A testament to HP... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2014, 04:52:53 am
content: These 2 instruments. The 6114A was manufactured in 78, while the 3478A in 83. Still even have the customer survey + non original manual for the 6114A. Likewise, original service manual for the 3478A.I wonder what will happen if I mail this back...Front:Back:

author: mhzghz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2014, 06:50:02 am
content: Quote from: echen1024 on April 12, 2014, 04:52:53 amSome snooty MBA will throw it in the garbage saying "Humpf.... We only make crappy printers now!"

author: rollatorwieltje
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 12, 2014, 07:08:31 am
content: Doesn't that 3478A stores it's cal data in volatile memory? Probably invented by the same guy that designed those self-destructing printer cartridges

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2014, 02:59:55 pm
content: Yes, the cal data in some of their benchtop DMMs is in volatile memory, so if you just pull and replace the lithium backup battery, you will wipe the memory and get an error message and an uncalibrated meter when you power back up.You need to use an external supply to maintain the memory while replacing the battery. This is one of the very few times that you should be soldering on live circuitry.

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2014, 03:07:39 pm
content: I found some old kodak film mailers from 20, 30 or 40 yrs ago, can't be sure how old they are. for those too young to remember photo 35mm film, you used to be able to buy prepaid developing/printing mailers, pop your exposed roll of film into the envelope, mail and you'd get your photos back in return mail.the labs are all closed down (pretty much) and only some drugstore minilabs still exist for film, but I do wonder what would happen if I mailed a roll back to kodak using such an old mailer. it would probably get all the way there, find that there's no one left at that address and return it back to me, of course. someone lost some money in buying those old pre-paid mailersI also see the old magazine 'bingo cards' from popular electronics and such. I used to get that mag regularly in the 70's and those nasty annoying cards would be stuck inside the magazine every few pages. I'm tempted to go thru all my old mags, rip the cards out and just dump in mailbox. of course, nothing useful gets accomplished that way, other than making the mailman annoyed.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2014, 03:22:52 pm
content: I remember an Asimov ? story about a man who was annoyed with those postage prepaid envelopes, and he invented a collapsed matter material ( like neutronium but stable in a sheet without the explosive decompression) and used it to print a letter back to them. He calculated the cost of the postage would bankrupt them.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2014, 03:38:28 pm
content: Just curious, have you ever checked those power supplies for turn on voltage overshoot? I have an E3610A that has a terrible turn on overshoot but I haven't had time to try and fix it. Once on it's very stable and noise free it doesn't drift at all over time, so I don't worry about it too much.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2014, 04:01:50 pm
content: You have some Agilent(now Keysight, and then whateverthehellisnext) defiling your picture.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2014, 03:44:03 am
content: Quote from: Fsck on April 12, 2014, 04:01:50 pmI think more horrifying is the Rigol above.

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2014, 03:58:24 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on April 12, 2014, 03:22:52 pmIn "Steal This Book", Abbie Hoffman recommended taping postpaid cards or envelopes to to a brick, and mailing them in....

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2014, 05:08:15 am
content: That is what you do with printer cartridges that give you a reply prepaid envelope to send the cartridge back in . " This cartridge may contain materials from our recycling program" means they refilled it and sold it as new. Then turn around and say that refilled cartridges are not recommended in the printer. I get most refilled for around 30% of the cost of a new, and some have been getting refilled every 2 months for over 5 years now, same body just new toner, drum ( if needed) and wipers.

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2014, 05:28:36 am
content: I buy ink for something like 10.00 a pint

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2014, 06:43:11 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on April 13, 2014, 05:08:15 amYes, we bought a canon color laser printer for around $400 with an EPP, however, canon insists on charging $520 for a full set of toner.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 03:58:48 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on April 13, 2014, 05:08:15 amThe trouble is now they have electronics in the print cartridges to prevent refill. Lexmark actually filed a law suit against a refilling company using DCMA, for their decoding and defeating the refill prevention.I am holding on to my Laser Jet 5P. Refills are cheap, and the darn thing is a real work horse. I have an HP ColorLaser which I use only when I really need color.Footnote: The company is/was North Carolina-based Static Control Components (SCC). Latest info I found is: 2005: the 2003 injunction was vacated December 2004. The 2003 injunction prevented SCC from selling the cartridge while the case proceeds. With that injunction vacated, SCC was able to continue while the case proceeded, but how the cased ended is unknown to me. (or may even be continuing...)

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 04:20:43 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on April 14, 2014, 03:58:48 amIt ended in SCC favor big time.http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/supreme-court-lexmark-will-have-to-stand-trial-over-old-dmca-threats/Right now they have to stand trial for false advertising after they told customers that SCC was guilty of infringement.@Eric: Great to see you got the 6114 working. Looks like it's working great!

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 04:36:14 am
content: Quote from: PedroDaGr8 on April 14, 2014, 04:20:43 amThanks, glad to know the result (of the SCC suit). There is something wrong with Google. I just googled "Lexmark DCMA print cartridge suit" before I post that last note and the 2005 info the latest info shown.(Sorry about the side track, I just had to say a thank-you for the updated info.)

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 04:41:15 am
content: Pedro,Yes, it is quite a nice supply. Someone also gave me the paper manual as well, so that was a large help. Now we just need a few more