar Chinese clones) *with the open source firmwares?*