Which hotair station

[cs.dk]

I'm looking for a hotair station. All of them seems to be exactly the same, just some different names.

But, there is some different models - Which one would you prefer? Does one have a feature you can't live without, or are they same same?

YH-878AD (~60£)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YH-878AD-2IN1-SMD-HOTAIR-REWORK-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-/290612488519?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43a9daa947

YH-898D+ (~93£)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YH-898D-2IN1-SMD-HOTAIR-REWORK-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-/290572243050?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43a774906a

YH-899D (~99)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YH-899D-2IN1-SMD-HOTAIR-REWORK-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-/300483154995?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item45f6311433

YH-899D+ (~124£)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YH-899D-2IN1-SMD-REWORK-SOLDERING-STATION-IRON60W-2011-/300582899181?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item45fc230ded

YH-882D+ (~157£)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-YH-882D-PROFESSIONAL-2IN1-SMD-HOTAIR-REWORK-AND-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-/290599846191?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43a919c12f

[PeterG]

I use a YiHua station and cant fault it. It comes down to personal choice in this case. I have found there can be a wide price difference for the same item so look around once you settle on a model.

Regards

[cs.dk]

Thanks for your reply.
I think i'll go for the 899D+ or 882D+ - Will check the price on other Ebay-shops in UK.

[cs.dk]

Could not resist - YH-882D+ is in my Ebay-basket.

Bonus-question (off topic). On my oscilloscope probe the switch to 1x and 10x also have a "REF" setting. What is that setting for? Won't hook it up to something in that setting, just in case i'm shorting something?

[PeterG]

The 'ref' normally connects the tip of the probe to ground.

Regards

[cs.dk]

So it is possible to short something out
Why set such a button there. It is easy to push it when doing a measurement.

[Bored@Work]

I'm looking for a hotair station. All of them seems to be exactly the same, just some different names.

Yes, a lot of them are just rebadeged. Others are just cloned. And it is rather impossible to identify who copied whom, since they all seem to do it from each other.

If you want to get an idea how some of them are manufactured (at least how it was three years ago), have a look at these videos.

[ciccio]

So it is possible to short something out
Why set such a button there. It is easy to push it when doing a measurement.

Well, it could be possible if the probe is connected to the test point, but usually you switch to REF position when the probe is in your hand, and usually you want to see the "zero" position on the scope's screen, without reaching for the scope's front panel controls.

bes regards and best wishes for an happy new year.

[alm]

Ref should disconnect the probe tip and connect the scope input to ground. This would be easy to check with a DMM.

[grant1842]

I have and use the Aoyue 2702A  I love it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AOYUE-2702A-SMD-SMT-Hot-Air-All-1-Rework-Station-/120596799507?pt=BI_Electrical_Equipment_Tools&hash=item1c14212013#ht_3226wt_1004  .

[cs.dk]

Yes, a lot of them are just rebadeged. Others are just cloned. And it is rather impossible to identify who copied whom, since they all seem to do it from each other.

If you want to get an idea how some of them are manufactured (at least how it was three years ago), have a look at these videos.

LOL
It really looks like One Hung Low or similar. Cross my fingers for my new unit. I can make a short teardown/review, if someone is interested?

[reagle]

Just got one from SparkFun at work and it's pretty nice- $99 USD
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10706
It's a rebranded Aoyue , no idea what the shipping would be though