Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[BU508A]

@bitseeker

Congrats to 5 years of membership in the EEVBlog.   

[BU508A]

Put offer on something else. Going batshit this week 

Edit: oh I need a calibrated voltage reference. What’s currently in vogue?

Edit 2: offer accepted and I own an HP 6206B now which looks considerably less skanky than that last one I bought

If you would living next to me, I'd lend you my Fluke 3330B calibrator. 
What I can offer is:
I'm having the parts for a Geller-Lab 10V Reference, I have a DMM-Check plus from Mr. Malone
and several other References here, including a nice 10kOhm resistor.

[med6753]

Does anyone round here own a Tek 2430/2440 AND a Tek 2445/2465/2467 (without DMM hump)?
My interest is whether the front cover of the latter does fit the former too.

Yes. I have a 2430 as well as a 2465 without DMM. I also have a 2465 with DMM. I have a cover for the 2465 with DMM. I don't have a cover for either the 2430 or 2465 without DMM. The 2465 without DMM has a tab on each side of the bezel that the cover will snap on to. The 2430, while it appears to be the same size, does not have these tabs. So I suspect the covers are not interchangeable. 

[Kosmic]

   So... just to silence that little niggling in the back of my brain... I went to my favorite TE Recycler, Alltest, and looked in their stock. I found a dropped & abused 54645AN that still powers up with a bright crisp screen & nice square grid for $65... and another $65 shipping to the GWN. 

I don't need another project. But I feel sorry for the poor thing... 

I know these things had a problem with the soft keys wearing out and becoming unresponsive... any other gotchas, severe or otherwise...?

mnem
*wibble*

I suspect Alltest make most of it's money on overblown shipping.

[Kosmic]

Put offer on something else. Going batshit this week 

Edit: oh I need a calibrated voltage reference. What’s currently in vogue?

Edit 2: offer accepted and I own an HP 6206B now which looks considerably less skanky than that last one I bought

I have one of these little units, pretty good value IMO https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Precision-Voltage-Reference-Module-AD584kH-4-Channel-2-5V-7-5V-5V-10V-E5Y4/123288497969 or if your feeling slightly less of a cheapskate you could go for one of these, I can also vouch for this as I also have one and will also do DC current upto 24mA in 0.001mA increments if required https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-Voltage-Current-Calibrator-DC-Current-Loop-DC-Voltage-Tester/322099341828 or there is one of these 2nd hand in the UK complete with its metal carrying case etc https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-VOLT-mA-Calibrator-Measurement-Tool-With-High-Accuracy-Display/153757995297 .

Perfect. Will order the cheap one  . Thank you 

Just remember that those cheap AD584 are not really calibrated.

[med6753]

   So... just to silence that little niggling in the back of my brain... I went to my favorite TE Recycler, Alltest, and looked in their stock. I found a dropped & abused 54645AN that still powers up with a bright crisp screen & nice square grid for $65... and another $65 shipping to the GWN. 

I don't need another project. But I feel sorry for the poor thing... 

I know these things had a problem with the soft keys wearing out and becoming unresponsive... any other gotchas, severe or otherwise...?

mnem
*wibble*

I suspect Alltest make most of it's money on overblown shipping.

I've bought form Alltest several times and I've found that the description of their damaged/not working equipment is accurate and honest. Since they are located in NJ shipping is very reasonable and I get the stuff overnight. And their packaging is excellent.   

[Kosmic]

   So... just to silence that little niggling in the back of my brain... I went to my favorite TE Recycler, Alltest, and looked in their stock. I found a dropped & abused 54645AN that still powers up with a bright crisp screen & nice square grid for $65... and another $65 shipping to the GWN. 

I don't need another project. But I feel sorry for the poor thing... 

I know these things had a problem with the soft keys wearing out and becoming unresponsive... any other gotchas, severe or otherwise...?

mnem
*wibble*

I suspect Alltest make most of it's money on overblown shipping.

I've bought form Alltest several times and I've found that the description of their damaged/not working equipment is accurate and honest. Since they are located in NJ shipping is very reasonable and I get the stuff overnight. And their packaging is excellent. 

I agree that their description is normally accurate. Ordered once from them and packaging was good too. Not sure why they don't use GSP when shipping outside the US.

[med6753]

Put offer on something else. Going batshit this week 

Edit: oh I need a calibrated voltage reference. What’s currently in vogue?

Edit 2: offer accepted and I own an HP 6206B now which looks considerably less skanky than that last one I bought

I have one of these little units, pretty good value IMO https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Precision-Voltage-Reference-Module-AD584kH-4-Channel-2-5V-7-5V-5V-10V-E5Y4/123288497969 or if your feeling slightly less of a cheapskate you could go for one of these, I can also vouch for this as I also have one and will also do DC current upto 24mA in 0.001mA increments if required https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-Voltage-Current-Calibrator-DC-Current-Loop-DC-Voltage-Tester/322099341828 or there is one of these 2nd hand in the UK complete with its metal carrying case etc https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-VOLT-mA-Calibrator-Measurement-Tool-With-High-Accuracy-Display/153757995297 .

Perfect. Will order the cheap one  . Thank you 

Just remember that those cheap AD584 are not really calibrated.

That's true but it helps if they were checked and documented before shipment like mine were. So at least you have a starting point and even my Fluke 8505A cross checks. My understanding is many of them do not have the measured voltages documented so you really can't determine what it's actual output is until it's checked with a known good source.

 

[med6753]

   So... just to silence that little niggling in the back of my brain... I went to my favorite TE Recycler, Alltest, and looked in their stock. I found a dropped & abused 54645AN that still powers up with a bright crisp screen & nice square grid for $65... and another $65 shipping to the GWN. 

I don't need another project. But I feel sorry for the poor thing... 

I know these things had a problem with the soft keys wearing out and becoming unresponsive... any other gotchas, severe or otherwise...?

mnem
*wibble*

I suspect Alltest make most of it's money on overblown shipping.

I've bought form Alltest several times and I've found that the description of their damaged/not working equipment is accurate and honest. Since they are located in NJ shipping is very reasonable and I get the stuff overnight. And their packaging is excellent. 

I agree that their description is normally accurate. Ordered once from them and packaging was good too. Not sure why they don't use GSP when shipping outside the US.

They have always used FedEx here.

[Kosmic]

Put offer on something else. Going batshit this week 

Edit: oh I need a calibrated voltage reference. What’s currently in vogue?

Edit 2: offer accepted and I own an HP 6206B now which looks considerably less skanky than that last one I bought

I have one of these little units, pretty good value IMO https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Precision-Voltage-Reference-Module-AD584kH-4-Channel-2-5V-7-5V-5V-10V-E5Y4/123288497969 or if your feeling slightly less of a cheapskate you could go for one of these, I can also vouch for this as I also have one and will also do DC current upto 24mA in 0.001mA increments if required https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-Voltage-Current-Calibrator-DC-Current-Loop-DC-Voltage-Tester/322099341828 or there is one of these 2nd hand in the UK complete with its metal carrying case etc https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-VOLT-mA-Calibrator-Measurement-Tool-With-High-Accuracy-Display/153757995297 .

Perfect. Will order the cheap one  . Thank you 

Just remember that those cheap AD584 are not really calibrated.

That's true but it helps if they were checked and documented before shipment like mine were. So at least you have a starting point and even my Fluke 8505A cross checks. My understanding is many of them do not have the measured voltages documented so you really can't determine what it's actual output is until it's checked with a known good source.

I heard many peoples are receiving exactly the same calibration note when ordering multiple references 

Now if the calibration seam legit, do you really trust the 34401a they used for calibration ? do you think they re-calibrate their reference meter every years at Keysight ?

[Kosmic]

   So... just to silence that little niggling in the back of my brain... I went to my favorite TE Recycler, Alltest, and looked in their stock. I found a dropped & abused 54645AN that still powers up with a bright crisp screen & nice square grid for $65... and another $65 shipping to the GWN. 

I don't need another project. But I feel sorry for the poor thing... 

I know these things had a problem with the soft keys wearing out and becoming unresponsive... any other gotchas, severe or otherwise...?

mnem
*wibble*

I suspect Alltest make most of it's money on overblown shipping.

I've bought form Alltest several times and I've found that the description of their damaged/not working equipment is accurate and honest. Since they are located in NJ shipping is very reasonable and I get the stuff overnight. And their packaging is excellent. 

I agree that their description is normally accurate. Ordered once from them and packaging was good too. Not sure why they don't use GSP when shipping outside the US.

They have always used FedEx here.

Global Shipping Program (GSP) is just an option they need to activate on their listing. Not sure if ebay is charging them something. The package go to some forwarder in the US and they cross the border in bulk and re-ship on the other side. From what I understand ebay is taking care of everything. They just need to ship to the depot in the US with their preferred service.

[med6753]

Put offer on something else. Going batshit this week 

Edit: oh I need a calibrated voltage reference. What’s currently in vogue?

Edit 2: offer accepted and I own an HP 6206B now which looks considerably less skanky than that last one I bought

I have one of these little units, pretty good value IMO https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Precision-Voltage-Reference-Module-AD584kH-4-Channel-2-5V-7-5V-5V-10V-E5Y4/123288497969 or if your feeling slightly less of a cheapskate you could go for one of these, I can also vouch for this as I also have one and will also do DC current upto 24mA in 0.001mA increments if required https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-Voltage-Current-Calibrator-DC-Current-Loop-DC-Voltage-Tester/322099341828 or there is one of these 2nd hand in the UK complete with its metal carrying case etc https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-VOLT-mA-Calibrator-Measurement-Tool-With-High-Accuracy-Display/153757995297 .

Perfect. Will order the cheap one  . Thank you 

Just remember that those cheap AD584 are not really calibrated.

That's true but it helps if they were checked and documented before shipment like mine were. So at least you have a starting point and even my Fluke 8505A cross checks. My understanding is many of them do not have the measured voltages documented so you really can't determine what it's actual output is until it's checked with a known good source.

I heard many peoples are receiving exactly the same calibration note when ordering multiple references 

Now if the calibration seam legit, do you really trust the 34401a they used for calibration ? do you think they re-calibrate their reference meter every years at Keysight ?

Well if you notice the voltages between the 2 references are different. And guess what? That agrees with my tribe of DMM's. So yes, I would say, in my case at least, it is legit.

[mnementh]

   So... just to silence that little niggling in the back of my brain... I went to my favorite TE Recycler, Alltest, and looked in their stock. I found a dropped & abused 54645AN that still powers up with a bright crisp screen & nice square grid for $65... and another $65 shipping to the GWN. 

I don't need another project. But I feel sorry for the poor thing... 

I know these things had a problem with the soft keys wearing out and becoming unresponsive... any other gotchas, severe or otherwise...?

mnem
*wibble*

I suspect Alltest make most of it's money on overblown shipping.

I've bought form Alltest several times and I've found that the description of their damaged/not working equipment is accurate and honest. Since they are located in NJ shipping is very reasonable and I get the stuff overnight. And their packaging is excellent. 

I agree that their description is normally accurate. Ordered once from them and packaging was good too. Not sure why they don't use GSP when shipping outside the US.

They have always used FedEx here.

      

Not at all. They pack CORRECTLY for test gear... ALL gear they sell gets the "Thermonuclear Protection" treatment; that doesn't come cheap. New double-wall boxes, foam-in-place padding and a couple layers of bubble-wrap at the juicy center makes sure you get EXACTLY what you buy. I have no quibble with their end of shipping; I've bought several pieces from them now and they all came packed like this. They charged me a whopping $24 for this packing and USPS 2-Day. 

med, you live just across the river from them. Of course FEDEX is cheap & quick to your house.

   It's eBay Global Shipping that's hosing me here, just like they do with most of the vendors on the US site. Very few ship to Canada directly from their own warehouses anymore; they use eGSP because eBay will penalize them on dispute resolution if they don't, even if they pack like this.   eGSP will cut this package open, see it's packed perfectly, then seal it up, slap their label on it and claim they repackage everything to justify doubling the shipping cost.

mnem
 

[Kosmic]

Ho so they use GSP. Not sure why it's so expensive then.

[Kosmic]

Put offer on something else. Going batshit this week 

Edit: oh I need a calibrated voltage reference. What’s currently in vogue?

Edit 2: offer accepted and I own an HP 6206B now which looks considerably less skanky than that last one I bought

I have one of these little units, pretty good value IMO https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Precision-Voltage-Reference-Module-AD584kH-4-Channel-2-5V-7-5V-5V-10V-E5Y4/123288497969 or if your feeling slightly less of a cheapskate you could go for one of these, I can also vouch for this as I also have one and will also do DC current upto 24mA in 0.001mA increments if required https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-Voltage-Current-Calibrator-DC-Current-Loop-DC-Voltage-Tester/322099341828 or there is one of these 2nd hand in the UK complete with its metal carrying case etc https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS7221-VOLT-mA-Calibrator-Measurement-Tool-With-High-Accuracy-Display/153757995297 .

Perfect. Will order the cheap one  . Thank you 

Just remember that those cheap AD584 are not really calibrated.

That's true but it helps if they were checked and documented before shipment like mine were. So at least you have a starting point and even my Fluke 8505A cross checks. My understanding is many of them do not have the measured voltages documented so you really can't determine what it's actual output is until it's checked with a known good source.

I heard many peoples are receiving exactly the same calibration note when ordering multiple references 

Now if the calibration seam legit, do you really trust the 34401a they used for calibration ? do you think they re-calibrate their reference meter every years at Keysight ?

Well if you notice the voltages between the 2 references are different. And guess what? That agrees with my tribe of DMM's. So yes, I would say, in my case at least, it is legit.

It's a good indicator at best but I wouldn't call them calibrated.

[med6753]

It's a good indicator at best but I wouldn't call them calibrated.

Agreed. But with 2 of them and knowing a starting point if something goes south I'll get a warning.

[Kosmic]

It's a good indicator at best but I wouldn't call them calibrated.

Agreed. But with 2 of them and knowing a starting point if something goes south I'll get a warning.

Agreed, good idea to have 2 of them 

[Specmaster]

That's actually exactly what I was expecting, honestly. A gamble on whether the BNCs had been damaged, and board repair if so.

Still... part of me wants to save the poor damned thing; if only the shipping weren't so fukkin' unreal to up here.

mnem
grr. arg.

The soft buttons can be reactivated by a drop of silver paint  on the button and there is also conductive paint that can also be used.

[tautech]

I got a TDS210 in almost mint condition with the recall fix and new CCFL tube installed, complete with the communications module.
I even resoldered the BNC's so no wibble-wobble at all.

I'll swap for a Siglent SDS1104X-E and I'll even throw in a serial cable! 

That reminds me I need to check this one for the fix. I get the feeling it hasn't been done. I'm not too bothered as it's not going near anything where it'll end up as the main path to earth though. Might just leave it.

Trying to catch up.......
Here's the link to check if your TDS210 needs the recall fix:
https://www.tek.com/service/safety/tds210-tds220

[Specmaster]

For whats it worth I can also endorse that seller Altest, I Have purchased a few meters from and even with the eGSP costs, I don't feel I've got a bad deal from them. They have all been sold as not working or no further testing done but by carefully examining the photos and reading the description you can get a pretty good feel for the likelihood of being able get them working correctly. In fact mnementh did a write up about them and how check the photos etc that was listed in the POI and the start of this thread, but I don't seem to ba able find at the moment, though.

[TERRA Operative]

On the subject of LCD monitors, forget Korean made, and go OG Japanese with Eizo monitors. Fantastic screens and they supply to medical and colour grading critical applications so they are legit.

Go see what their 4K, full adobe gamut screens with built-in calibration are worth, pick yourself up off the floor then go look at their consumer lines for normal prices. 
I love my sRGB capable screen, it always calibrated well and works well. The only problem is that is isn't full Adobe gamut, but my bank account says NO!...


On another note, my favourite local junk store provided me with yet another new toy. A fully working Advantest TR6142 DC Volt/Current source, the old type with trimpots for calibration instead of the newer battery backed RAM type, and it all seems to work fine.
Not bad for 4500yen...

I think I'll maybe replace the single turn trimpots with some nice Bourns multi-turn trimpots so I can really get this thing dialled in nice and tight. 

The case is a little scratched up, so I'm still contemplating if it needs a new coat of paint...

[Cerebus]

Global Shipping Program (GSP) is just an option they need to activate on their listing. Not sure if ebay is charging them something. The package go to some forwarder in the US and they cross the border in bulk and re-ship on the other side. From what I understand ebay is taking care of everything. They just need to ship to the depot in the US with their preferred service.

The problem, as I understand it, is that "taking care" is used in the same sense as in this snippet of dialogue: "Hey Knuckles, take this guy out the back and take care of him". I'm afraid that GSP's reputation for shoddy packaging and handling precedes them. I would not be surprised if a vendor tried GSP for a while and then dumped it as the "damaged in transit" returns started getting too frequent.

[Kosmic]

Global Shipping Program (GSP) is just an option they need to activate on their listing. Not sure if ebay is charging them something. The package go to some forwarder in the US and they cross the border in bulk and re-ship on the other side. From what I understand ebay is taking care of everything. They just need to ship to the depot in the US with their preferred service.

The problem, as I understand it, is that "taking care" is used in the same sense as in this snippet of dialogue: "Hey Knuckles, take this guy out the back and take care of him". I'm afraid that GSP's reputation for shoddy packaging and handling precedes them. I would not be surprised if a vendor tried GSP for a while and then dumped it as the "damaged in transit" returns started getting too frequent.

If I have to be honest, I only had good experience with GSP. The only time where something was damaged during shipping, ebay took the hit. Seller kept his money and I got a free Lecroy DDA-260 

[Kosmic]

On another note, my favourite local junk store provided me with yet another new toy. A fully working Advantest TR6142 DC Volt/Current source, the old type with trimpots for calibration instead of the newer battery backed RAM type, and it all seems to work fine.
Not bad for 4500yen...

Nice find 

Those are normally super expensive over here.

Dave made a video on the TR6142 a while ago https://youtu.be/tSzem8xshxk

[mnementh]

Ho so they use GSP. Not sure why it's so expensive then.

Because you're paying for shipping twice, and for repacking whether they do it or not, plus a little extra vig for handling the oh-so-difficult business of handling the import duty fees which they charge you separately. 

mnem
In short: Because they can.