I paid more than few recent sold ones on eBay, but I also get extra goodies too and few multiple boards to tinker with. It is also not one big payment but spendings over two years since I started collecting bits&pieces. If you want a unit, go buy used one, obviously. I knew from the start that it would be even or more $ than used box.
Anyhow, it's a learning process and fun that matters for me, and I'm happy to be able to do it. If you factor in cost of time , then most of "good deals" of broken T&M are more expensive than complete working units, but we still do it, right?
Illya,
yep, the end of the tunnel comes closer..congratulations, and again - well done.
In the old days, it was quite easy to get old and damaged equipment for a bargain, with an easy fix.
Even from the US, including tax and VAT, it was possible to get top notch test equipment for a very low price.
Today, it's not that easy any more, up to impossible, maybe also due to the revival of DIY electronics and metrology instruments, by the eevblog effect..
Anyhow, I really appreciate very much all your re-engineering work you've done and that you're still doing.. and probably spending all your income on that stuff..
It's fun for you, for sure, but also a big knowledge benefit for everyone in this community.
And a big fun for me, also, to follow your progress.
At last, I just want to point to your unique final conclusions and categorization of the 3458As minor and major faults (U180!) .. that has helped a lot many people..
Ok, I think that's enough of ultimative adulation .. get this thing running, finally!
Frank