EEVblog Electronics Community Forum

Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: echen1024 on November 20, 2013, 03:28:52 pm

Title: Error not in the manual?
Post by: echen1024 on November 20, 2013, 03:28:52 pm
I REALLY want to purchase this 3324A signal gen (Agilent). This one is such a good price, but the error listed is not in the service manual, and well, I'm kinda scared to buy it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Hewlett-Packard-Agilent-3324A-21-MHz-Synthesized-Function-Sweep-Generator-/330964907466?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0f0bb5ca#shpCntId (http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Hewlett-Packard-Agilent-3324A-21-MHz-Synthesized-Function-Sweep-Generator-/330964907466?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0f0bb5ca#shpCntId)

Error is NO KEY-NO IR
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: The Dilettante on November 25, 2013, 05:11:35 pm
And I REALLY purchased it just now!  ;D

This teardown made me think the "No key - no IR" message might have been due to just a human input error: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hpagilent-3324a-teardown/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hpagilent-3324a-teardown/)

I'll see what comes out of this "purchase" aka "project".

Cheers,

Henry.
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: echen1024 on November 26, 2013, 02:52:38 am
Curse you...  >:D
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: The Dilettante on December 09, 2013, 01:09:23 pm
BTW - the unit has just arrived and works like a charm  :-+

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2D4fUvbI0PE/UqXAO_hkCoI/AAAAAAAABdw/L-_XkmJs7cY/s912/HP3324A.jpg)

NOW you can curse me!  :-DD

Cheers,

Henry.
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: TheBorg on December 09, 2013, 02:10:31 pm
One thing I've learned... Never post the eBay link to seething you want :D
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: Andy Watson on December 09, 2013, 02:45:55 pm
One thing I've learned... Never post the eBay link to seething you want :D
:)
... but, to be fair, you did have as much chance as anybody else!

Remember, "Who dares, wins".
(Actually, that saying may be subject to survivor bias ;) )


Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: c4757p on December 09, 2013, 03:09:53 pm
Seems a bit expensive to me, actually. The very similar 3325A can often be found for $100-$150, and as far as I can tell its only disadvantage is that it looks a bit crustier. Even has higher resolution. Am I missing a difference?
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: The Dilettante on December 09, 2013, 03:11:26 pm
To be honest, I found the Ebay listing first and only when googling for the same error code as the OP I spotted this forum posting.  :-//


Henry.
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: echen1024 on December 09, 2013, 03:17:19 pm
Ugh. You people. I have learned to never post the ebay link as well, but I just acquired a 33120A from craigslist for around $250.
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: The Dilettante on December 09, 2013, 03:20:28 pm
"Seems a bit expensive to me, actually. The very similar 3325A can often be found for $100-$150, and as far as I can tell its only disadvantage is that it looks a bit crustier. Even has higher resolution. Am I missing a difference?"

I don't think I overpaid.

While having similar specs, the 3325A is actually a much older model (seems like a 1970's design), with the 3325B apparently only a kind of facelift on the outside.

The 3324A, on the other hand is a different system completely redesigned in 1988. Mine was actually made in late 1989 according to the IC date codes and has got serial number 2836G00418. Internally its about 80-90% SMD vs through-hole parts.

Henry.
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: The Dilettante on December 09, 2013, 03:22:21 pm
Ugh. You people. I have learned to never post the ebay link as well, but I just acquired a 33120A from craigslist for around $250.

Congratulations on the purchase! We don't have Craigslist here in Europe, so everybody should be satisfied now.   :)
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: c4757p on December 09, 2013, 03:32:12 pm
While having similar specs, the 3325A is actually a much older model (seems like a 1970's design), with the 3325B apparently only a kind of facelift on the outside.

The 3324A, on the other hand is a different system completely redesigned in 1988. Mine was actually made in late 1989 according to the IC date codes and has got serial number 2836G00418. Internally its about 80-90% SMD vs through-hole parts.

Sure, but still, as far as I can see, it does the same things. :-//

I just acquired a 33120A from craigslist for around $250.

Nice. We have them in the labs at school and I like them a lot. I haven't had any luck finding things like that on Craigslist anywhere near me :(
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: The Dilettante on December 09, 2013, 03:58:57 pm

Sure, but still, as far as I can see, it does the same things. :-//

I agree.
Title: Re: Error not in the manual?
Post by: echen1024 on December 10, 2013, 01:15:56 am
While having similar specs, the 3325A is actually a much older model (seems like a 1970's design), with the 3325B apparently only a kind of facelift on the outside.

The 3324A, on the other hand is a different system completely redesigned in 1988. Mine was actually made in late 1989 according to the IC date codes and has got serial number 2836G00418. Internally its about 80-90% SMD vs through-hole parts.

Sure, but still, as far as I can see, it does the same things. :-//

I just acquired a 33120A from craigslist for around $250.

Nice. We have them in the labs at school and I like them a lot. I haven't had any luck finding things like that on Craigslist anywhere near me :(
Really? From what I have seen, basic specs are really good, but the arb function is sort of a joke (I don't really need arb though). What else is good about it?