Re: What would you do if you had some test equipment with Serial No: 0000001?
|
Dr. David Kirkby from Kirkby Microwave Ltd
On Fri, 26 Jul 2019 at 13:29, nigel adams via Groups.Io <nigel.adams= [email protected]> wrote: Problem is, and not wishing to sound arrogant in any way...., In their eyes you have had this scope too long and
Tek is expecting you (like Keysight/HP and others) to roll over and buy a new one.
I wonder how they would feel if their shiny new BMW, Mercedes was deemed unrepairable/unserviceable after only 2 years..
Most companies think a lifetime of between 5-10 years is more than enough to keep top end/high tech equipment. ?I was a bit annoyed a few years back. Not sure if it was Agilent or Keysight then, but they had a 4395A Network/Spectrum/Impedance Analyzer for sale on their eBay store. Although obsolete now, at that time it was discontinued, but supported, I was interested in this, but only if they could do the software upgrade so it gave impedance data - one enables this from a floppy disk. Agilent/Keysight said it was sold as it is, and could not be upgraded. I pointed out it will still supported, and said I would feel pretty pissed off if I have bought an instrument one week, the following week it was discontinued, and I could not get an update. They said there's a difference between a week and several years.
I'm not sure how it happened, but at one point I got asked to complete a survey for Keysight and mentioned this experience and I was not happy about it. Keysight (UK) said they could upgrade it, and the cost was a bit over ?700. By this time the instrument had gone from eBay, and I'd not bothered about it. But certainly, I was told initially that it could not have a software upgrade, despite it was still a supported instrument.
There are quite a few times where one part of Keysight says one thing, and another part of Keysight says another. Sometimes you have to argue you case a bit to get what you feel you are entitled to. On other times they have been incredibly generous.
Dave
The use of an embedded PC style OS is a real help to them as the moment M/soft or whoever declares end of support then
the test equipment supplier rubs his hands with glee and can happily refuse to support it.
So many companies now are calling EOS for their equipment as soon as they can.
Not nice when it is hard to justify replacements especially in a teaching or research environment.
What is needed is for the salesmen to be nailed to the floor with written statements that they will support and honour
any stated equipment lifetime such that it makes it really hard for them to sell kit.
That will hurt them (the manufacturers the most) - only then will they consider change or lose a sale to up coming
Instrument makers (eg. Korean or Chinese) gradually their performance is improving and hopefully the more advantageous
pricing will help all of us.
Unfortunately gone are the days of beautifully prepared manuals and information about everything to do with the item from
well known TE companies such are HP, Marconi, Tek etc.
Regards
Nigel
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Susan Parker
Sent: 26 July 2019 12:32
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] What would you do if you had some test equipment with Serial No: 0000001?
Dear All,
As Alwyn says: "What really annoys me is the lack of support of equipment which uses older versions of Windows- knowing the policies of that company, I now insist on hearing how long term support will be assured before I buy."
Indeed!!!
I have a Tek TDS7000B series in our group that I am trying to "repair"
because its Windows 2000 OS has gone AWOL from a hard drive failure. Tek refuse to supply the Microsoft Windows restore discs "because of licensing issues" which to me seems entity bogus for a piece of equipment that cost well over GBP20,000 in 2003 (i.e. more than a Hi-End VW Golf Turbo).
We have happenchance found an original Restore Manual and set of discs on e$ay which fingers crossed will resolve the issue, but the lack of support from Tek is astounding for such expensive equipment (TDS7154B).
I am now recommanding Pico Technology scopes wherever possible, even though I personally prefer a 'scope with knobs on it the price differentials are to great to ignore.
Best,
Susan.
Susan Parker, Laser Consortium, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, UK.
-- Dr David Kirkby Ph.D C.Eng MIET
Kirkby Microwave Ltd
Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, CHELMSFORD, Essex, CM3 6DT, United Kingdom.
Registered in England and Wales as company number 08914892
Tel 01621-680100 / +44 1621-680100
|
