List your test equipment "scores" here!

[bitseeker]

But it's described as not working, so what can you say? It could be assembled out of all the broken parts they had from repairing other items and it would still be as described.

Sorry, I missed that it was described as not working.

[BravoV]

Today I received two of those active FET probes as well. I still need to think about how to supply power without getting huge mess of wires.

Please update or create a new thread if you mod it. Currently I'am still wondering on how to find or make a case for it, includes the power and coax wiring.

[nctnico]

Today I received two of those active FET probes as well. I still need to think about how to supply power without getting huge mess of wires.

Please update or create a new thread if you mod it. Currently I'am still wondering on how to find or make a case for it, includes the power and coax wiring.

I'm thinking about using heatshrink tubing for the probe itself. Power should come from some walt-wart. Ideally I'd like to use a cable which has coax + power combined.

[TK]

I just received an Agilent MSOX-2004A scope that I purchased on eBay for $1000... to my surprise it included WAVEGEN, all serial decode option (UART, I2C, SPI, CAN, LIN), Training Signals, DMV and memory upgrade that were not described by the seller... it even has 1 year of Keysight warranty left.

It is a 70MHz 2GSa/s 4 Analog Channels + 8 Digital Channels scope with 20MHz function generator.  I can unlock it to 200MHz when I need, but can work most of the time with the OFFICIAL licenses.

It did not include the logic probe, but I have one from the Agilent 54622D scope that I can use as they are 100% compatible.

[TheSteve]

I just received an Agilent MSOX-2004A scope that I purchased on eBay for $1000... to my surprise it included WAVEGEN, all serial decode option (UART, I2C, SPI, CAN, LIN), Training Signals, DMV and memory upgrade that were not described by the seller... it even has 1 year of Keysight warranty left.

It is a 70MHz 2GSa/s 4 Analog Channels + 8 Digital Channels scope with 20MHz function generator.  I can unlock it to 200MHz when I need, but can work most of the time with the OFFICIAL licenses.

It did not include the logic probe, but I have one from the Agilent 54622D scope that I can use as they are 100% compatible.

How sweet it is to get free options!

[bitseeker]

What a bonus, TK. Congrats!

[TerraHertz]

At the cost of driving Sydney to Melbourne on Wed, and back to Sydney the next day (1666 km total), some nice things.
* A couple of very big vacuum gate valves. One is pneumatically operated, woohoo!
* A huge high rate rotary vacuum pump, Alcatel model 2033. Three phase 415V motor.
* A Tektronix 2232 scope. Only 100MHz but I've wanted a representative of this era for my collection for ages.
* A freq. reference board from a scrapped Varian NMR spectroscopy machine. 10.000000 MHz oscillator, with multiples to 80MHz.
* A discarded (broken glassware) NMR probe from an NMR machine, just to look at. Interesting bit of physics jewelery.

The scope is in very good cosmetic condition, but has an intermittent screen brightness/focus problem, and a few other minor issues. I've found a pdf manual set, and they are useable albeit painful. If anyone knows of a source for an original paper service manual, please tell me.

The pneumatic gate valve works beautifully. Operating on 80 psi air, and with a large actuating piston, I think it is a good idea to keep fingers well clear of the aperture when it's operating on the bench.
This and the pump were the main point of the trip. We were having trouble figuring out how to ship them (big, heavy, awkward, delicate, precious), and then my friend was going overseas for a month. So, best to just go get them before he left.

Edit to add: they have some funny road safety signs in Victoria.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Whooaa! Possum Guillotine!

[PartialDischarge]

Edit to add: they have some funny road safety signs in Victoria.

Powerfap now? I don't get it. Ok, I looked it up.

How come feminist have not complained about this sign already???

[PTR_1275]

It would have originally said "droopy eyes? Powernap now" but someone has gotten creative and added a few well placed stickers over the top I'm guessing.

[TerraHertz]

Ha ha, photoshop actually. My twisted sense of humor.

While driving I'd wanted a drink of water. I had one of those 3 liter juice bottles full of water. Put it in my lap and unscrewed the cap. Then (still doing 110K) picked it up in one hand, holding it around the middle, to drink.
3 liters is pretty heavy so I had to grip it tightly. When I had it up to about face level, suddenly the plastic bottle collapsed under hand pressure. BLOOSH!
About a liter of water sprayed in my face and down my front. Completely soaked seat, crotch, shirt, jacket.
For a little while I thought I'd just keep driving while it dried out. But nope, cold day, too much cold water.
So that's where I pulled over to change clothes.

[mtdoc]

About a liter of water sprayed in my face and down my front. Completely soaked seat, crotch, shirt, jacket.
For a little while I thought I'd just keep driving while it dried out. But nope, cold day, too much cold water.
So that's where I pulled over to change clothes.

Aha. The dreaded shrinkage.  Now I understand the reason for the photoshoped sign...

[nctnico]

After hunting for a 1GHz+ DSO for over half a year I think I finally got one for a reasonable price (way less than $1000). Today I paid for an Agilent 54835A (4 channels 1GHz 2Gs/s) in for 'parts condition' but it looks fine on the outside. This is a PC based scope and it is stuck in the BIOS screen saying 'CMOS checksum error press F1 yadda yadda'. It is a bit of a crap shoot but it has received a new motherboard after 2005 (VIN 033 sticker) due to a recall. The fans look really clean so I hope it has been sitting unused on a shelve for a long time and the only problem is the CMOS battery has gone flat. The hard drive is also recognised by the BIOS so that means it at least still spins. I hope to uphack it to an 54846A (4 channels 1GHz 4Gs/s / 2 channel 2.25GHz/8Gs/s) but more about that once I get it to work and pass self test.

It has arrived! After pressing F1 the scope boots fine and the software works. Unfortunately the encoders are a bit wonky but worst of all one of the ADC hybrids is bad. I swapped the attenuators and cross connected the ADC hybrids (there is a bit of semi-rigid between the attenuators and the ADC hybrids to a piece of SMA cable is all that is needed for the swap). So now on the hunt for a replacement!

[alm]

So somewhere between just needing a battery replacement and half the boards missing. We will never know if the seller genuinely lacked a PS/2 keyboard and the scope did not recognize a USB keyboard, or if the seller used it as a convenient way to avoid showing failing self tests.

Are parts for these scopes at all common? Having to buy an entire parts unit might suck because of shipping costs and the hassle of having to resell/dump it.

[lukier]

It has arrived! After pressing F1 the scope boots fine and the software works. Unfortunately the encoders are a bit wonky but worst of all one of the ADC hybrids is bad. I swapped the attenuators and cross connected the ADC hybrids (there is a bit of semi-rigid between the attenuators and the ADC hybrids to a piece of SMA cable is all that is needed for the swap). So now on the hunt for a replacement!

This sounds familiar: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/agilenthp-54845a/

[nctnico]

It has arrived! After pressing F1 the scope boots fine and the software works. Unfortunately the encoders are a bit wonky but worst of all one of the ADC hybrids is bad. I swapped the attenuators and cross connected the ADC hybrids (there is a bit of semi-rigid between the attenuators and the ADC hybrids to a piece of SMA cable is all that is needed for the swap). So now on the hunt for a replacement!

This sounds familiar: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/agilenthp-54845a/

Interesting thread. However in my 54835A the problem moves along with the ADC hybrid.

[Muxr]

Got another E3611A (I love these linear supplies). Got it for $70 shipped. The unit was faulty, the displayed values were all over the place. Turns out it needed recapping.. some caps have leaked all over the PCB. Recapped it, but this didn't resolve the problem fully. Decided to clean the whole board in a bit of an IPA bath. Let it dry for a day.. turned it on, and everything works fine.

[GreyWoolfe]

I picked up a Tektronix 2465 at the local surplus store for $160.  They also had a 2465 CTS there, but it had major issues and mine worked fine.  Since they both were the same price, I took the working one.  That's 3 oscilloscopes now.  Still not a member of TEA as I only have 2 function generators, 2 bench meters, 2 hand held meters, an LCR meter and 3 power supplies.  Nothing is remotely high end or expensive so I guess I have a way to go to be even a TEA wannabe plus too poor to even try to catch up. 

[TheSteve]

Agilent 53230A frequency counter - needed a quick repair to one of the internal supplies, working great now though.

[xrunner]

Agilent 53230A frequency counter - needed a quick repair to one of the internal supplies, working great now though.

Nice! Looks accurate enough. 

[neo]

Well mine i cannot claim to be the deal in a lifetime but for a $50 "gate fee" and moving costs some guy sold me his deceased grandfathers stuff, an entire shed full. I made my money back immediately on scrap metal alone, i also got a HP 606b, Bel merit fc-200, a fluke 8010A, a beast of a table, a shelf, 2000 pounds of transformers, a very large collection of 7400 series chips, several drawers of panel meters, military grade electronic scrap, 5 audio receivers, several cb radios and so so much more. Even two 6' tall by 4' by 4' 18" vintage 60s sub-woofers. Overall it took me two weeks a near heatstroke and 3 u-haul loads.  EDIT: Recently, as in 5 minutes recently, i got a nixie tube version of the HP 5340A, with what appears to be every bell and whistle, for $100 on ebay. Shipping was murder at $50 bucks.

[bitseeker]

Agilent 53230A frequency counter - needed a quick repair to one of the internal supplies, working great now though.

Cool. I might have bid on that one.

[bitseeker]

That's 3 oscilloscopes now.  Still not a member of TEA as I only have 2 function generators, 2 bench meters, 2 hand held meters, an LCR meter and 3 power supplies.  Nothing is remotely high end or expensive so I guess I have a way to go to be even a TEA wannabe plus too poor to even try to catch up.

Oh, you're doin' a good job there. Beware, it'll sneak up on you.

[Berni]

I picked up a Tektronix 2465 at the local surplus store for $160.  They also had a 2465 CTS there, but it had major issues and mine worked fine.  Since they both were the same price, I took the working one.  That's 3 oscilloscopes now.  Still not a member of TEA as I only have 2 function generators, 2 bench meters, 2 hand held meters, an LCR meter and 3 power supplies.  Nothing is remotely high end or expensive so I guess I have a way to go to be even a TEA wannabe plus too poor to even try to catch up.

Its not about how expensive your test equipment is, its about collecting as much equipment as possible so that you have just the right piece of equipment for the job at hand.

So cheap equipment is at an advantage since it means you can buy more of it, also the best deals are on slightly broken equipment so you also get the fun of fixing the old boatanchor while at the same time justifying the other piece of gear you bought last month.

So welcome to the TEA club

[Cubdriver]

Well mine i cannot claim to be the deal in a lifetime but for a $50 "gate fee" and moving costs some guy sold me his deceased grandfathers stuff, an entire shed full. I made my money back immediately on scrap metal alone, i also got a HP 606b, Bel merit fc-200, a fluke 8010A, a beast of a table, a shelf, 2000 pounds of transformers, a very large collection of 7400 series chips, several drawers of panel meters, military grade electronic scrap, 5 audio receivers, several cb radios and so so much more. Even two 6' tall by 4' by 4' 18" vintage 60s sub-woofers. Overall it took me two weeks a near heatstroke and 3 u-haul loads.  EDIT: Recently, as in 5 minutes recently, i got a nixie tube version of the HP 5340A, with what appears to be every bell and whistle, for $100 on ebay. Shipping was murder at $50 bucks.

Sounds like a sweet haul, congrats!  Nice hit on the 5340, too.

-Pat