Carlson's Super Probe build or buy existing signal tracer

Hi, I am not sure if you are referring to the Superprobe project or you meant to say Ultraprobe as they are 2 separate projects even though they do they aim at the exact same functionality? However, the Ultraprobe is vastly superior and newer than the much older Superprobe project and I can assure you that if you build the new Ultraprobe it sensitivity far exceeds any Heathkit or B&K, Eico etc. equipment you would buy  and a great advantage is that it works on normal batteries or even rechargeable (should you prefer) and it is small (not much space required on your bench and it goes without saying (no mains power required) In fact the probe is so sensitive you could find bearing noise in cars or any other hidden mechanical problem (IE: unwanted vibrations etc) that is otherwise hard to detect. Cost ways…well, it all depends on what you already have in your junk box/spare parts + look / examine the BOM yourself and then decide weather you are good at making your own boards (the SMD style ones) or you would rather not get involved. Anyways the components are usual (some of them specific to this project) but, nothing super special and/or overly expensive. Again…it is entirely up to you. This is my own opinion and it is not to be taken as a definitive advice and yes I have successfully built both projects as well and they work like a dream. Whatever the decision…good luck.

HA!  Yes the latest and greatest Ultra Probe. He is always upgrading/revising his builds, hard to keep track for a noob like me.  Thank you so much for your response and input.  I’ll be building my single ended 807 amp this fall/winter and have built a couple of Paul’s tools.  It seems to me having a signal tracer would be the next logical tool to build regarding the amp.  I do love finding and repairing older Heathkit or sim. equipment but at some point when does repairing and just building new cost and effort converge.?  I appreciate this input and will reference this again when that project.!  Thanks Gale

i am trying to find links to schematics or bom files for this? do they exist? i am a patron.

@markboston42 Hi, if you are a Patreon member then head over to Patreon and search that official, list of videos for the videos 174 and all the way to 182.  They show the progress and variants to build for the probe head unit (either thru hole or SMD construction).  However, there is no thru hole version of the base/de-modulator unit er…. but you’ll understand far better what I’m saying after watching those videos. For the specs, schematic box drill-out template and B.O.M. you need to request those manually via the private messaging system directly to Mr.Carson and you should get them in a few days directly to your email (the one you are registered with on your Patreon account. However, keep in mind that you need to write down the specific video number you need the documentation for otherwise he wont know what you actually asked for and you wouldn’t get them. Also keep in mind that the whole Ultra-Probe project is split in 2 sections  1: is the so called base unit or the amplifier/de-modulator box  and 2: the probe head unit. So, you gonna have to make sure that you ask for the documentation of both (providing specific video numbers of that list. Good luck.

Ovi4, Do I have the videos right? The Amplifier/de-modulators newest version is video 182 and the probe head is video 175 right. I just want to make sure I am getting the right stuff. I got a little confused as to what is what and after 5 surgeries, I think the anesthesia has clouded my mind a little (maybe a lot). I think I have all the parts short of a second SH-817B solder sucker and I am not sure you can’t get by with just one of that model and use a different model for the other end.

@irishman299 : Hi, the Ultra-probe project spans over many videos as mentioned in the above post:

video 174 (some demo of the probe head!), the probe you hold in your hand to measure things with.

video 175 (the documentation for the probe-head, PCB printout, component map, schematic+BOM)

video 176 (an extremely short 2 minutes video with a little correction in the final schematic only! so there is the attached updated  schematic PDF you should also ask for).

video 177 (for those who prefer the TH version of the probe-head here is the introduction/discussion of it).

video 178 (the documentation release for the TH variant of the probe-head only !).

video 179 (some various talks about some PCB transfer paper + some update for the TH probe-head version only!).

video180 [introduction+DEMO of the base unit (the de-modulation+audio amplifier box)]

video181 (the release of an EXPERIMENTAL base unit schematic ONLY ! So NOT the final version !)- Keep this in mind as many people get confused by it

video182 (the release of SOME!!! documentation for the base unit: component map, BOM, PCB printout, Schematic)

• Skip over videos 183 and 184 as they are unrelated!

video185 (artwork, drill files and general instructions regarding the mechanical build of the Hammond box needed for the base unit)

video 186 (a detail explanation on the artwork and demo+certain materials used to produce it)

• skip video 187 as it is unrelated!

video 188 (final assembly instructions +tips and tricks in regards to the build of the base-unit)

And yes for the other end you can use some other similar diameter sucker as it doesn’t have to be that SH-817B. the special “brass threaded ring” is only needed at the rear side of the sucker where the cables come out thru that particular brass ring.

Good luck with your build.

Thanks, I was getting confused as to what was what and the anesthesia’s long-term effects have not warn-off quit yet. Hopefully I can get started on this in the next month or so, as I am also fighting depression over all these surgeries and being able to do nothing since May.

Posted by: @gale-thurston

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or just buy an existing Heathkit, B&K, Eico…Ect. Has anyone built it and what kind of cost/added benefit it has over buying a signal tracer.  Thanks