reading Keysight 3458A serial number

[analogRF]

I am not sure if this is the right forum to post this but I was referred to here by another user from EEvblog Test Equipment forum

I have a 3458A with the S/N sticker missing.
The firmware revision is 9.2
Is there any way I can read the serial number of the instrument?

ID? only says HP3458A and it does not understand SCPI

[TheSteve]

The serial number is not stored in firmware. If someone ripped it off the back, it is gone forever.

[analogRF]

The serial number is not stored in firmware. If someone ripped it off the back, it is gone forever.

yes it looks like it has fallen off
isn't it stored in any NVRAM that can be dumped?

[Dr. Frank]

The serial number is not stored in firmware. If someone ripped it off the back, it is gone forever.

yes it looks like it has fallen off
isn't it stored in any NVRAM that can be dumped?

No.

Even inside the instrument, there is no redundant sticker.

Frank, one of the first HP3458A users (1989)

[coromonadalix]

do you have a cal sticker on it,  sometimes you can do a reverse search  if it was stored at the cal facility,  traceable

[analogRF]

do you have a cal sticker on it,  sometimes you can do a reverse search  if it was stored at the cal facility,  traceable

it only has an Electrical Safety Check sticker by Keysight from July 2023 but that does not have any work order number on it.
Cal seals on the screws are intact.

it seems to be working properly. Passed self tests and ACAL ALL at least 15 times by now. No errors but I am still not sure it is really
flawless or not.  So maybe it has a drift problem which needs long term testing? I dont know...

I am not a volt nut and never had a 3458A before and never studied about them so it's all new to me.

I am contacting the seller to see if he knows anything. I can return it if he cannot provide a reasonable answer

[coromonadalix]

  you have to be careful      there is a now known problem  on the A3  board   

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/hp-3458a-ad-board-spare-part-availibilty-and-cost/


if you can do some tests  ....   because it can be a very expensive problem to solve

[analogRF]

  you have to be careful      there is a now known problem  on the A3  board   

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/hp-3458a-ad-board-spare-part-availibilty-and-cost/


if you can do some tests  ....   because it can be a very expensive problem to solve

is this related to service note 18A (too much drift) on the newer models? because that was my first thought but I need to read that thread

this machine is Keysight branded. Not even Agilent!

[manupthehills]

Worth checking if is stored in the calibration string. CALSTR? from GPIB or keypad

[analogRF]

Worth checking if is stored in the calibration string. CALSTR? from GPIB or keypad

BRILLIANT  THANKS

YES the calstr? has the S/N at the end of it and it is 2823Axxxxx 

[analogRF]

Still I would like to do the short term A3 drift test (as per service note 18A) using the CAL? 72 but I cannot keep the unit running 24/7 for 7-10 days.
I can run it for like 5-6 hours per day.

Is it ok to run it say 6 hours a day and get the temp and cal?72 after an ACAL at the end of each day and then turn it off and repeat the next day to
gather enough data?
or is it mandatory to run the unit 24/7?

[TheSteve]

It doesn't count if it isn't running, needs to be 247.