Replacement for Uni-T 71D - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: mikejkay
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 30, 2021, 11:53:11 pm
content: Firstly I wish to thank Wytnucls and all other contributers to the review thread on the Uni-T 71D which is exceptionally informative and seems to run and run.I have had a 71D for some time but I feel the need to splash out and intend to buy a new DMM so I am considering the Brymen BM869s. Can anybody suggest any others? Or any shortcomings of the Brymen? I am only a hobbyist but have been pottering about in electronics since the day of thermionic valves. Rationally, I could probably make do with a £15 chinese DMM but I feel like indulging myself......up to a point!

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2021, 08:49:38 pm
content: Good Morning Mikejkay, I have a bunch of DMMS including the Brymen 869S, but a couple months ago I got a 121GW and I LUV, LUV, LUV it. I most love it's recording capability on it's Micro SD card. Everyone complains about accessing the card, but I leave the blue boot off my meter, since I use it as a bench meter, and I don't screw in the 2 screws that hold the back on, as it stays in place without them. I still use my BM869S and my Fluke 189, but I find myself reaching for the 121GW most often.

author: mikejkay
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 31, 2021, 11:50:46 pm
content: Thanks for the recommendation. I'm not sufficiently familiar with DMMs so identify on simply from a model number so could you please let me know the make?

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2022, 03:59:14 am
content: The Eevblog 121GW is Daves own design/spec built meter.I have two each of Fluke 87V, Fluke 189 and UniT 71D. The UniT 71Ds were just a cheap alternative to Fluke 189, but the Brymen 869s are a good Fluke 189 replacement.I'd go with two new Brymen 869s, you probably won't want to use the UniT 71D afterwards.

author: mikejkay
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 01, 2022, 12:31:30 pm
content: Thanks for the info. A large number of eevblog posters, and others, wax lyrical about Fluke meters. I can get a secondhand Fluke 287 for not much more than the price of a Brymen 869s. Would this be the way to go?

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2022, 07:06:47 pm
content: If you can get it at a really good price. I don't mind the larger Fluke meters but the 287/289 is a bit large/chunky for me on the bench. As the displayed measurement is small it's not a winning combination in my opinion and I'd probably not prefer it over my other meters.People report they are a little slow responding on some functions and has a slow bootup. It's software/graphical based which gives it a shorter battery life than most other meters, but that matters less if you have a couple of sets of rechargeable batteries.Modern digital scopes and bench meters are becoming increasingly more powerful tools to interface with. Depending on your test equipment setup it's easy for features to become unnecessary later. I'm at the point where handheld multimeters don't measure current or resistance low enough and don't test passive or active components well enough. If I had bench meters with logging I'd not need it on a handheld.

author: mikejkay
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2022, 02:10:30 pm
content: Thanks Shock.I read reviews and forum discussions, and watched videos, until my head started to hurt.I also detected undercurrents of animosity between reviewers and posters which concerned me. Not unlike other forums.All the meters that I read about seemed to have shortcomings one way or another. The Fluke seems to have problems with battery life and, I understand, continues to take power when switched off. The Uni-T is supposedly less robust and elecrically safe. although some reviewers have stated that the UT181 is the best meter that Uni-T have produced.Having looked at the Fluke I decided that I liked the idea of a data logging meter so that put the Brymen out of contention. I also decided that buying a cheap used meter was too risky. A new Fluke 287 is around £450 in the UK and I was contemplating taking the plunge when I came across the Uni-T UT181 on Amazon for £234. Common sense took over and so I am awaiting delivery of a UT181. I can always send it back

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2022, 05:12:16 pm
content: Cool let us know how it goes. Everyone's needs and preferences are going to be different.The things I'm not a fan of on the UniT 181 are the battery pack, screwed down inputs and update speed. But I'd have to look at it more closely to be objective. Robustness, safety (I work with mains ac/dc voltages on the bench) and long term reliability weigh highly for me. Aside from that I prefer not supporting mainland chinese products if there is an alternative. So it's not really on my radar.At a minimum I need four meters (two voltage two current) I have also two benches so pairs work better for me. As the Brymen 869s is a 500000 count (5 4/5 digit) meter with a reasonably size measurement display and update speed it's got about all I would need.I've also not spent much over $100 on a meter, so I'd prefer several hundred go into a bench meter. Here are my keepers at the moment. The Fluke 117 and 112 aren't essential.

author: mikejkay
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2022, 05:58:42 pm
content: All Flukes!

author: v81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2022, 11:41:04 am
content: Quote from: mikejkay on January 02, 2022, 02:10:30 pmI believe this is what drove Dave to co-design the 121GW meter that he sells @ eevblog.comAfter spending years reviewing meters he's put about everything he's ever liked into it, and taken about everything he hates out of it.It's only a day old in my hands, though i have been looking at it for a bit.Well worth a close look, double so for a hobbyist.Before turning it on i like....AA's instead of 9v batteries.Captive screws that go into metal inserts.Very nice all round feel.Also seems to be straight up quite a bit of meter for the money.Other pluses are the schematic is available, it's firmware up datable, hack able, onboard SD card (and mine included a Sandisk 8GB) Bluetooth, datalogging... list goes on.Check it out...https://www.eevblog.com/product/121gw/Oh... i forgot the leads... the leads were manufactured on the thighs of grey bearded nude virgins.A thing of beauty.