The perfect workbench

[Ed_Chambley]

I have had the opportunity to visit quite a few electronic repair shops and everyone seems to have "similar" equipment of varying values.  I have the basics like DMM's, soldering stations, Function Generator, Oscope's......etc.

I would like to know if there is some piece of test equipment that is nice to have.  Not absolutely necessary stuff, but if you could build a workstation any way you want, what would you have?

For instance, your preferred vice?  I see guys with separate frequency meters between their signal generator and Oscope and I always forget to ask why they have them since the scope and my DMM will measure.

Convenience?

What pieces of test would you like to have?
What do you have that you use more than you thought you would prior to getting it?

[shooter]

What pieces of test would you like to have

Like most, my bench is good enough, but if santa wants my wish, a good spectrum analyzer would be nice   I just can't seem to make as much sense that feature on my scope.

[Ed_Chambley]

What pieces of test would you like to have

Like most, my bench is good enough, but if santa wants my wish, a good spectrum analyzer would be nice   I just can't seem to make as much sense that feature on my scope.

I get that.  Thanks, there is one for the wish list.

[PRR]

Frequency counters are relatively new to the trade, very groovy, and more accurate than most analog signal generators or 'scopes.

In *audio* work I don't think I have EVER needed to know frequency that precisely.

DMM measuring frequency... that's quite new (only decades). And my Fluke is very sure my power line is 59.9Hz. I'm not that far-out. I am clearly on the Big Grid through New England, all of which is synchronized at US clock-rate, 60.00Hz. Yes, under great stress the grid freq dips, but not even 0.1Hz; and it should stabilize in 15 minutes (part of the Agreement) and drift a little high so the day-average is 60.0000Hz. But Fluke always says 59.9.