Products > Test Equipment

The worst products from HP and Tektronix.

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Neomys Sapiens:
I would also nominate the TDS3xx/4xx series. They were obviously a sort of learning phase in regard to user interfaces for Tek which was nevertheless foisted on the customers.
And the 250MHz pulse generators from the TM500 series - I have yet to encounter a working one.

For HP, there is the 6177B current source. No matter how often you read through those changes, mine (defective) does still not match any of them.
the alignmrent procedure for the HP6825 Bipolar Power Supply was conceived by a sadistic maniac.
And then there is the HP5334A universal counter (a capable and nice devive by itself), which, contrary to any other HP device I've seen, does not simply take the HP10881 OCXO, but needs a special adaptor board, which is pure unobtainium.

Neomys Sapiens:

--- Quote from: coppercone2 on May 07, 2023, 09:33:28 pm ---the precision power supply from HP (6000 series) has the absolute worst switch ever.

I mean the one you dial up with the buttons that everyone was raving about. Great supply, but that switch bank is just awful awful awful.

And they don't put flanges on anything, its just a bunch of crap sandwiched together like a garage door.

--- End quote ---
Wait until you get a feel of the similar switches on the even more expensive R&S NGRU. Those of the HP6114A feel sturdy and crisp in comparison. and you can't exchange them for better ones, as they contain the divider resistors too.
 :rant:

TERRA Operative:

--- Quote from: Neomys Sapiens on May 08, 2023, 12:54:13 am ---I would also nominate the TDS3xx/4xx series. They were obviously a sort of learning phase in regard to user interfaces for Tek which was nevertheless foisted on the customers.
And the 250MHz pulse generators from the TM500 series - I have yet to encounter a working one.

--- End quote ---

Yeah, I took a look at the TDS3xx /4xx series, but why bother when you can select from the TDS5xx/6xx/7xx series... (besides physical size). Much nicer displays too.

Do you mean the PG502 or PG505 pulse generator? I have a PG502 that works and is adjusted nicely.



--- Quote from: Neomys Sapiens on May 08, 2023, 12:54:13 am ---And then there is the HP5334A universal counter (a capable and nice devive by itself), which, contrary to any other HP device I've seen, does not simply take the HP10881 OCXO, but needs a special adaptor board, which is pure unobtainium.

--- End quote ---

Would a replica via a Chinese PCB manufacturer be feasible?

coppercone2:

--- Quote from: Neomys Sapiens on May 08, 2023, 01:03:43 am ---
--- Quote from: coppercone2 on May 07, 2023, 09:33:28 pm ---the precision power supply from HP (6000 series) has the absolute worst switch ever.

I mean the one you dial up with the buttons that everyone was raving about. Great supply, but that switch bank is just awful awful awful.

And they don't put flanges on anything, its just a bunch of crap sandwiched together like a garage door.

--- End quote ---
Wait until you get a feel of the similar switches on the even more expensive R&S NGRU. Those of the HP6114A feel sturdy and crisp in comparison. and you can't exchange them for better ones, as they contain the divider resistors too.
 :rant:

--- End quote ---

lol with stuff like that I just want to put a cable that sticks out of the instrument and a control panel for it like one of those industrial crane control things

Neomys Sapiens:

--- Quote from: TERRA Operative on May 08, 2023, 01:26:25 am ---
--- Quote from: Neomys Sapiens on May 08, 2023, 12:54:13 am ---I would also nominate the TDS3xx/4xx series. They were obviously a sort of learning phase in regard to user interfaces for Tek which was nevertheless foisted on the customers.
And the 250MHz pulse generators from the TM500 series - I have yet to encounter a working one.

--- End quote ---

Yeah, I took a look at the TDS3xx /4xx series, but why bother when you can select from the TDS5xx/6xx/7xx series... (besides physical size). Much nicer displays too.

--- End quote ---
Why bother with those when you can get a TDS3xxx/5xxx/7xxx?

--- Quote from: TERRA Operative on May 08, 2023, 01:26:25 am ---Do you mean the PG502 or PG505 pulse generator? I have a PG502 that works and is adjusted nicely.

--- End quote ---
There was absolutely no need to rub that in further!
 :box:


--- Quote from: TERRA Operative on May 08, 2023, 01:26:25 am ---
--- Quote from: Neomys Sapiens on May 08, 2023, 12:54:13 am ---And then there is the HP5334A universal counter (a capable and nice devive by itself), which, contrary to any other HP device I've seen, does not simply take the HP10881 OCXO, but needs a special adaptor board, which is pure unobtainium.

--- End quote ---

Would a replica via a Chinese PCB manufacturer be feasible?

--- End quote ---
Oh noe! The Chinese will hide secret jitter-enhancing elements in the PCB and further compromise my timebase!
 :scared:

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