Might take a chance on this HP 5342A Microwave Frequency Counter

[xrunner]

That display has just got all the bottom LED segments not working. I'm betting that isn't a hard problem to fix. That's not an issue with the LEDs, it like cabling or a connection thing going on. What do you think. I mean for $15 (if I win it). 

[grumpydoc]

I'd say for fifteen bucks it's worth a gamble, looks like one driver is dead and the service manual is easily available (just google it).

The one bit of caution I'd offer is that photo give you no information about whether the inputs work but if it's cheap enough, go for it.

[VK5RC]

If it is a simple problem it is a good price, I recently fixed my 5342A over the summer break but it took me quite a while to find the problem, some of the ICs are old but can be obtained if it not the main processor, there are good manuals available but if it is a software gremlin a "Signature analyser" is needed, these can be purchased but often go for a few hundred. Fault tracing can be a bit hard as the PCBs (about a dozen of them) are stacked very closely, in the service manual they use card extenders which are unobtanium. Spare PCB cards come up quite frequently. I ended up soldering quite a few wires onto the PCB to bring up the tested points while fired up. Also if you get it be careful to remove the feet before removing/opening the case as the feet hit the main PCB.
Mine ended up being a stuck logic node , I used a saleae on the data lines going to the front panel. Below is a photo of mine pre fixing.

[Vgkid]

I would easily grab it for $15, I woud not even hesitate over that.

[PA0PBZ]

I bought a dead one a long time ago. Happened to be a diode in the power supply. Those are always the easy ones.

[xrunner]

I bid on it at $15 and somebody had a max bid set. I kicked the bid a few times more and I'm winning now at $20.50. Not sure how bad the other guy wants it. I'm not going to bid a whole lot more but we'll see how it goes.

[dom0]

Why are you bidding on an item when the auction doesn't end in 1.17 seconds?

[grumpydoc]

Why are you bidding on an item when the auction doesn't end in 1.17 seconds?

+1

[edavid]

"Parts or not working" HP 5342As usually have a blown sampler, which is not repairable.  Of course this one might be an exception, if it was put on the shelf because of the display problem.