New Agilent 34461A 6.5 Digit Bench Multimeter

[HighVoltage]

Yes, it was a software update, similar to the capacitance measurements, that was also updated with a new FW.

The dual display is not very well implemented.
For instance, if you measure DC Voltage and want to have the AC voltage as well on the second display it works with a delay, because it is switching a relay constantly between these two measurements.

This was much better implemented in the older 34410A and 34411A meters.

[TiN]

TheSteve just broke my Keithley-heart, trying to xchange warm fuzzy VFD-DMM to that pesky cold evil LCD thingy, called 34461. 

[HighVoltage]

I still have my many 34401A and 34410A meters in use and just like to use them more over the 34461A for most day to day measurement jobs.

But probably the best feature of the 34461A, and one that I am using all the time is the trend chart for almost all functions.
Even for small changes, the trend chart immediately shows it visually, before we see it in the numbers.

[TheSteve]

TheSteve just broke my Keithley-heart, trying to xchange warm fuzzy VFD-DMM to that pesky cold evil LCD thingy, called 34461. 

Ahh, so the TiN man has a Keithley heart - better then no heart at all!

I haven't made up my mind yet, shame you can't go somewhere and try these things out.

[Dr. Frank]

I haven't made up my mind yet, shame you can't go somewhere and try these things out.

Shame on YOU, that you don't have a volt-nuts community in Canada?!

[sotos]

ON mine, continuity is detected with no perceptible delay.  But the beeper, instead of being on continuously, emits a staccato beeping with variable period.  Is that the issue you're talking about?

You mean something like this.

[rosbuitre]

New version of firmware

http://www.keysight.com/main/software.jspx?ckey=2367633&lc=eng&cc=US&nid=-536902435.1058513&id=2367633

Regards

[sotos]

New version of firmware

http://www.keysight.com/main/software.jspx?ckey=2367633&lc=eng&cc=US&nid=-536902435.1058513&id=2367633

Regards

There’s nothing in the release notes mentioning the beeper problem fixed.

[neslekkim]

And it's released 11th january?, here in Norway it's still the 8th..

[sotos]

And it's released 11th january?, here in Norway it's still the 8th..

Here too

[billfernandez]

ON mine, continuity is detected with no perceptible delay.  But the beeper, instead of being on continuously, emits a staccato beeping with variable period.  Is that the issue you're talking about?

You mean something like this.

Yes, like that.   I find it disturbing, since I associate the cessation of the beep with a loss of continuity, which I have often found to be very useful.  This is just annoying, and makes me distrust the continuity sensing.

[HighVoltage]

Just don't use the 34461A for continuity measurements.

The good news: The 34470A does not have this problem.
The possible bad news: This could be hardware related and can not be fixed through FW updates.

[sotos]

With Firmware, AGILENT V 1.10 its working fine, so I don’t think it’s a hardware problem. It gets messed up with Keysight updates.

[rsivan]

Mine too have annoing beeper ,I did buy when still branded Agilent ,and with 1.10 Firmware was ok = "linear beep" not like now,this incredibile ,someone crazy like us making continuity test with professional bench dmm,just ordered Fluke 101 for 55€ shipped on ebay.de, and use for continuity test... very tiny and stay in  a pocket.

[TheSteve]

Has anyone had a go at finding the username/password for the 34461A telnet connection on port 5810?

Welcome to the Windows CE Telnet Service on K-34461A-14101

login:



edit: anyone have a link to download firmware 1.xx for the 34461A?

[6thimage]

I have the 1.09, 1.10, 2.08 and 2.09 firmware files (NK.bin and build.xml - what the meter expects to find on the flash drive), but not the original update files. I'm not sure if you can get the old versions from the website (if so they will be on the firmware page), as I can't seem to get onto Keysight's website at the moment (503 errors).

I believe the username is 'Torreys', but I don't know of the password.

[plesa]

1.10 and 1.09
http://www.filedropper.com/agt3446xareva0110
http://www.filedropper.com/agt3446xareva0109

[TheSteve]

Awesome, thanks guys!

[billfernandez]

Just don't use the 34461A for continuity measurements.

Yes of course.  Instead of using my new, $1,000 meter that's right there on the bench, the one that's capable of so many modern features executed with precision, I can drag out my old 1983-era Fluke 8060A DMM, which has awesome continuity response, to provide this most pedestrian of functions.  Or wait, don't I still have a beeper lying around from my high school days...?

[sotos]

Just don't use the 34461A for continuity measurements.

Yes of course.  Instead of using my new, $1,000 meter that's right there on the bench, the one that's capable of so many modern features executed with precision, I can drag out my old 1983-era Fluke 8060A DMM, which has awesome continuity response, to provide this most pedestrian of functions.  Or wait, don't I still have a beeper lying around from my high school days...?

You said it right.   

[OldNeurons]

1.10 and 1.09
http://www.filedropper.com/agt3446xareva0110
http://www.filedropper.com/agt3446xareva0109

Thanks for the files Plesa.

I downgraded my 34461A to v1.10 and confirm that continuity measurement works fine with this firmware.
So, for sure, this should not be a big deal for Keysight to fix that issue.
Does anyone here already reported to Keysight?

[sotos]

1.10 and 1.09
http://www.filedropper.com/agt3446xareva0110
http://www.filedropper.com/agt3446xareva0109

Thanks for the files Plesa.

I downgraded my 34461A to v1.10 and confirm that continuity measurement works fine with this firmware.
So, for sure, this should not be a big deal for Keysight to fix that issue.
Does anyone here already reported to Keysight?

If they monitor their site it’s here. I wrote about it and the link with the problem at YouTube

http://www.keysight.com/owc_discussions/thread.jspa?threadID=40301&tstart=0

[TheSteve]

Yes, everyone who cares should reply in the thread on the Keysight forum. I will also be opened a case with Keysight directly, they need to put their big boy pants on and fix the problem.

[sotos]

Yes, everyone who cares should reply in the thread on the Keysight forum. I will also be opened a case with Keysight directly, they need to put their big boy pants on and fix the problem.

 

[TheSteve]

As posted by user "jdwindrvr" on the Keysight support forum today:

The "stutter" in the beep that signals continuity has been resolved. The firmware (with the fix) is going through our regression and production tests.

Assuming no unexpected issues will be found, the next release should be available in approximately four weeks.