Products > Test Equipment
Fluke 289 - yet a good investment nowadays?
Fungus:
It's all down to the price/condition, which is still a secret.
Would I buy a 289 for full price? Never.
Would I buy a 289 for $350? Nope.
Would I buy a 289 for $250? I'd think about it, but probably not because I know I wouldn't use it much.
Would I buy a 289 for $100? Yes, but only if it's not too beat up and dirty. I know I won't use it much so it has to look pretty at least.
YMMV.
BeBuLamar:
If I never had a chance to use the 289 I might buy it by just reading the specs. But since I have used and own (not having to buy) it I wouldn't buy it. If it's cheap I would buy to resell, I wouldn't buy one for use. I really don't like to use it. It has a few features better than the 189 but I would rarely need it. In fact I can't think of any right now. Yes I do use the low Z feature but then I can do it with the much cheaper 113. Lo Ohms sounds good but I don't think I get the accuracy being only 2 wire ohm measurement. As far as logging I tend to do it with a PC and Fluke View software so the limited memory of the 189 isn't a drawback.
Fungus:
I own a Fluke 187 (same as 189 but no internal logging) and a Brymen BM857 (159 Euros).
The abilities are about the same. Same counts, same accuracy.... and they agree with each other to within a count or two. The only thing the Brymen doesn't have is dual display.
If I could only keep one of them I think I'd keep the Brymen because the display is so much better. The 187 display is more cluttered (dual display sounds nice but if you hardly ever use it then it's just constant screen clutter) and it's much less contrasty.
The Fluke 289 is notorious for lack of contrast so I'd probably hate it for that. It doesn't seem like a good trade-off just for having the Fluke name.
If you need the 289's features then that's another matter but I have an oscilloscope for when I need graphs or higher frequency signals.
Veteran68:
--- Quote from: rsjsouza on October 11, 2023, 01:33:22 pm ---Artur, as you are probably aware, DMMs are not consumer products like iPhones, thus the pressure for HW and SW upgrades/updates/new features is not as critical.
...
Over the years it has been quite clear that Fluke's strategy for portable multimeters is to maintain consistency, reliability and quality control to stay ahead of the competition - naturally they fight hard to keep unblemished their brand recognition and perceived value as well (they are not stupid). Innovation and adventurous departures from their established designs, howerver, happen in many areas other than portable multimeters.
--- End quote ---
Exactly. Fluke is not a consumer goods company, under market pressure to innovate the latest social media or gaming advances in their products. You cannot compare them to iPhones or any other consumer good, especially those dependent on external influences like carrier support, app store and OS support, security vulnerabilities and fixes, etc. Like a shark, those things must keep moving or else they die.
Professional test equipment in general and DMMs especially are almost the opposite. Fluke in particular services a huge industrial segment of the population that demand consistency and reliability over form and function. New features means new bugs to work out. New user experiences means that thousands of people have to be re-trained, and millions of pages of manuals have to be changed and republished -- this is especially true in the government and military sectors which still publishes hardcopy manuals by the millions and have to train a constant influx of new people.
Both Dave and Eddie from Kiss Analog (who has worked and still works for government contractors) have videos explaining that's why Fluke has a near monopoly on those contracts -- for the exact reason that they rarely change their products. The test procedures for a manual written in 1990 are still relevant because the Fluke 87V it was written for can still be bought and it works exactly the same. They make far more revenue from those customers than they do consumer/hobbiest users. Our interests are definitely not their interests.
Brymen is maybe a bit more progressive in terms of their product features and technology, but if you want a pace that's similar to smartphones, you're best served by the cheap gimmicky Chinese brands like Aneng and Kaiweets. Which BTW make some great little meters for the money. They're just not in the same league as a Fluke.
BillyO:
--- Quote from: coromonadalix on October 10, 2023, 12:04:21 am ---Uni-t in some models have upped their game ...
--- End quote ---
Sure they make some neat stuff at attractive prices, but they offer ZERO support or service. If it dies or has issues, bin it. Their warranty is not worth the paper it's printed on.
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