RIGOL DM3058E vs  HP34401A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: octal
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2023, 12:19:27 am
content: Hello,I would like to buy a new high precision multimeter and I have been offered two meters (by two different sellers):- a Rigol DM3058E at 200€ (almost new)- an HP34401A (extremely clean and casing like new) at 270€What do you advice me?The Rigol precision is enough for my needs and even if I take the HP34401A I think I'll almost never need the 61/2 digits.I'm a little bit confused: The Rigol has some nice modern features, but the HP has a great reputation at being reliable and repairable relatively easily.What do you advice me?

author: Veteran68
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2023, 12:51:26 am
content: Is the 34401A branded as HP, or Agilent? If HP, is it the more recent architecture (red+black input jacks) or the old one (all red inputs)?If it's an Agilent or more recent HP, and the VFD is nice and bright and even, I'd have to go with the 34401A. It's a classic and rock solid instrument and the additional cost is negligible even if you don't think you need 6.5 digits. Remember that with any of these high precision meters you basically have to discount the last digit. So with a 5.5 digit meter you're really getting 4.5 digits of useful measurement, and with a 6.5 digit you're getting 5.5 digits useable. Also, I've never cared for Rigol's DMMs.Now if it's the oldest model HP, or if the other choice were, say, a Siglent SDM3055X (maybe?) or 3065X (almost definitely?), then I'd probably lean towards the other choice.Disclaimer: I have both an Agilent 34401A and a Siglent SDM3065X. I love them both.

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2023, 01:11:41 am
content: We have a lot of Rigol DM3058 and DM3068's at work that we use in a pool of test setups, accessed remotely. I have learned to really detest them, as they sometimes stop responding via USB and cannot be reset, or they do respond to USB but do not do the things they were asked, though they pretend to. This can happen after a day, a week, a month. It has gotten to the point where we have had to put all the units on an IP power switch so that we can hard-reboot them remotely. Ugh.I have a personal SDM3055 which I find is really great. Works fine, I used it remotely (I use it mostly over the LAN) all the time as well, no lockups, nice screen, etc.34401A is what it is. I have a later HP-era unit. Mine has only GPIB and I don't have the hardware to control it. It gets used a lot less than the Siglent because of this. (My test setups are often separate from where I work). I also don't need the 6.5 digits.

author: octal
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2023, 01:27:07 am
content: Quote from: Veteran68 on December 27, 2023, 12:51:26 amLooks like it's the old HP one, with all red jacks

author: laichh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2023, 02:32:06 am
content: Well, what's wrong with a HP all red terminals 34401A?

author: Veteran68
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2023, 03:27:58 am
content: Quote from: laichh on December 27, 2023, 02:32:06 amNothing inherently wrong, they're just the oldest generation, more likely to fail sooner, and have an unobtanium display controller should it ever need to be replaced (which is a not uncommon failure). The later models used a different VFD controller which you can still source. The VFDs do fade or become uneven over time so the oldest ones also tend to have the worst displays. From the picture above, maybe it's just lighting or camera angle, but notice how the left side of the display is brighter than the right side.If it's in good shape even the older 34401A is probably a good buy at 270 euro/dollars.BTW mine is of the earlier Agilent vintage, with red+black inputs but still the square buttons instead of the later round buttons. My VFD is still very readable butsometimes I'll get spurious segments show up, which is a sign I probably need to replace the controller chip. I bought a new controller and a spare VFD but haven't installed them yet as the original is still serviceable. I just wanted to have something on hand in case it dies on me, or else I'm just bored and looking for a rainy day project. I also since got the SDS3065X which means I use the 34401A less often.

author: guenthert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2023, 09:08:52 am
content: Does the Rigol have a fan? I can't see one on the pictures, but the service manual refers to such.I got an Agilent 34410A and the fan is annoying. For bench use I prefer the older, slower 34401A.