New tube curve tracer "eTracer"

[Mike Foo]

Heads up for you tube afficiandos 

Check this new tube curve tracer ... looks good ....

https://www.essues.com/etracer/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/154835195049377/

[Joe Carpenter]

Interesting, 0 - 750V. I wonder if anyone has bought one and what they think? Also, wonder what Rons thoughts on this is?

Regards,

Joe

[mman...@fuse.net]

Some quick observations:

The current limit of 300mA seems a little low for the 750V anode voltage capability.

Like the uTracer, it does not allow positive grid voltages.

Integrated filament supply up to 3A is good (for the uTracer, adding an external supply is a requirement, IMO).

Filament current is sensed (using an external filament supply with the uTracer provides this feature).

The speed looks good, and it appears (on the plots shown while tracing).

Specified anode voltages are achieved during testing (something that the uTracer does not do).

The software is still evolving. At present it seems a little lacking in features, but I assume that it will get better.

Documentation does not yet meet the high standard set by that of the uTracer.

MPM

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From: "Mike Foo" <jazzyj...@gmail.com>
To: "uTracer" <utr...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2018 5:54:21 PM
Subject: New tube curve tracer "eTracer"

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[Joe Curcio]

I purchased the uTracer originally because of the reasonable investment ($260) and more importantly because of the sharing of the development on his web page. With etracer the SW licence is the deal breaker for me - otherwise I might be willing to try it out. That translates to $600 (HW & SW) compared to uTracer's $260. Customer support is still an unknown - and given their non-responsiveness to my attempt to register, it's not looking good.

Pros...

- Higher supply voltages

- Assembled pcb available @ $200

- Enclosure available

- Claimed increase in speed (seems at best marginal from Bartola video)

Cons

- !! $400 for a SW license -  not sure if there is a demo version since still waiting (5 days) for response to registration for what I hope is possible SW demo

Other Observations

- Ron shares every detail about the development of his HW and SW - unprecedented. I don't expect the same from etracer but since Ron is the competition, the comparison is warranted

- Ron's customer support is simply outstanding (personal experience)

- uTracer SW has a history of being frequently improved and updated driven by customer feedback and Ron's dedication to improve the performance of uTracer

- Ron appears to be in a ongoing continuous improvement mode with uTracer and although it appears that he may have abandoned V4, I suspect that there is activity in the background.

[Craig Sawyers]

Cons

- !! $400 for a SW license -  not sure if there is a demo version since still waiting (5 days) for response to registration for what I hope is possible SW demo

 

Well, that is a total deal breaker.

[Joe Carpenter]

Yeah, my utracer works fine for what I need it for. If Ron would to build a better uiTracer (V4) I would buy from him.

Joe

[David Hanslip]

For me, part of the attraction of uTracer was being able to build it myself. That and the capabilities and price of course. People interested in a valve curve tracer are probably similar. With a $600 price tag I think eTracer may be missing the point.

Bmamps' mods can take uTracer to 400mA and -60V grid if really required.

[David Hanslip]

On Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 6:54:21 AM UTC+8, Mike Foo wrote:

I have to say that one of the reasons I purchased a uTracer kit was because it was a kit that I could enjoy assembling. At $600 I think etracer is way too expensive for the likely market. If he doesn't want to got to the trouble of offering a kit (a huge amount of work) perhaps offer boards for sale at a reasonable price and publish the circuit diagrams. Then also offer the software at a reasonable price, say $100 max. Much better business model.