new killer scope in town - a true game changer from R&S - RTB2002 & RTB2004

[Robaroni]

There's no oil of any kind in scope probes, that's external.

[Darkover]

I have RTB2002 for about 3 years and his 2 RT-ZP03 never show any sign of any leakage. They are perfectly dry. Maybe external causes? Proximity with some flowers, herbal decorations?

I never faced the problem you described! Is there any special gas in your enviroment?

However the probes from R&S not good anyhow. Buy some from PMK!

https://www.pmk.de/en/products/pml_high_z_tastkoepfe      PML712

They are smaler and the middle pin has a spring. They are so good that other famos company are buy them
and print there name on it and sold them for the double price 
Unfortunatly R&S is to stingy to put good probes to >4000Euro scope.

Especially if you use the probes with the ground-spring you will never look back to the old ones!

Olaf

[alonsojar]

Not a fan of the RT-ZP03, but PMK PML712 are selling 315 Euro plus VAT each... Is it a good price? Wow.

Btw, no problems with leakage in any of the four RT-ZP03 I own. I mainly complain  about the sliding hook mechanism that I feel tough and unpleasant.

J.Alonso

[Darkover]

PMK PML712 are selling 315 Euro plus VAT each...

Aehm..yes. I am using older PML211 on my scope I bought  a few years back. I remember something like 150Euro VAT included.

https://www.batronix.com/versand/messtechnik/tastkoepfe/PMK/PML211.html

It is always possible to exchange bandwith by euro. 

Olaf

[pdenisowski]

My warranty is past, that's my fault, but decided to call Rhode and Schwarz support to inquire about this.  No one there had ever heard of this(came with RT-ZP03). 

I have never heard of this before either (and believe me, I would have if it were a known issue), and I personally have a lot of ZP03 probes as well.  I think the other posters might be correct in that this was caused by some external substance getting on the probes at some point.

[Darkover]

I have seen something like this with computer parts, rubber, cable that are installed in an
industrial sewage treatment plant. You did not notice it with youre nose, but some
gas/fumes can have strange effect on some plastic.
Sometimes I wonder how people can work there!

Please show a high quality picture to us.

Olaf

[electronix27]

Thanks for all the replies.
This really has me stumped.  I know there's no oil inside the cable.  The outside jacket just appears to be degrading.  Has occurred to some degree on all probe cables but a couple have been a bit more.  No harsh environment, mostly just my home bench.  The scope itself still looks like new.  Shortly after original purchase, I bought the protection and transport case, model RTB-Z3, made just for this scope and 3000 series.  kind of expensive, but I don't regret the purchase, works really well.  All the probes and a few extra cables and a differential probe fit in there.  I thought that might be made in Germany.  It has a unique smell to it.  I used to roll all the probe cables and slide them inside front pouch, but after I noticed this wetness on the cables I put them in baggies first.  I don't think it's a reaction to case materials, none of the other cables inside have this issue.  When I first noticed the issue, I wiped them down with 91% Isopropyl, then water.  R&S Rep recommended same thing.  Few photos from storage baggie.