Keyboard Shortcuts
ctrl + shift + ? :
Show all keyboard shortcuts
ctrl + g :
Navigate to a group
ctrl + shift + f :
Find
ctrl + / :
Quick actions
esc to dismiss
Likes
- HP-Agilent-Keysight-Equipment
- Messages
Search
|
Re: I need a new/used lab computer
开云体育That’s not absolutely true. One can use a thunderbolt equipped laptop with an external PCIe cage and a PCIe to PCI adapter or a PCIe 488 card.
It is even possible to use a virtual machine with an older OS than the hardware supports and use PCIe passthrough of the PCIe to PCI bridge to expose the card behind it to the virtual machine.
Due to lack of many necessary parts to support parallel ports, running things like E-cal that requires a GPIB port and a parallel port is likely not really feasible on modern hardware.
Another interesting problem is that it is possible to have hardware too new to run an older OS and you can find things like video drivers simply don’t exist, or USB ports not seen which can lead to no keyboard/mouse. Some can be worked around,
some not.
I’ve fallen down that rabbit hole and had some wins, some losses and some I could pull off but would be hard pressed to replicate or help someone through.
Ultimately, some things that are possible aren’t economically viable or cost so much more than alternatives.
The higher cost and more limited options for a TB capable laptop plus all of the necessary adapters and extra hardware can easily add a few hundred dollars.
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of bownes via groups.io <bownes@...>
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 5:16:05 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] I need a new/used lab computer ?
Looks like he needs a PCI slot for gpib card. Would have to go to USB to GPIB if he went w a laptop.
> On Mar 6, 2025, at 15:27, Harke Smits via <yrrah@...> wrote: > > ?Jim, > > > Do you have anyone in your environment with a not too old laptop? Get it for a box of cigars, install an SSD and Linux Mint. You're back in business! > > Best 73 de Harke > >> On 6-3-2025 21:24, Jim Ford via wrote: >> My garage lab computer went kaput recently, and I need to get another one to control my instruments via GPIB and USB.? I had a tower running Windows 7,? although it was originally my wife’s computer running (ick!) Windows Vista.? Sooooo slow!? Anyway, I don’t need anything fancy, just a PCI slot for the GPIB card, Ethernet jack for Internet connection, and at least 4 USB jacks (kbd, mouse, USB microscope, GPSDO).? Mini tower or thin client would be great.? Anybody have a PC they don’t need?? Thanks in advance. >> >> Jim Ford >> Laguna Hills, California, USA >> >> >> >> > > > > > |
|
Re: I need a new/used lab computer
Looks like he needs a PCI slot for gpib card. Would have to go to USB to GPIB if he went w a laptop.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mar 6, 2025, at 15:27, Harke Smits via groups.io <yrrah@...> wrote: |
|
Re: I need a new/used lab computer
开云体育Jim-let me check as I have a tower doing nothing...hss not been used for long time, will know when I get to the shop over the weekend. shop is? in no. SF bay area 搁别苍é别 On 3/6/25 12:24 PM, Jim Ford via
groups.io wrote:
My garage lab computer went kaput recently, and I need to get another one to control my instruments via GPIB and USB. I had a tower running Windows 7, although it was originally my wife’s computer running (ick!) Windows Vista. Sooooo slow! Anyway, I don’t need anything fancy, just a PCI slot for the GPIB card, Ethernet jack for Internet connection, and at least 4 USB jacks (kbd, mouse, USB microscope, GPSDO). Mini tower or thin client would be great. Anybody have a PC they don’t need? Thanks in advance. Jim Ford Laguna Hills, California, USA . |
|
Re: I need a new/used lab computer
Jim,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Do you have anyone in your environment with a not too old laptop? Get it for a box of cigars, install an SSD and Linux Mint. You're back in business! Best 73 de Harke On 6-3-2025 21:24, Jim Ford via groups.io wrote:
My garage lab computer went kaput recently, and I need to get another one to control my instruments via GPIB and USB. I had a tower running Windows 7, although it was originally my wife’s computer running (ick!) Windows Vista. Sooooo slow! Anyway, I don’t need anything fancy, just a PCI slot for the GPIB card, Ethernet jack for Internet connection, and at least 4 USB jacks (kbd, mouse, USB microscope, GPSDO). Mini tower or thin client would be great. Anybody have a PC they don’t need? Thanks in advance. |
|
I need a new/used lab computer
My garage lab computer went kaput recently, and I need to get another one to control my instruments via GPIB and USB. I had a tower running Windows 7, although it was originally my wife’s computer running (ick!) Windows Vista. Sooooo slow! Anyway, I don’t need anything fancy, just a PCI slot for the GPIB card, Ethernet jack for Internet connection, and at least 4 USB jacks (kbd, mouse, USB microscope, GPSDO). Mini tower or thin client would be great. Anybody have a PC they don’t need? Thanks in advance.
Jim Ford Laguna Hills, California, USA |
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
开云体育It has been a while since I’ve had to use it, but when using PayPal shipping (USPS), have done electronic customs declarations and electronic invoice where I put in the quantity, description, weight, HSTS code, value, etc and had no trouble with.
It seems to me two copies went in the external pouch and I put a third inside the box for good measure. It seems to help if their job is actually harder than taking the easy way if every piece of information they could want is readily accessible without opening
the package.
Going the other direction, I remember a fun transaction where FedEx lost an e-cal module coming from Mexico to me in the US … after it went through customs. I raised a real stink firm and polite at first and ultimately after sending them a photograph
and description of what they were looking for and conveying the sense that they really wanted to find it rather than pay a claim for loss, 13 hours later it was found, and injected into their system as an overnight and I got it the next morning.
|
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
I received from Digikey five or six parcels during the last weeks without any problems. Each always over 150 Euros.
?
I sent a small letter three weeks ago to the US with DeutschePost containing 2 pregrogrammed gals and 2 programmed flashroms (value 10 Euros) as a gift for the receiver, but it was opened and returned with a remark like '...returned... changed import/customs regulations...'
?
Very strange
?
Ralf
?
? |
|
SMD S461, L266 on DC-DC converter - HP 02463-80901 ; what are these devices for?
HP 4263B LCR meter.?
It worked wonderfully for the past few years until last month when a total blank of display at turned on.? Later on it had been turned on once again with correct measurements but one of the red LED 5V was lit. Now it was totally dead. I suspected that the Japanese made DC-DC converter 02463-80901 was the culprit since no output can be measured from this unit. ? There are two surface mount devices marked as S461 and L266; four legs components with plus on two pins. I had never seen any SMD like these. Are they diode or a twin capacitors? S461 was connected in parallel so it might more likely to be capacitor? ? Basically my problem of 4263B was exactly as the same as the following post: blown L266 with evaporaied carbon deposite?? ? https://xdevs.com/pow/hp4263b_dcdc_pow/ ? Your input is greatly appreciated.? ? Thank you! ? Yeun-Jung Wu |
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
On Thu, 6 Mar 2025 at 10:32, Gabor Szucs via <sniper.asys=[email protected]> wrote:
I see no reason to believe it is significantly different in other countries. In particular those UK pages note ??? Commodity code in other countries ??? Although many countries have signed up to the same classification system, only the first 6 digits are used worldwide and product specific decisions are particular to each country. ??? If you rely on the commodity code from an overseas supplier, you’ll need to check if the treatment is the same and how much of the code applies in the UK. As for Brexit, it is mainly a pain for, UK<->EU trade, but otherwise no worse for any other small country. Having said that, there are complications for goods going to/from/through Northern Ireland since that has a big land border with the EU.? That border is traditionally very porous, with some buildings straddling the border. That's far from unique. e.g. see "Pastoor Van Herdegomstraat 19, 2387 Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands", then slowly zoom out until all of Baarle-Nassau is visible. Isn't history wonderful. ?
I'm sure that's the case. Pragmatism almost requires that such short cuts are taken. How lucky are you feeling today? Or when there is an increase in "retaliatory tariffs" and "long land borders" :( ? For the avoidance of doubt, I have not been bitten yet except for the narrow escape I mentioned with the 1000inch mahogany Fuller calculator. ?
|
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
That sounds quite bothersome! I'm under the impression that a lot of the documentation/declaration requirements depend on the carrier and service you're using and generally, more established shipping companies seem to be able to abstract the process a lot (although I can't say with confidence that it's the same in the UK, especially post-brexit). In general, package forwarders in the US only require a short abbreviated "laymen's terms" description of the contents that they don't seem to challenge in any way at all (I've brought over instruments, LA and scope blades for the 16700 mainframe, consumer and industrial electronics like servo drives and motors, teach pendants for robots etc., mostly multiple packages consolidated into a single shipment). Depending on the arrangement, duties and VAT was either billed and paid for when placing the shipping order _or_ I got notified by mail with the instructions when the goods reached the country, then after I paid the duties, it cleared customs and it was on its way to me. Gabor On Thu, Mar 6, 2025, 11:05 Tom Gardner via <tggzzz=[email protected]> wrote:
|
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
Some observations from the UK. TL;DR: fleabay's GSP is wonderful, much better for me than my shipping my sales directly. When I've bought something direct from the orient, e.g. a BusPirate5 or Digilent Analog Discovery, the courier won't deliver it to me until I pay them 20%VAT/import duties plus ?20 admin fee. Those often make it better to buy from local importers. Import/export regulations hit more than "electronics". Somebody in the USA put one of my ~100yo Fuller calculators in their fleabay basket, but fleabay wouldn't let them buy it. The reason is unclear, but is probably that I had stated it was made of wood and metal. Apparently the US prohibits imports of wood. I'm glad fleabay prevented that sale, because if fleabay's GSP shippers or US import agencies had detected wood, it would probably have been summarily destroyed without returning it to me. Guess who would have lost out. As for batteries, it seems that batteries which are an integral part of the equipment don't provoke the shipping immune response. Caveat: I haven't looked at shipping equipment with "modern" lithium batteries, nor recently shipped battery powered equipment overseas, nor "naked" spare batteries. As with any tree-shaped classification scheme (e.g. Dewey Decimal for
books), selecting the customs code is not only
arbitrarily complex but also ambiguous and ever changing. ISTR some types of fast Tek scopes with MCP CRTs were classified
differently for export purposes: 2465 OK, 2467 sometimes not OK. For the UK, the anti-insomnia "medication" is? ? For "oscilloscope" that leads to and if you look down several pages you find imports require 20% VAT and in some cases 35% retaliatory duties. Getting those ever-changing duties correct is something that will require vast numbers of customs agents and border checks and/or couriers that act conservatively because they don't want to jeopardise their standing with governments. Wonderful, just wonderful. No doubt other countries have similar tools. |
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
开云体育Even worse when something sent from the UK to the US for repair (under warranty.)On it's return, we would often get charged full UK duty/taxes etc, as if it was "a New import", even if the US office managed to get the paperwork straight (rarely) AND send it back via the exact same route but in reverse!.?? That's a UK custom's rip-off thing, and there is no way to challenge it for small co's and individuals. It's as bad if anyone ships from the US to the UK using the USPS.? That is then handled here by Royal Mail.? They add import duties (even if the commodity code indicates low or zero duty) then exorbitant "handling charges", and our 17.5% VAT on top of the lot. So, something that cost, say, $20 US on eBay, I end up paying over ?100 UKP!? Has happened twice to me. Then there are the US sellers who list "international shipping no problem", do NOT exclude the UK.? But flatly refuse to communicate, though take my money!?? That's something eBay is good at, getting my hard earned back in those cases. Oddly, DigiKey can send me a high value (100's of $'s) parts order to my door, overnight, seemingly with impunity and minimal charges!? I forget what they declare on the package.? And no, it doesn’t come from a bonded warehouse in the UK, as it's smothered in stickers and stamp markings indicating it did travel overnight by air!?? So it can be done. We (in the UK) also now get screwed by our own idiot government since Brexit happened, moving anything between UK and EU (Including Ireland) either way, now costs a fortune and takes an age, as there are not enough people to handle the paperwork.? It's as if they have not heard of doing things digitally.? Hence, there are sellers in the EU who will now not sell to UK buyers. Worse, a large proportion of our food is imported from, or via the EU.? Result?? High prices, and very short "use by" dates. "Modern Life" eh...? We're rapidly reverting to being "The Sick Man of Europe" like we were back in the 60's. And you don't want to know what we pay for fuel and energy in general! Regards to All. Dave 'KBV. |
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
Make sure to write 'no lithium batteries' on it or it might get returned.? Ask me how I know... On Wed, Mar 5, 2025, 6:01?PM Roy Thistle via <roy.thistle=[email protected]> wrote:
|
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
They used to do that, and almost needed to see receipts for camera equipment.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
That seems to have stopped perhaps 10 to 15 years ago, certainly, before 2000, IIRC. Nobody seems to enforce that, not that I noticed. Harvey On 3/5/2025 9:13 PM, Heinz-Peter Deutsch via groups.io wrote:
Well, if you send some expensive material (Moduls, HDD etc) |
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
开云体育Well, if you send some expensive material (Moduls, HDD etc)out of the country for repair you need to declare it before, because this part is coming back, and so you and the receiver don't pay any fees. Same when you go to vacation and carry your 1000 bucks camera or your wife's 2000 bucks neclace with you. When you come back, you must pay tax and customs for your own goods, if you don't declare it before leaving the country. Peter ================ Am 06.03.2025 um 02:09 schrieb Roy
Thistle via groups.io:
|
|
Re: Shipping overseas?
On Wed, Mar 5, 2025 at 01:52 PM, Gary Hitchner wrote:
Parcel Post or whatever they are calling ?it now, lowest costYes, generally. But most countries only allow a small de minimus on posted packages.
Sometimes couriers are allowed much more before duty and taxes are charged... but they have ... sometimes steep...brokerage fees too.
Something that somebody sends you... that is over those de minimus limits... can result in significant duty and taxes being charged.
And, it can depend on whether you post it, or use a courier.
Posting versus courier isn't always cheaper, and vice versa.
It depends on what the declared value is... and what it is declared as too.
Sometimes customs can hold it, and re-access its value, or what it should be declared as... if they think the value... or the description...? is not accurate. |
bownes
Ralf Rosche
Anders
Nick Andrews
to navigate to use esc to dismiss