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

[@Dennis-uc2gm]

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.

[@uni-byte]

Yeah, they are great for quickly sorting components.

[@NicksStuff]

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?*

[@uni-byte]

Those that I've tested anyway.

[@NicksStuff]

@@uni-byte With the open-source firmware?

[@uni-byte]

@@NicksStuff Hmm, I have an LCR-T4 and LCR-T7 and this GM328A. They all have different firmware on them and behave in quite different ways. To be honest, I wouldn't really know if any of them have the open-source firmware on them or not or even if they could have it. How would you tell?

[@Aengus42]

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

[@uni-byte]

No problem.

[@Aengus42]

"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...

[@uni-byte]

You'll notice @ 7:38 a break in the video. At that point I took the puppy (Reggie) out to play Frisbee (his favorite thing) before coming back and continuing on. You likely don't have the complete story WRT Reggie. Reggie sufferers from absolute dry eye. A condition where his eyes do not produce any tears at all and cannot be induced to produce tears. His immune system destroyed the tear glands. He needs constant attention. Every hour or so I have to clean his eyes and put lubrication in them. For this reason I quit my job in March of 2020. Reggie and I are closer than you can imagine and right now his care is my main purpose in life. He did not mind the 3 minutes or so he had to wait for me to take him out to play. You will see in most of my videos similar breaks. Sometimes it's because someone came to the door, or the phone rang, but most of the time it's for Reggie.

[@Aengus42]

@@uni-byte Thank you for taking the time to explain. I really appreciate it! Strangely, I find animals easier to empathise with than most NTs*. I ordered a component tester and downloaded the user manual. Hopefully the clone is as good as the original eh? Keep safe mate, Les, Kent, UK 💜☮️

[@uni-byte]

@@Aengus42 Yeah, I'm the same. The one I got really seems to work nicely. Thanks!

[@JohnCena-ez7lr]

@@uni-byte Can I pet that daaawg???

[@uni-byte]

@@JohnCena-ez7lr He'd love that. Friendliest dog I've ever seen.

[@ivolol]

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.

[@uni-byte]

Actual experience. I had calibrated it before doing the video using external power and it was not retained. The ATMega328 also has 2K of RAM. Perhaps they are storing the calibration data in there. In addition to the 328 there is another unmarked 20-pin programable chip on the board. Programming pins for both are brought out to pads.

[@guateque1718]

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.

[@uni-byte]

Sorry to hear about the Fnirsi. They seem to have a reputation for delivering less than they promise.

[@johnwest7993]

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 KZbin.

[@uni-byte]

Thank you!

[@originalmianos]

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.

[@uni-byte]

Working on the close-ups!

[@andymouse]

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

[@uni-byte]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@percaine]

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.

[@uni-byte]

A 3-D printer is definitely on my wish list.

[@percaine]

@@uni-byte I bought mine on ebay for a really good price with free shipping and shipped from BC so it didn't take long to get here. Amazon sometimes has some good deals on 3d printers as well.

[@Mr_Ashik_10M]

nice video

[@uni-byte]

Thanks

[@jakubczajka4275]

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?

[@jakubczajka4275]

After I have logged in Ali GM328A link works fine. But affiliate link still does not seem to be doing anything.

[@uni-byte]

Was it the same vendor (CI-Boom Store)?

[@uni-byte]

Some vendors do not ship to some countries. I've added an alternative link.

[@jakubczajka4275]

Yes, the same store, I have already ordered. Your link was ok, I just had to log in. But what is the "AliExpress Affiliate Link: " just above "GM328A Tester:" link? @@uni-byte

[@guateque1718]

Great review, thank you.

[@uni-byte]

Thanks for watching!