Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[BU508A]

Welcome to Club 34401A.   

Have a lot of fun with your new meter, I promise, you will. 

[bd139]

@BU508A

Thanks for the heads up on these, now I know what to look for in a 34401A.   

1) Red & Black connectors
2) "Agilent" instead of "Hewlett Packard" on the face plate
3) Lack of VFD display module

Anything else I should keep an eye out for before I purchase one (aside from the obvious condition factor and intact seals)?

You are welcome. 

A word about the VFD: the VFD aren't the problem.  The drivers for them in the old models are. They are unobtainium
and sometimes they get leaky. When this happens, a change of the VFD will not help, you have to replace the whole display section.
Otherwise these old meters are very fine. But if you can get an Agilent branded one for the same money, I'd take this one.
The oval/round knobs are a matter of taste.

And I would take one with the bumpers and the handle. Very handy.

Edit:
Regarding the indicator:
"On older issue 34401a meters (fw version 06-04-01 and prior) have a custom HP designed micro controller with integrated high voltage VFD driver which is not obtainable, unless bought as a whole front panel assembly, which again is not cheap."

Source:
https://github.com/openscopeproject/HP34401a-OLED-FW

Good to know. My incoming meter, now at parcelforce hub, is 07-05-02. Got seller to check first

[Addicted2AnalogTek]

I haven't quite pulled the trigger on a 34401A just yet... but considering how everyone else is making me jelly, I'll probably end up with one on the way by the end of the week! 

I do have a Tek 284 and a 50 ohm amplitude calibrator that should be here annnnnnny minute now.. ((listening for breaks squeaking outside))

[Specmaster]

@BU508A

Thanks for the heads up on these, now I know what to look for in a 34401A.   

1) Red & Black connectors
2) "Agilent" instead of "Hewlett Packard" on the face plate
3) Lack of VFD display module

Anything else I should keep an eye out for before I purchase one (aside from the obvious condition factor and intact seals)?

You are welcome. 

A word about the VFD: the VFD aren't the problem.  The drivers for them in the old models are. They are unobtainium
and sometimes they get leaky. When this happens, a change of the VFD will not help, you have to replace the whole display section.
Otherwise these old meters are very fine. But if you can get an Agilent branded one for the same money, I'd take this one.
The oval/round knobs are a matter of taste.

And I would take one with the bumpers and the handle. Very handy.

Edit:
Regarding the indicator:
"On older issue 34401a meters (fw version 06-04-01 and prior) have a custom HP designed micro controller with integrated high voltage VFD driver which is not obtainable, unless bought as a whole front panel assembly, which again is not cheap."

Source:
https://github.com/openscopeproject/HP34401a-OLED-FW

Good to know. My incoming meter, now at parcelforce hub, is 07-05-02. Got seller to check first

Great news but what is 07 05 02?

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

[Mr. Scram]

I haven't quite pulled the trigger on a 34401A just yet... but considering how everyone else is making me jelly, I'll probably end up with one on the way by the end of the week! 

I do have a Tek 284 and a 50 ohm amplitude calibrator that should be here annnnnnny minute now.. ((listening for breaks squeaking outside))

Take your time. They’re not going anywhere.

[Mr. Scram]

Great news but what is 07 05 02?

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

That’s the firmware version.

[bd139]

Assume it's in American format (stupid format) so that's 5th July 2002

[xrunner]

Assume it's in American format (stupid format) so that's 5th July 2002

I think it's the Measurement processor rev, I/O proc. revision, and Front Panel proc. revision numbers.

[bd139]

Interesting. I'd assume they'd use an integration date / revision rather than individual FRU versions.

Edit: think you are right because I haven't seen one with a 99 date or anything like that.

[Specmaster]

Oh I see, well thats good then because your VFD drivers should be good, and still available if the unthinkable should happen 

[med6753]

Assume it's in American format (stupid format) so that's 5th July 2002

 

[BU508A]

Assume it's in American format (stupid format) so that's 5th July 2002

Second that   

[med6753]

Assume it's in American format (stupid format) so that's 5th July 2002

Second that   

[URI]

I haven't quite pulled the trigger on a 34401A just yet... but considering how everyone else is making me jelly, I'll probably end up with one on the way by the end of the week! 

Ahh, TEA-enabling time again!      

Everyone talking about HP/Agilent 34401As I'll share my success refurbishing an Agilent 34401A with dented key and dim VFD - and without bumpers and handle.
Of course, the (like new) key mat, the new VFD and the added bumpers+handle were clearly beyond economical considerations, I just wanted to improve it.

Before exchanging key mat and VFD (HP 34401A unchanged for reference):


After exchanging key mat and VFD (HP 34401A unchanged for reference):


Got the HP 34401A in very good condition (incl. manuals, power cord, bumpers and handle) for 330€ plus national shipping. The Agilent 34401A came to me from the UK offered for $300+$20 shipping naked. It has cost me a bit more now after pimping it. 

I still have to reorganise my bench to get them there. They're both residing on the floor next to my bench since January 2019.   

By the way: I didn't know anything about the unobtanium display drivers of the HP variant of the 34401A.
Shell I now sell it as quickly as possible before it gets part of my repair queue...?       

[bd139]

Assume it's in American format (stupid format) so that's 5th July 2002

Second that   

[URI]

Assume it's in American format (stupid format) so that's 5th July 2002

Second that   

Hey! What about the UK still being not fully metrical-ised..?      

[bd139]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 

[BU508A]

Hey! What about the UK still being not fully metrical-ised..?      

This is probably related with driving on the wrong side. 

[worsthorse]

Welcome to Club 34401A.   

Have a lot of fun with your new meter, I promise, you will. 

you guys are killin' me. i am trying to make my pile of DMMs smaller, not larger, and now I am certain that I absolutely must have one of these 34410A units.   

hmmm.... but if i sell the 197, 199, 8800A, and 2831D as planned, well then surely i can afford the 34410A, right? right?

[BU508A]

Welcome to Club 34401A.   

Have a lot of fun with your new meter, I promise, you will. 

you guys are killin' me. i am trying to make my pile of DMMs smaller, not larger, and now I am certain that I absolutely must have one of these 34410A units.   

hmmm.... but if i sell the 197, 199, 8800A, and 2831D as planned, well then surely i can afford the 34410A, right? right?

34401A:
Prices starting around US$ 320.-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/401798302745



34410A:
Prices starting around US$ 800.-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/333233840340



Now spot the difference 

[URI]

Welcome to Club 34401A.   

Have a lot of fun with your new meter, I promise, you will. 

you guys are killin' me.

You're welcome!     

i am trying to make my pile of DMMs smaller, not larger, and now I am certain that I absolutely must have one of these 34410A units.   

hmmm.... but if i sell the 197, 199, 8800A, and 2831D as planned, well then surely i can afford the 34410A, right? right?

Think carefully... are you sure, I mean: absolutely sure you won't regret giving your DMMs away..?   

[bd139]

This is probably related with driving on the wrong side. 

Alas you are incorrect about the wrong side. Most people are right handed so being on the left side allows the dominant hand to be closer to the enemy and your dagger further away. Take this several hundred years forward to now and the best hand for making "wanker fists" or giving the cunt on the other side of the road the middle finger is your right hand. How are you supposed to insult someone with your feeble shriveled left hands on your side of the road?!

Edit: to note Europe did drive on the left. The Romans made sure of that. Then the French changed it all, because they are French and they like changing things.

[BU508A]

This is probably related with driving on the wrong side. 

Alas you are incorrect about the wrong side. Most people are right handed so being on the left side allows the dominant hand to be closer to the enemy and your dagger further away. Take this several hundred years forward to now and the best hand for making "wanker fists" or giving the cunt on the other side of the road the middle finger is your right hand. How are you supposed to insult someone with your feeble shriveled left hands on your side of the road?!

Edit: to note Europe did drive on the left. The Romans made sure of that. Then the French changed it all, because they are French and they like changing things.

Regarding the French and the Romans:
Not really. You should read more the historical documents like this:



 

[worsthorse]

Welcome to Club 34401A.   

Have a lot of fun with your new meter, I promise, you will. 

you guys are killin' me.

You're welcome!     

i am trying to make my pile of DMMs smaller, not larger, and now I am certain that I absolutely must have one of these 34410A units.   

hmmm.... but if i sell the 197, 199, 8800A, and 2831D as planned, well then surely i can afford the 34410A, right? right?

Think carefully... are you sure, I mean: absolutely sure you won't regret giving your DMMs away..?   

Of course I will.   

I just cleaned them, adjusted and tested them. They are in great condition and work well. But I am not using them (I have a Fluke 8840A and two HP 3478As on my bench) and it seems a waste to leave 'em on the shelf.

To be honest, I hate the whole process of selling but I need to start clearing out some of the stored, and un-used, equipment around here. Selling will provide the means for some TE upgrades, but more importantly, I want to focus more time on building RF gear and less on fixing and maintaining TE.

[mnementh]

These are ridiculously easy with even the cheapest hot-air setup; they're few enough pins you can either pre-tin the pads with an iron/paint with rosin or apply paste manually with a toothpick. The part will literally self align as long as you don't crank the air up so high you blow it off the board. I'm not seeing your problem...?

I do have a hot air station, an AOYUE int 852. I tried to solder some SMD components, some TSOP-16 stuff and found it hard to place it correctly so that i will get nice solder joints. And TSOP is much easier than VQFN, where one have to place it to 1/100th mm And you can't see it, if all solder joints are good. I dislike this kind of soldering. Usual SMD stuff is no problem, but this brings me to my limits. Probably I need more practise.

If you don't have a hot air station, now's the time; this is JUST the sort of project to practice on. Just remember to populate these parts FIRST on a bare board if you're a noob. Or you can get a cheap breakout and plug it into a DIP, but that'll make your end product pretty big: eBay auction: #382865350172 For other outlines, this experimenter's kit is cheap but very interesting (doesn't have specifically QFN24): eBay auction: #272931785519

Thanks for this, I'll have a look at them. 

And I've found also something for you:

   T-Shirt @ EMP      "Reality is something for people who are afraid of dragons" 

Heh...

                                                 
I came to ↑ this contusion when I was like... eleven.     The rest was just the universe filling a void.
mnem