I have the same sig.gen, built when I was in the Signal Corps here in Norway! It is still on my bench as the "No.1" RF test source, mostly because og its small size (have both Rohde & Schwarz and other much better units), but these occupy too much space to sit on the bench usually :) I have also a bridge rectifier in mine, and BNC jacks to suit normal test cables. The "AF OUT" jack is fed with high level unmodulated RF to drive an external frequency counter, which is often a bonus in my opinion. I find this gen quite stable, despite its simple construction
It's a minor point, but I usually rewire (assuming polarized-plug or 3-wire plug) the hot-side first to an external chassis-mount fuse holder, then the switch, then the line-neutral safety-capacitor. This way the safety capa are not constantly subjected to all the line transients. The opposite side of this argument is that the modern safety-caps are very robust and having them in the circuit is an additional protection for other connected equipment. Myself, I make sure all plug strips have transient suppression. Another point I would like to amplify regarding VTVM's, is the fact that they for the most part uniquely present much lower loading to high-impedance and RF circuits, thereby not upsetting their operation. The reason for this is the 1-megohm resistor that is in the probe-tip. Whereas in a DVM, even though it is high-impedance, you still have the entire probel lead connected to the sensitive circuit. I think if this fact was more widely know, there would be many more of these used and less discarded or dismissed as inferior, when just the opposite is true. I actually have three VTVM's: The first is a Heath-Built EUW-24 and a RCA Senior VoltOhmyst UC-98C, finally an HP-410B. I have these on separate workbenches, plugged into a switchable outlet strip, that I have all the soldering/desoldering equipment plugged into. At the start of the workday, I switch-on that strip and the VTVM's are already set to on, so they come up to warm and stabilize. When I worked professionally in a shop, we always powered up all the VTVM's and signal generators (sometimes scopes as well) then went to morning coffee! in all this time, and with all these tech's, I never waw anyone replace any tubes in their VTVM's; only some in the signal generators or a tube-tester; so don't be concerned leaving them on. Nice workmanship, and great advice for anyone getting into this line of work. SUBSCRIBED & 73...
Yes, It's my practice to have the hot side of a polarized, or a 3-wire, line cord go straight to the fuse, not stopping anywhere (like even a terminal strip) on the way. I also chose to have the hot-side safety cap be switched. Electricity prices being what they are, every vampire microamp helps! Regarding (V)TVMs, I'll be doing a video showing the very first kit I ever built in the 1970s. It won't be a teardown or even a rehab. Thanks for commenting and 73.
I built this same RF generator and it's still around. I think my brother has it. I got a lot of use out of it! My favorite was playing records through my AM radio when I was a kid (yes, I built it as a kid). Ahh...memories.
