HPAK 34901A modules - real or counterfeit? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 06:02:00 pm
content: I know that the Agilent USB GPIB adapters are getting cloned, what are the odds that the 34901A could be getting cloned as well?https://www.ebay.com/itm/293167044073?https://www.ebay.com/itm/273946406735?https://www.ebay.com/itm/293167190949?They do look real, but?I bet all three listings are the same seller. Either that or they're copying each other.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 06:10:02 pm
content: The stack of brand new sealed units is suspicious already. If you read the listing carefully they never actually claim it's a HPAK unit. They describe the original part but don't claim you're buying one. The brand being listed as something else is a dead giveaway and the country of manufacture is obviously not OEM either. The only act of actual counterfeiting is the Agilent stickers on the units themselves.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 06:24:25 pm
content: I wonder why they don't use Keysight labels? Might add $50 to the selling price.I would love to have one of these on my bench for a closer inspection. See if the traces are routed the same, etc.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 06:38:05 pm
content: Indeed, this smells fishyItem location: ChinaCondition: "100% brand new and high quality"But then ... how big can the market be to fake these unitsOnly way to find out for sure is to buy one.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 06:49:31 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on August 17, 2019, 06:38:05 pmI figure that the 34901A is the most popular of the plug-ins, so if you *were* going to clone one, that would be the right one to pick.I'm pretty sure that the 34970A is a big seller for Keysight. (They've announced discontinuance of the 34972A, but not the 34970A.)Makes it easier for them that the schematics are available. Maybe they're using knock-off relays as well to cut costs.

author: rubidium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 07:59:17 pm
content: There are actually 9 nearly identical listings at present, from "different sellers." All listings either state cryptically "NewForAgilent 34901A ..." or "... ModuleforAgilent 34901A ...". or more straightforwardly "Replacement ForHP Agilent 34901A" - my emphasis added. I'd like a 34401A at these prices, but I'm going with "caveat emptor " on these.

author: rubidium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 08:10:20 pm
content: ^^^ Correction: I'd like a 34901A at these prices ...Freudian slip.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 08:11:50 pm
content: Quote from: rubidium on August 17, 2019, 08:10:20 pmYou can edit your posts, which is definitely acceptable for mistakes.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 08:21:28 pm
content: Quote from: rubidium on August 17, 2019, 08:10:20 pmA *new* one of *either*, and I'd be in.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 08:26:21 pm
content: Eventually, of course, these will end up all over the world. You'll never know what you're getting when you buy a used one. Same old story...That sucks.

author: rubidium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2019, 02:15:09 pm
content: Interesting that I contacted all 9 of the "different" Chinese vendors of these "new" units, asking for an additional photo or 2 of the actual circuit boards, and I received identical "Dear Friend ..." replies from all with photos simply showing one of the units partially removed from its anti-stat bag but not allowing one to discern anything beneath the frosted gray plastic cover. I was hoping to at least see the markings on the relays. All the more reason to move on. Unfortunately, as Jwalling notes, how many used units on the market are Chinese clones as well?

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2019, 02:18:42 pm
content: I guess it's time someone buys one and does an in depth comparison so we know how to recognise fakes.

author: xmpersos
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 25, 2019, 08:02:21 pm
content: Hi guys,This is my first post here.I think they are fakes. If you take a look at the stickers the differences are obvious. The fonts are different and there are four dots per spike on the fake (instead of three on the original). I guess they just copied the agilent logo (which has 4 dots per spike).I bought a 34970A for $100 without any cards and with a few problems. If I will be able to repair it I will be tempted to buy one. I will post high res photos if I do.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2019, 08:43:37 pm
content: At least some of the offers clearly say replacement for HPAK 34901a. So they don't claim to be originals, just compatible function. The price looks pretty reasonable even if one considers that the relays may not be as good quality and thus possibly some extra thermal EMF. So for not so critical applications they may be OK. If they don't have a HPAK marking - they may even be legit clones. However I doubt they have a valid FCC/EMI testing.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 07, 2020, 08:55:26 pm
content: Certainly not genuine but build seems reasonable. Genuine Omron?Why put keysight branding on it, makes it look like they are trying to con us. Jees, just tell us they are 'compatible'.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 07, 2020, 08:56:56 pm
content: ...

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 14, 2021, 11:54:28 am
content: So, these models are counterfeit but it's hard to tell at a glance.Having real and counterfeit side-by-side, the PCB gerbers look almostidentical down to the smallest details. There are some tiny differencesthat could easily have been a rev change. The micro is different; onthe counterfeit item it is a generic Atmel 89C51 wheres the genuineis an intel part laser marked with the Agilent/Keysight PN. And theyare clocked with different frequency crystals.But that is about it, all other parts look to be the very same brand.My guess is the counterfeit items came off the same production linebut they didn't have access to the OEM firmware so they had to comeup with their own. In the counterfeit unit the relay cycle counts arealways zero, so they didn't bother implementing that feature, eventhough the FRAM is present on the board.