Author Topic: Which DMM to choose Rigol dm3068, agilent 34461a or agilent 34465a (Read 5270 times)

buvikingen · « **on:** February 13, 2018, 02:38:24 pm »

Hi eevblog forum

I am in the market for a DMM.

I am looking at either:

Rigol dm3068
agilent 34461a

I have read many places on the forum that they would take the agilent 34461a, and I am leaning towards that to. However I also read that many have change their 34461a model to the new 34465a model, however it is more expensive.
I am in doubt if the extra money for the 34465a is worth it over the 34461a? And is the rigol dm3068 just a poor chooise to go for?
I do not mind using some money on the DMM, since it will be my first and want it to last for many years for all my projects

however it is a big price jump between the models.

Looking forward to hear from you guys and girls for some advice.

Should add the prices in Denmark is as follow:
Dm3068 = 6500kr = 872,57 EUR = 1.077,06 USD
34461a = 8500kr = 1.141,06 EUR = 1.408,47 USD
34465a = 11000kr = 1.476,66 EUR = 1.822,72 USD

Kind regards
buvikingen

Messtechniker · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2018, 02:44:06 pm »

If hobby then Rigol.
If professional or very serious hobby then
Keysight 34461A or 34465A strictly depending
on your immediate specific requirements (needs/features).

buvikingen · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2018, 03:06:46 pm »

Hi Messtechniker

Thanks for your response

I would category myself as serious hobby. I am working on some projects that I hope I some day can make commercial.
Most of my projects are very low power driven by a battery. Some project are driven by a microcontroller where it goes to sleep mode and wakes up and do some meassurements, where I forexample would like to log for example the current consumption so I can calculate how long it would opperate before the voltage on the battery has gone to low.

Rbastler · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2018, 03:12:44 pm »

Get a Keysight one, or Agilent or HP.
Service is just really shit with the Rigol. Which wy I regret buying it. Never had a issue though. For me it's because I like to be able to adjust my own instrument. Which I can't with the Rigol. They simply don't give you the cal procedure. Which I see as a lack of service. Plus some here on the forum had bad experience with their customer service.
So I got a HP3457A.

HighVoltage · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2018, 03:17:09 pm »

Definitely the 34461A over the Rigol, if you can afford it.
Just for the service or warranty alone that you would get from Keysight in Europe, I would prefer the 34461A.

buvikingen · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2018, 03:38:30 pm »

Thank you for your reply both Rbastler and HighVoltage!

Okay so I will forget the rigol.
So if I should choose between the agilent 34461A and the 34465A what would I miss if I took the 34461A over the 34465A?
Sorry if I don't toss any other manufactores in the bin (do not know any HP or Keysight models), but I have only seen reviews of the 34461A so I know that is a good unit.

0xfede · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2018, 03:47:07 pm »

Quote from: HighVoltage on February 13, 2018, 03:17:09 pm

Definitely the 34461A over the Rigol, if you can afford it.
Just for the service or warranty alone that you would get from Keysight in Europe, I would prefer the 34461A.

I second the good advice from HighVoltage, I have a 34465A and is a pleasure to work with and it will be probably your LAB backbone for years.
You may also want to consider older HP DMM (like the 34401A, 3478 or 3457) or keithley (2000 or 2015) and you can find them at much lower prices (150~300€) but still these are very capable devices.
I can't find any reason for buying the rigol.

Best,
0xfede

tautech · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2018, 08:11:41 pm »

Another option maybe:
SDM3065X € 689

Rbastler · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2018, 08:36:03 pm »

The HP3457A seems decent enough. Certantly cheep enough. I got mine for 270€ shipping included. Can't test it for more then a month, else I would provide you with some results.
It has 6.5 digits via the display and 7.5 via GIPB.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

bd139 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2018, 08:51:51 pm »

If you want an economy option and only need 4.5 digits or 50,000 count which after all is good enough for 99% of jobs, look out for GW Instek GDM-8341. Amazon are selling them cheap in EU (check UK / DE amazon if you are in Denmark) ~ €320 brand new. These are as good as a Keysight unit and GW actually answer emails and help you if you have any problems. Can connect it via USB to PC for logging. Programmable. Dual display. Relative dBm, all sorts. Got one. Extremely happy with it.

I'm doing medium precision stuff and RF and this is way more than I even need for that. Depends what you're doing. 6.5/7.5 digits is precision / voltnut territory as are the big HP rack mount jobs. Also terribly expensive to get calibrated and difficult to do this yourself.

nctnico · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2018, 09:59:43 pm »

Quote from: buvikingen on February 13, 2018, 03:38:30 pm

Thank you for your reply both Rbastler and HighVoltage!

Okay so I will forget the rigol.
So if I should choose between the agilent 34461A and the 34465A what would I miss if I took the 34461A over the 34465A?
Sorry if I don't toss any other manufactores in the bin (do not know any HP or Keysight models), but I have only seen reviews of the 34461A so I know that is a good unit.

AFAIK the 34465A has cursor measurements on the trend data display, longer acquisition memory, higher acquisition speed and it is slightly more stable than the 34461A but the difference is minimal. I agree with the others: if you are going to spend around US $1000 on a 6.5 digit DMM then go for the 34461A or 34465A.

GreyWoolfe · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2018, 10:04:34 pm »

Quote from: bd139 on February 13, 2018, 08:51:51 pm

If you want an economy option and only need 4.5 digits or 50,000 count which after all is good enough for 99% of jobs, look out for GW Instek GDM-8341. Amazon are selling them cheap in EU (check UK / DE amazon if you are in Denmark) ~ €320 brand new. These are as good as a Keysight unit and GW actually answer emails and help you if you have any problems. Can connect it via USB to PC for logging. Programmable. Dual display. Relative dBm, all sorts. Got one. Extremely happy with it.

I'm doing medium precision stuff and RF and this is way more than I even need for that. Depends what you're doing. 6.5/7.5 digits is precision / voltnut territory as are the big HP rack mount jobs. Also terribly expensive to get calibrated and difficult to do this yourself.

Plus, you can buy 2 of them cheaper than the Rigol and 3 of them cheaper than the 34461.

buvikingen · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2018, 01:23:18 pm »

Hi all thanks for your response!

If I should consider the GW Instek GDM-8341 could I just get a handheld meter with same specs like voltcraft vc890?
I know Dave would take a handheld anytime over a benchmeter or from what I have read.

Maybe it is overrated with the 6½ digit, however must of my work is low power (microcontrollers, ADC, DAC, wireless system so on), and I do not want to use 3300kr ( price of GW Instek GDM-8341 in Denmark) and then later on find out, damn I needed a extra digit and then again go buy a even more expensive meter.

What do you guys/girls think?

HKJ · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2018, 01:41:38 pm »

One feature that is very useful on bench meters is the computer connection, at least if you want to log data.

bd139 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2018, 01:49:05 pm »

Don't buy any meters with OLED displays like the VC890. The displays have a very limited life span. People spent a lot of money on Agilent OLED display meters and they are suffering from display failures now.

There's a compromise of which some people will agree and some will disagree. Uni-T sell the UT61E. That has data logging, is well documented, 22000 count and costs virtually nothing. However you should never use it on the mains connected side of any circuit.

If you need a 5.5 digit+ meter later on this won't dent your cash to start with.

Bench meters are really only needed where you need to leave it on for hours, logging and "systems". Otherwise a handheld will do fine.

nfmax · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2018, 02:02:44 pm »

Quote from: bd139 on February 14, 2018, 01:49:05 pm

Bench meters are really only needed where you need to leave it on for hours, logging and "systems". Otherwise a handheld will do fine.

Bench meters tend to stay where they are put, though (especially if you pile other stuff on top), whereas handheld meters walk...

bd139 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2018, 02:06:01 pm »

That's very true. Also handhelds are easier to bury under crap than the bench meters are.

buvikingen · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2018, 02:11:39 pm »

Ah okay I will not go for a meter with OLED display then! Thanks for the advice.

Hmm it is a hard one to find the right DMM.
I do not know why but I am still leaning towards the 34461A, even more since nctnico stated the different is so small between this and the 34465A.
But then again is it just to throw a lot of money away on more precision and digit that I will never need? And is it just better to get a handheld DMM insteed of the bench model.
It is really a hard one this choice.
Again I would just like to thank you all for all your great advice!

Analog · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2018, 02:26:04 pm »

Since this kind of meter is generally a long term piece (doesn't get outdated quick) I'd go with the agilent 34461a unless you need the sample speed of the 34465a. I use a 34461a a few times a week and although I like it, the boot time can be a hassle. The older agilent bench meters didn't have an OS and that was nice. Of course they didn't have the features. I find I use a handheld meter most often. I can place right next to the work and don't have to look up. If you don't have a nice handheld I would consider buying it first.


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Author Topic: Which DMM to choose Rigol dm3068, agilent 34461a or agilent 34465a (Read 5270 times)

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