Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

Given that it would appear the seller of the T-Con board via Aliex is a bit suspect, I have now ordered another from another seller on Aliex who assures me that the board is the correct one and identical to the photo I sent so hope they are right and it arrives, cheaper as well.

As for the other one I opening up a dispute directly with Aliex I think, I'm fed up dealing with the seller directly as every-time I contact them I have a feeling of no confidence and it looks like I'm being lied to and have been all along I think.

There are a lot of vendors on AliEx and Taobao who are just listing stuff other vendors have and don't stock a damn thing themselves. When they get your money, they try to buy it from one of the vendors they knew had it for less; most of the time you never know except when that low seller sells out, or for some other reason the "going price" of the item is much higher than you paid and the vendor can't get it for you at your price. Then they play the stalling game/language barrier game/repeating the same questions over and over again game/demanding video-photo-documentation game while they try to find one to fill your order or just ignore you and let the system take the heat.

THOSE are the vendors that torque my turkey, because even if they get oodles of bad feedback, they'll just torch the account and be back with a new store name a week later.

Good you have one on the way; hope it really happens so no TETRIS or JENGA for you this week!


mnem
*Toddles off to ded*

I raised a dispute with AliEx today and they almost immediately agreed that it was abnormal shipping and behavior and decided in my favour and granted me a full refund which has already been processed and my replacement board from the other vendor is currently with the carrier according to the tracking info given.

[Neomys Sapiens]

UUUhhh, TEA means suffering!
I have a pressing need to replace my HP4261A with something that is more versatile and modern. Especially as my COO has offered that I can my RLC-meter calibrated as I used it for the job. So I want the new and better one to get the calibration, of course.
Last weekend there were a Wayne Kerr 6430B and a HP4263B in the German bay, with the HP going first.
I let it slip because the WK had not moved much. It did go for 568,20€, which would have a nice&cheap temporary solution to the topic. Then the WK did rise so fast to 1.260,00 from my first offer of 750.- that I could not even type fast enough. 
Gah. Another day of infamy at the bay.

[beanflying]

That’s the EEVblog effect.

What we need to do is buy some shitty stuff, persuade Dave to like it, then sell it on eBay

Got some itchy bidding fingers this week. Or pompholyx.

There is a whole lot of test gear on eBay at the moment. Buy it now for £9600. 12 racks of it. Got some nice stuff in it but looks like most of it is broken or suspect. I’ve asked if I can nick the two HP8640B’s out of the lot if it doesn’t go as a whole. Fingers crossed.

Ran across this listing in an evilbay trawl. Crazy listing of unknown condition gear. 

[Specmaster]

That’s the EEVblog effect.

What we need to do is buy some shitty stuff, persuade Dave to like it, then sell it on eBay

Got some itchy bidding fingers this week. Or pompholyx.

There is a whole lot of test gear on eBay at the moment. Buy it now for £9600. 12 racks of it. Got some nice stuff in it but looks like most of it is broken or suspect. I’ve asked if I can nick the two HP8640B’s out of the lot if it doesn’t go as a whole. Fingers crossed.

Ran across this listing in an evilbay trawl. Crazy listing of unknown condition gear. 

What listing was that then?

[beanflying]

Sssshhhh it's a secret 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-Racks-of-mixed-redundant-Test-equipment-including-Agilent-E4406A-and-E4402B/302615549625?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144

[Specmaster]

Sssshhhh it's a secret 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-Racks-of-mixed-redundant-Test-equipment-including-Agilent-E4406A-and-E4402B/302615549625?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144

Looks like it might ex Navy gear to me, either way those HP8640B's look tasty and there even a Philips PM2521 hidden away in one of those racks. Hell, you'd need a warehouse to store it all in a and I'm guessing at least a 3 ton truck to lug it all away in 

[Cerebus]

Sssshhhh it's a secret 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-Racks-of-mixed-redundant-Test-equipment-including-Agilent-E4406A-and-E4402B/302615549625?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144

Looks like it might ex Navy gear to me, either way those HP8640B's look tasty and there even a Philips PM2521 hidden away in one of those racks. Hell, you'd need a warehouse to store it all in a and I'm guessing at least a 3 ton truck to lug it all away in 

Uh, uh. It's ex-rental gear from Microlease who are, surprise surprise, in the test gear rental and leasing business.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Sssshhhh it's a secret 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-Racks-of-mixed-redundant-Test-equipment-including-Agilent-E4406A-and-E4402B/302615549625?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144

Looks like it might ex Navy gear to me, either way those HP8640B's look tasty and there even a Philips PM2521 hidden away in one of those racks. Hell, you'd need a warehouse to store it all in a and I'm guessing at least a 3 ton truck to lug it all away in 

Uh, uh. It's ex-rental gear from Microlease who are, surprise surprise, in the test gear rental and leasing business.

Huh. One of the attending gentlemen (with a big storage and money and time to spare) should get it, then we'll sort it out afterwards. There seems to be something for everyone.

[Cubdriver]

Looks like it survived the trek to you.
Everybody should have at least one of these.
Two would be nice.

It is probably miracle that it did, it was wrapped in bubble wrap and stuck in a box big enough to fit two in.  Come to think of it he was a bit skimpy on the tape too...

Hey, at least he used bubble wrap!  You saw the pic I put up a while back of the small bench DMM that was shipped to me in a USPS flat rate box with nothing more than the top and bottom halves of a styrofoam egg carton in with it for 'cushioning', right?  Miraculously it survived unscathed.

-Pat

[neo]

Looks like it survived the trek to you.
Everybody should have at least one of these.
Two would be nice.

It is probably miracle that it did, it was wrapped in bubble wrap and stuck in a box big enough to fit two in.  Come to think of it he was a bit skimpy on the tape too...

Hey, at least he used bubble wrap!  You saw the pic I put up a while back of the small bench DMM that was shipped to me in a USPS flat rate box with nothing more than the top and bottom halves of a styrofoam egg carton in with it for 'cushioning', right?  Miraculously it survived unscathed.

-Pat

Thats why i found the packaging humerus and not infuriating.

[beanflying]

Not all evilbay sellers are created equal on the packaging front 

It is very very tidy too. 

Unlike the  idiot delivery person you delivered it to the front verandah 6' from the footpath and left the gate open 

[beanflying]

Seems my 740B's journey continues. 10 days to move 600 miles as the crow flies but nearly 4000 miles travelled 

Evilbays global shipping program SUCKS 

[Specmaster]

Seems my 740B's journey continues. 10 days to move 600 miles as the crow flies but nearly 4000 miles travelled 

Evilbays global shipping program SUCKS 

Yep, I think the reason for the strange route is that it has to go the Global shipping depot which is at Erlanger, Kentucky, for processing where they will open it up and make sure that its packed well enough for the journey etc which is fair enough seeing as they are then responsible for any damage done to the item. It then has to be transported back across the country to reach an airport that is most suitable for its final destination which for you is Australia and that means one of the airports on the west coast like LA or San Francisco maybe? 

[med6753]

Hey all, haven't been following this thread lately. Actually back to the beginning of December or so. Been involved with the Holidays, family, etc. So now I'm trying to catch up. Over 100 pages of catch up. Spent a few hours reading but still have more to do.

Anyway, I'm back and the GAS bug has bitten me. Hopefully be delivered in a few days. My first foray into the world of 5.5 digit DMM's. Fluke 8800A. The picture is supposedly the actual unit. And supposedly it's fully functional. We'll see. Will complement my collection of Flukes very nicely. I'll post full details and pictures when it arrives.

[bd139]

Congratulations. Hope it arrives in one piece!

Going for GAS here as well. Trying to find a half decent VOM as I need to do some PA current measurements and all my DMMs are prone to RF so are jumping around all over the place.

[Specmaster]

Congratulations. Hope it arrives in one piece!

Going for GAS here as well. Trying to find a half decent VOM as I need to do some PA current measurements and all my DMMs are prone to RF so are jumping around all over the place.

Tie the buggers down then or fill then with lead 

465 still going strong?

[bd139]

Hahahahaha

Yep did calibration on it yesterday. Absolutely spot on. One minor grounding issue on channel 1 which appears to be due to a screw they forgot to install when they built it but otherwise all good. Entirely hassle free.

[neo]

Hey all, haven't been following this thread lately. Actually back to the beginning of December or so. Been involved with the Holidays, family, etc. So now I'm trying to catch up. Over 100 pages of catch up. Spent a few hours reading but still have more to do.

Anyway, I'm back and the GAS bug has bitten me. Hopefully be delivered in a few days. My first foray into the world of 5.5 digit DMM's. Fluke 8800A. The picture is supposedly the actual unit. And supposedly it's fully functional. We'll see. Will complement my collection of Flukes very nicely. I'll post full details and pictures when it arrives.

Don't forget to change the tantalums! I didn't do it immediately on mine and they took it down.

[med6753]

Hey all, haven't been following this thread lately. Actually back to the beginning of December or so. Been involved with the Holidays, family, etc. So now I'm trying to catch up. Over 100 pages of catch up. Spent a few hours reading but still have more to do.

Anyway, I'm back and the GAS bug has bitten me. Hopefully be delivered in a few days. My first foray into the world of 5.5 digit DMM's. Fluke 8800A. The picture is supposedly the actual unit. And supposedly it's fully functional. We'll see. Will complement my collection of Flukes very nicely. I'll post full details and pictures when it arrives.

Don't forget to change the tantalums! I didn't do it immediately on mine and they took it down.

I take nothing for granted. It will get a good going over in regards to the power supply then burn-in and calibration. The service manual is ready. 

[bitseeker]

Well, I've got good news and bad news.

Good: Scored an HP 5327A counter (my first rack-width Nixie counter) in unknown functional and crusty-looking physical condition. All the external bits are intact, it has its HP badge, and appears to have the optional eighth Nixie tube (opt 001). It also has option 011, which I couldn't find info about. The front panel doesn't have a BNC for the C channel (only on the rear), so I assume that 011 might be that. Anyone know?

Bad: I haven't had a chance to tinker with the HP 3310A, yet. Now, the 5327A is on its way. Oh, well. Good problem to have, eh?

[Ero-Shan]

It is probably miracle that it did, it was wrapped in bubble wrap and stuck in a box big enough to fit two in.  Come to think of it he was a bit skimpy on the tape too...

The box was clearly chosen to allow for the stamps.
Those lids are pieces of art! They ought to be framed and hang on a museum's wall!

[Cubdriver]

Well, I've got good news and bad news.

Good: Scored an HP 5327A counter (my first rack-width Nixie counter) in unknown functional and crusty-looking physical condition. All the external bits are intact, it has its HP badge, and appears to have the optional eighth Nixie tube (opt 001). It also has option 011, which I couldn't find info about. The front panel doesn't have a BNC for the C channel (only on the rear), so I assume that 011 might be that. Anyone know?

Nope - option 011 is the ovenized high stability oscillator!       Nice score!

Bad: I haven't had a chance to tinker with the HP 3310A, yet. Now, the 5327A is on its way. Oh, well. Good problem to have, eh?

Keep this up and you'll have a repair queue like mine!  I think my poor 5340A’s been waiting in line for a year now...

-Pat

[Ero-Shan]

Huh. One of the attending gentlemen (with a big storage and money and time to spare) should get it, then we'll sort it out afterwards. There seems to be something for everyone.

That would just be great. I'd certainly like to be one of the 'everyone'

[Cubdriver]

Well, I've got good news and bad news.

Good: Scored an HP 5327A counter (my first rack-width Nixie counter) in unknown functional and crusty-looking physical condition. All the external bits are intact, it has its HP badge, and appears to have the optional eighth Nixie tube (opt 001). It also has option 011, which I couldn't find info about. The front panel doesn't have a BNC for the C channel (only on the rear), so I assume that 011 might be that. Anyone know?

Bad: I haven't had a chance to tinker with the HP 3310A, yet. Now, the 5327A is on its way. Oh, well. Good problem to have, eh?

Damn, dude - I just looked at the 'bay, and if that's the one I think it is, you stole it!!  REALLY nice score!!

Congratulations!

-Pat

[bitseeker]

Scored an HP 5327A counter... It also has option 011, which I couldn't find info about... Anyone know?

option 011 is the ovenized high stability oscillator!       Nice score!

Oh! Awesome! Thanks, Pat. All the docs I found failed to list it with the other options. Maybe it's buried somewhere that I wasn't looking.

Actually it makes sense that it'd have an OCXO since it also has the extra digit in the display.

Keep this up and you'll have a repair queue like mine!  I think my poor 5340A’s been waiting in line for a year now...

LOL! I think I must be getting close. I have some power supplies that have been waiting almost as long. *sigh* Ah, well. Just have to go with the flow.