[DE/EU] Group sale of 5 Anritsu MG3633A Signalgenerators (10 kHz to 2700 MHz)

[DC1MC]

In traveling fleabay I found this seller that tries to sell a group of 5x  Anritsu MG3633A Signalgenerators, it seem that the units were set   110VAC (American Base ?) and some cognitive challenged chap fried 5 of them before they could stop him  .
The signal generators are of high quality, the seller claims that no repairs have been attempted  and it accepts price offers ( I was thinking of something like 250-300EUR per piece).
The idea is that I cand't afford to buy all 5 of them and he doesn't want to sell separately.
Is there a nice organized German guy with some disposable income to get them and split them, or how do you think it's the best way to do it, I may squeeze 600EUR but there is still some until the sale price.
Also if someone gets them and wants to repair and sell them for a profit, I will enjoy getting one of them at cost, for the tip

Brochure: https://accusrc.com/uploads/datasheets/6331_MG3633A.pdf
Manual: https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/Anritsu/ANRITSU%20MG3633A%20OPS.pdf

Fleabay link: eBay auction: #https://www.ebay.de/itm/5x-Anritsu-Signalgenerator-MG-3633A-110Volt-10-Khz-2-7Ghz/292367119463

 Waiting for ideas on how can we do this (maybe we can organize a group repair as well). 

[PA0PBZ]

In traveling fleabay I found this seller that tries to sell a group of 5x  Anritsu MG3633A Signalgenerators, it seem that the units were set   110VAC (American Base ?) and some cognitive challenged chap fried 5 of them before they could stop him  .

I read that only one was accidently connected to 220V", so the rest has yet to be seen problems:

"Einen haben wir aus versehen an 220 Volt angeschlossen , mit dem ergebnis , dass die Sicherung rausgeflogen ist , er aber danach wieder geht , allerdings kein signal rauskommt.

[DC1MC]

I have a feeling that the other one may have had some similar fate or someone overloaded the output with some DC or something.
I would still love to have one of them at around 300EUR.

[philpem]

I'd pick one up at that price. Probably wouldn't be too unreasonable (price wise) to ship one to the UK either. I do like a good fixer-upper 

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread!

[dmills]

Bear in mind it is Anritsu so the chances of diagrams are pretty much nil.
That said, blown power supplies are my favourite sort of fault.

Regards, Dan.

[DC1MC]

So, any idea how to do this properly, for each of us to have a nice generator ?

It seems that there is a bit of interest in them, how do we split them ?

[CJay]

I like and could use a nice sig gen but they appear to have gone?

[capt bullshot]

I've bought (and collected) some equipment from this guy. He'll tell you exactly what's wrong with the units if you call him up by phone and what's your options to negotiate the price. I don't think he'll sell them one by one, and he'll insist on you to collect them, otherwise he's a nice guy and tries to support you. ATM I'm not interested in these units, nor in shipping them, and I'm not as mobile as I should be to handle such stuff (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/how-much-vacation-do-you-take-in-december/msg1380701/#msg1380701)

There's still an option that I might visit his shop in February (but this is completely open and ATM nothing but a faint idea, depends on many things), so if the units (and the one I'm potentially interested in, won't tell now) are still available then (or if I or someone talks him to keep them back until then), I could be able (but don't know yet if I'm willing too) to buy them and pick them up, but I really don't want to pack and ship them. I guess I'd keep one then, but I'm not in the need of such a signal gen. So if anyone is interested and willing to wait until then and I'll go visiting him, you'd be either really good in talking me to ship the units, or pick them up in my area (near Giessen, Hessen).

Edit: they're still there, OPs link doesn't work
Search ebay for "5x Anritsu Signalgenerator MG 3633A"

BTW. his main intention is to sell them in a bundle, and believes there's a chance that one could get a working one out of these by swapping modules. Component level repair appears somewhat difficult with this stuff, since there's no service manuals. So if he gave up on these, it isn't a simple or obvious repair, since he also runs a small repair shop.

[PA0PBZ]

I like and could use a nice sig gen but they appear to have gone?

Not if you use the correct link: https://www.ebay.de/itm/5x-Anritsu-Signalgenerator-MG-3633A-110Volt-10-Khz-2-7Ghz/292367119463

I have my doubts, this is clearly a test equipment trader and I don't think they would offer them cheap if easy repairable... but you never know of course.

[DC1MC]

I've bought (and collected) some equipment from this guy. He'll tell you exactly what's wrong with the units if you call him up by phone and what's your options to negotiate the price. I don't think he'll sell them one by one, and he'll insist on you to collect them, otherwise he's a nice guy and tries to support you. ATM I'm not interested in these units, nor in shipping them, and I'm not as mobile as I should be to handle such stuff (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/how-much-vacation-do-you-take-in-december/msg1380701/#msg1380701)

There's still an option that I might visit his shop in February (but this is completely open and ATM nothing but a faint idea, depends on many things), so if the units (and the one I'm potentially interested in, won't tell now) are still available then (or if I or someone talks him to keep them back until then), I could be able (but don't know yet if I'm willing too) to buy them and pick them up, but I really don't want to pack and ship them. I guess I'd keep one then, but I'm not in the need of such a signal gen. So if anyone is interested and willing to wait until then and I'll go visiting him, you'd be either really good in talking me to ship the units, or pick them up in my area (near Giessen, Hessen).

Edit: they're still there, OPs link doesn't work
Search ebay for "5x Anritsu Signalgenerator MG 3633A"

BTW. his main intention is to sell them in a bundle, and believes there's a chance that one could get a working one out of these by swapping modules. Component level repair appears somewhat difficult with this stuff, since there's no service manuals. So if he gave up on these, it isn't a simple or obvious repair, since he also runs a small repair shop.

Oh, so you say that the guy is a bit dishonest, because the first sentence in the description is:

Die Geräte sind alle unterschiedlich defekt: Es wurden keine Reparaturversuche unternommen.

That I understand as: The devices have different issues and NO attempts to repair have been made.

Are you telling me that he actually opened them and tried to repair them ? Is that confirmed, because I really don't want to support a dishonest seller, we have enough of these ?

 DC1MC

[capt bullshot]

Oh, so you say that the guy is a bit dishonest, because the first sentence in the description is:

Die Geräte sind alle unterschiedlich defekt: Es wurden keine Reparaturversuche unternommen.

That I understand as: The devices have different issues and NO attempts to repair have been made.

Are you telling me that he actually opened them and tried to repair them ? Is that confirmed, because I really don't want to support a dishonest seller, we have enough of these ?

 DC1MC

No, that's not what I wanted to tell you. IMO they've inspected them (turned on and tested, look at the notes with the "failure" description), maybe opened for inspection, but If he says "no attempts to repair were made", they didn't mess around with them or swapped modules. Usually you get a good description of what is the state of the units he sell. So you'll get the units without an attempt to repair has done. Probably they gave up because they're full, repair is outside their knowledge, or because there's no service manual. IMO they're trustworthy regarding this. You can call him (google Knopf-Hifi Düsseldorf), he'll tell you the truth.

[DC1MC]

OK then, if they didn't mess them we're still on, now even if they offer "Free shipping", in the body of the description it says "Only pick-up", pretty sure that this it's not according with the fleabay rules, and it's kind of bad but not unexpected for these heavy devices, we need to see how we move them out of Düsseldorf. Around 300Km to Mannheim, not completely impossible.
Let's see if we get one or two committed takers and I should be able to organize something.

P.S. => The Orthography of the bid description it's really strange.

[CJay]

So, can someone in Germany phone the guy and find out what the faults are?

Funds are tight here but if the faults are reasonable I may be able to raise some money.

@Philpem, maybe some sort of shared shipping to the UK?

[PA0PBZ]

If I understand the post-it notes correctly all faults are either no output or incorrect output level.

[DC1MC]

Another pair of 0.01EUR, but first a disclaimer, I think it's necessary to be clear upfront: I have no connection whatsoever with the seller of this stuff, actually I had no idea who it is until Capt told me. I just wanted to have a performant generator at a nice price, replacing some euros with brain and eye sweat. Now that this out of the way, lets continue.

- So after the middle of the month I can increase my share to ca. 800EUR, so I need some partner(s) to come with the rest. Even if we'll be able to haggle 1-200EUR from the seller, the costs of logistics will push the amount to the original 1.6KEUR.
- The assignment of the 5 devices in the group will be done randomly, to keep the fairness, no cherry picking, no "I'll take the one with -15V regulator dead, you can have fun with the one unobtanium burned GaAs mixer...". We write the serials on a pieces of paper and we pick according with the contribution to the cost, so there will be 5 shares in this enterprise .

Then we take our generators and try to repair them, the videos and forum karma will be yuuuge , and depending of the results we'll kepp them, sell them full or in parts, or use them as practice targets with bowling balls  .

If someone is interested, please PM me.

[capt bullshot]

That's an interesting plan, especially about the karma and the bowling balls 

I can't put in personal support before mid February, that support could be like driving half way to Duesseldorf (since I live somewhere in between Mannheim and Duesseldorf). So if there are enough people but me to make the deal, I'd leave it to you, otherwise I would jump in for one unit at 1/5 of the lot price and said support. I'm interested in another unit from this seller, so it would be interesting for me in case the other unit isn't sold until then.

[DC1MC]

Well then, the initial public offering is open, 4 out 5 shares x 350 available, one is mine. This price cover the logistics costs as well, if something is left after acquisition, will be used for repair time fuel (Bier & Würstchen) or reimbursed.

[Ysjoelfir]

My family lives near Düsseldorf and my aunt and uncle live in Solingen and work in Düsseldorf, so a pickup would be no problem for me. They could potentially even be brought to any place between Essen and Frankfurt am Main when I drive to them the next time.
Sadly I have no need for beast like that, so no money contribution from me, but I would be happy to manage the pickup if I would be allowed to take a look inside one of those.


For the errors written on the Post-Its:
From top to Bottom:

"Pegel" - level
"Signal zappelt + 110V falsch angeschl." - Signal is jumping around + 110V connected wrong
"Sieht aus wie Sweep" - looks like sweep
"uncal Kein Signal" - uncalibrated, no signal
"110V falsch angeschlossen" - 110V connected wrong

[DC1MC]

My family lives near Düsseldorf and my aunt and uncle live in Solingen and work in Düsseldorf, so a pickup would be no problem for me. They could potentially even be brought to any place between Essen and Frankfurt am Main when I drive to them the next time.
Sadly I have no need for beast like that, so no money contribution from me, but I would be happy to manage the pickup if I would be allowed to take a look inside one of those.


For the errors written on the Post-Its:
From top to Bottom:

"Pegel" - level
"Signal zappelt + 110V falsch angeschl." - Signal is jumping around + 110V connected wrong
"Sieht aus wie Sweep" - looks like sweep
"uncal Kein Signal" - uncalibrated, no signal
"110V falsch angeschlossen" - 110V connected wrong

Thank a lot for the translation of the defect descriptions, the pick-up offer is much appreciated, if you're willing to to drive to Mannheim from Frankfurt (extra 70Km) you'll get the gasoline reimbursed and we'll do the tear-down pictures/video together.
Now we just need  the funding for the beasts

[Ysjoelfir]

...the pick-up offer is much appreciated, if you're willing to to drive to Mannheim from Frankfurt (extra 70Km) you'll get the gasoline reimbursed and we'll do the tear-down pictures/video together.

Sure we can do that

[philpem]

@Philpem, maybe some sort of shared shipping to the UK?

Definitely willing to split the P&P costs. If this goes ahead, let's talk!

[dundee]

I would like to take one too, if someone of you can do the shipping.

Found a service manual here: http://www.wirelessdesign.co.nz/DATASHEETS/AN-MG3633A/MG3633A_service.pdf

[capt bullshot]

Thank a lot for the translation of the defect descriptions, the pick-up offer is much appreciated, if you're willing to to drive to Mannheim from Frankfurt (extra 70Km) you'll get the gasoline reimbursed and we'll do the tear-down pictures/video together.
Now we just need  the funding for the beasts

OK, that's great. I'm in for one. Of course I'll take over additional cost for dropping the unit at my home, or as I said, if it gets delayed until mid February, I can pick them up in Duesseldorf.

[DC1MC]

Hello everybody, let's summarize what we have:

 - 5 "shares" of one generator each, at 350EUR/share
 - random generator assignment (no "cherry picking" )
 - The generators have the output routed on the back connector, no front output connector. 
 - Existing nice service manual posted (inter-module communication via fiber optic cables, and the protocol is described, you can get cooler stuff at this price range  ), thank you a lot member dundee.
 - Member Ysjoelfir chimed in with help for transportation, Düsseldorf - Mannheim axis of good .
 - Member capt bullshot offered to negotiate with the seller (he knows him already)  for a better price.

 Current allocation ( dear members, now is your chance to really confirm if you really commit)

 Member DC1MC 1
 Member dundee 1
 Member capt bullshot 1

Two more available, any takers ?
Let's try to finish this before some rich basterd gets them and laughs in our face  .

 Cheers,
 DC1MC

[EDITED for the output connector position]

[dundee]

I think philpem and cjay will take one, too?

Found this at page 17 in the service manual:


Sounds good