My Newest Enclosure - WTH is it?

[kaddigart]

Hello all -
I found this in an old box of discarded electronic junk and thought it'd make the perfect enclosure. Can anyone tell me exactly what it is? I know the connector is either type N or M coaxial, that's a 5mm LED, and it has a 9v battery compartment. My knowledge ends there mostly.

Also, would the existing PCB be usable in its current or slightly modified form? I know I'd have to lessen the voltage, is this doable without using a new board?

Thanks for looking, any feedback is also greatly appreciated.

 

[kaddigart]

Surely with the vast knowledge some of you have some one has seen something like this before. A friend thinks it's a voice recorder, but I see no chips big enough for a device this old to store anything...my thoughts are that its a power supply of sorts for a headset or something. Any ideas?

 

[shannannagans]

It looks like some sort of external device that you hook up to the TV to capture audio.

 

[Vapant]

Is there another Aux on the other end of the device? or any other ports or components not shown in your pics?
With the timer chip there I thought could have been a delay/ echo effect.

 

[Chip_]

Well that little chip (LMC555) is a regular old 555 timer chip.

So whatever uses a coax connector and a 555 timer chip, is what it is. Can you see what the part number of that To220 is?

So I would doubt that it is a voice recorder - given that the little capacitor won't be able to drive that 555 timer any longer then
miliseconds.

 

[kaddigart]

Is there another Aux on the other end of the device? or any other ports or components not shown in your pics?
With the timer chip there I thought could have been a delay/ echo effect.

There's what I guess to be an auxiliary power jack on the side (left if connector is on that side) about 3mm in diameter. Inside its the little box thingy on the left.

Well that little chip (LMC555) is a regular old 555 timer chip.

So whatever uses a coax connector and a 555 timer chip, is what it is. Can you see what the part number of that To220 is?

So I would doubt that it is a voice recorder - given that the little capacitor won't be able to drive that 555 timer any longer then
miliseconds.

The part # is KI 7810C. A quick search yielded very few results, not even a full page.

 

[Chip_]

That 7810 sounds like a 10 volt regulator. Also is that a "Belt Clip" I see on the back?

 

[dr g]

Well it's a BAT indicator ver 2.0 don't ya know

Do you have any other contextual clues? Could you show the trace side of the board?

One thing I find odd is the wiring to the coax plug ... only one of the contacts is used.

Actually I do think that's what this thing is, some kind of battery monitoring device. Maybe the LED blinks at different rates depending on the bat voltage, I suspect the coax is the monitored battery in. What kind of devices used coax for battery connections?

 

[kaddigart]

That 7810 sounds like a 10 volt regulator. Also is that a "Belt Clip" I see on the back?

It is indeed. That was what gave me the indication that it may be a PSU for some kind of communications device.

A little more back-story here may help - the gentleman I got it from was either in law enforcement or a private detective, as well as my neighbor that died back in March. Recently, his family was at the house cleaning it out and they told me whatever they left behind was fair game. He had numerous electrical components tossed haphazard in boxes or drawers. While some things were labeled, this box was loose with no apparent cables, cords or other devices that might interface with it.

Well it's a BAT indicator ver 2.0 don't ya know

Do you have any other contextual clues? Could you show the trace side of the board?

One thing I find odd is the wiring to the coax plug ... only one of the contacts is used.

Actually I do think that's what this thing is, some kind of battery monitoring device. Maybe the LED blinks at different rates depending on the bat voltage, I suspect the coax is the monitored battery in. What kind of devices used coax for battery connections?

Below are more pics at full resolution. You should be able to see all of the markings I can (without destructive bending).

Aren't most battery connections coaxial, whether they are the threaded type or barrel connectors?





Thanks again to all of you for your candor.

 

[fido5150]

It looks like some sort of signal generator, probably for some cable TV diagnostic equipment.
That's why it's pretty sparse on the outside, all it needed to do was plug into a cable and then generate an electrical signal.

At least that's my guess.

 

[Zipslack]

Yeah, the 555 to me just screams "OSCILLATOR", which leads me to believe it was for injecting a signal into something or produce "noise" that would be amplified or transmitted. I'm leading toward signal injector...

 

[kaddigart]

Yeah, the 555 to me just screams "OSCILLATOR", which leads me to believe it was for injecting a signal into something or produce "noise" that would be amplified or transmitted. I'm leading toward signal injector...

I think you're correct or at least close - a quick search found the first remotely similar devices, namely an RF injector. Pretty much every one had branding and/or more I/O ports and functions, displays etc. I'm beginning to think it may have been a DIY project of his...

 

[dr g]

Below are more pics at full resolution. You should be able to see all of the markings I can (without destructive bending).

I was hoping you could show the traces/wire connections side of the board, maybe we can decipher its function by actually looking at what it does. It might be simple enough.

 

[kaddigart]

I was hoping you could show the traces/wire connections side of the board, maybe we can decipher its function by actually looking at what it does. It might be simple enough.

Forgive my ignorance, but I thought this one was what you meant:

If not, I'm afraid I don't know what you mean...

 

[dr g]

Can you use a different image host? whatever you are using takes forever to load up and sometimes doesn't show the images. The post immediately above this one isn't showing an image.

I see 3 images in your previous post, am I missing any?

 

[mre777]

It looks like a signal injector that was part of an old "fox and hound" set used for cable installation and testing. You plug that box, the "fox" into a line or hook up a probe and inject a set tone or signal into a line or circuit. Then you use the "hound" a small amplifying device or an oscilloscope to trace the signal around the circuit or network to see where you losses or distortions occur.

 

[kaddigart]

Can you use a different image host? whatever you are using takes forever to load up and sometimes doesn't show the images. The post immediately above this one isn't showing an image.

I see 3 images in your previous post, am I missing any?

There are 7, not sure why you'd not be able to see them. I just uploaded the whole lot to Flickr, hopefully no problems there. Here's the direct link to the trace side one, the others you should be able to see by browsing the set.
SAM_0002 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

It looks like a signal injector that was part of an old "fox and hound" set used for cable installation and testing. You plug that box, the "fox" into a line or hook up a probe and inject a set tone or signal into a line or circuit. Then you use the "hound" a small amplifying device or an oscilloscope to trace the signal around the circuit or network to see where you losses or distortions occur.

Thank you for the easily understood explanation; this seems to be the closest I can find, at least with an image search using the key words signal, injector, cable, coaxial and circuit in all combinations I could think of. The only thing that gives me pause is the fact that an 808D cartomizer threads directly to it, indicating that its smaller than the typical "F" sized coaxial connection used in any cable set-up I've ever seen. Not that I've seen them all obviously, but I've never found any sized "M" or "N" that haven't been purchased from Radio Shack.

While I never could find my exact device while searching, I did come across one made in an Altoids tin...

 

[kaddigart]

I found another device from the same place that I was able to identify:


If you can't see the above I uploaded it to Flickr as well.

From REIUSA.net

EAR-200 [ Electro Acoustic Receiver ]
Used to locate sources of acoustic leakage, the EAR allows "before and after" comparisons
to determine the effectiveness of the noise masking, and connects easily to recorders,
spectrum analyzers, or other test equipment for more detailed analysis.
The EAR-200 is intended for training and test purposes only, and is not to be used in a surreptitious manner.

I mention this device because it is exactly the same dimensions and has the same layout on the inside (PCB slots, battery chamber). I even test fit halves from both devices; like a glove. The only difference excepting the I/O plate and guts is the texture of the plastic. It seems to be the same type though.

Unfortunately I couldn't find the first one on REI's site, its still a mystery.

 

[raid2506]

It looks like a signal injector that was part of an old "fox and hound" set used for cable installation and testing. You plug that box, the "fox" into a line or hook up a probe and inject a set tone or signal into a line or circuit. Then you use the "hound" a small amplifying device or an oscilloscope to trace the signal around the circuit or network to see where you losses or distortions occur.

You are on the money there. As a former radio engineer I used these a lot for testing circuits. It is a tone/signal generator. Used to test continuity on RF or CCTV circuits.

 

[kaddigart]

You are on the money there. As a former radio engineer I used these a lot for testing circuits. It is a tone/signal generator. Used to test continuity on RF or CCTV circuits.

Thank you! This has been bothering me for almost 2 months. Now that I know what it is I can dismantle and mod it. Not sure why I needed to know so bad, but if I'm ever across the pond I'll buy you a pint.