This forum is for exchange of information about gas-discharge readout tubes, such as Nixie tubes and similar devices (Panaplex readouts, Pixie tubes, Dekatrons, etc.), which were used in electronic numeric and alphanumeric displays in the 1950s - '70s. Today these tubes, available used or even new (old stock) from surplus dealers and collectors, are being illuminated again to make clocks and other unique displays, their neon glow providing a nostalgic Cold War era character. Secondary topics within our charter include other vintage digital display technologies, and circuit design.

Past and current topics include driving circuits, multiplexing vs. direct drive, making or locating sockets, tube sources, lifetime, power supply design, using microcontrollers, nixies in motion in "propeller" clocks, the challenges of designing a nixie wristwatch, and even the potential problems of making modern-day nixie tubes in a home or small-industry workshop setting. The combined membership base represents a significant pool of knowledge, since some have been building things with nixies for 30 years or more.

We invite members to visit all sections of the site available via the links in the menu at left, especially the Database, which contains our FAQs and a perpetual Virtual Swap Meet.

Applicants, please enter something specific to this group in the Comment field so we know you're not a spambot.

Owner/Moderator: Raymond Weisling
Co-Moderator: Alan "A.J." Franzman

Our Neonixie Counter

Homepage photo requests: Members please see [Files > (Moderator Use) > playlist.txt] for instructions to submit photo requests for display above.