Flood of new Agilent 82357B GPIB-USB adaptors on eBay the real deal? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 12:37:24 am
content: Tried searching but apparently this hasn't been discussed yet.Does anyone know whether all those new Agilent 82357B GPIB-USB adaptors on eBay are the genuine article? At $120 (USD) or so the price is right if they are the real deal, but the origin, multiple sources plus the sheer number of them makes me suspicious. Well made fakes? Factory workers moonlighting? Somebody found a pile of the genuine article in a warehouse?With no old school PCI slots in my lab PC I'm considering buying one of these 82357Bs for some experiments, as otherwise I'd probably have to buy a new PCIe GPIB adaptor from NI at full list.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 03:12:43 am
content: Here is the seller I bought from:http://www.ebay.com/itm/261397671097Edit: Not so sure it's not counterfeit anymore. Took it apart and it seems hand-soldered on the inside. I've probably been tricked.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 03:24:58 am
content: Quote from: ElectroIrradiator on August 03, 2015, 12:37:24 amRebranding?

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 08:09:32 am
content: Quote from: dadler on August 03, 2015, 03:12:43 amExcellent, thanks!Quote from: Bud on August 03, 2015, 03:24:58 amAlien technology sent down to prepare for the coming invasion?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 08:10:39 am
content: I got one of these low cost items as well and it is real deal, the same as others that I paid much more for.They work extremely well for all kinds of Agilent gear in combination with BenchVue

author: anotherlin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 09:09:16 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on August 03, 2015, 03:12:43 amI hope you guys are right. I just made an offer at $100.According to the eBay listing, 165 have been sold.May be the guy is cleaning up the remaining stock of the OEM Agilent/Keysight contractor ?

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 09:27:03 pm
content: Quote from: anotherlin on August 03, 2015, 09:09:16 pm166.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 10:31:14 pm
content: Quote from: anotherlin on August 03, 2015, 09:09:16 pmI didn't even think to make an offer and paid full price

author: ywara
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 11:21:57 pm
content: I would guess the flood is due to rebranding. Opening one of these up is rather disappointing, and they fail on me at a rather high rate so I suspect they do not cost Agilent/Keysight more than a few 10s of dollars to make. Probably cheaper to build more than to pay someone slap a sticker over the Agilent name.

author: anotherlin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 05:57:18 am
content: Quote from: dadler on August 03, 2015, 10:31:14 pmGot a deal for $118, shipping included!169 sold !

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2015, 02:10:14 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on August 03, 2015, 03:12:43 amI bought from the same seller as the above link in 2013 (nettcy168). Definitely genuine Agilent, and new in factory sealed box. It was just what I needed to allow replacement of my defunct lab PC with an old ISA-slot GPIB card. I got a good deal with make offer and by accepting a slowing shipping method. Still paid a little more than the current price.This is a very good deal and is a much better option than a PCI card. Soon, old-school PCI slots will go the way of the ISA slot (see above). You can still get a modern motherboard with PCI slots, but you can also get them without. Soon, you will pay a premium to get one, then they will be gone. With USB you can just plug it into any computer you have in the lab. Despite Apple's efforts, USB isn't going anywhere any time soon.

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2015, 03:05:06 pm
content: just fyi, some motherboards have issues with usb. the last rev (from 6mos ago) of the haswell intel chipset has shown some usb problems. specifically, many usb audio devices (that need timing-specific constraints) do not work, while they work on previous generations just fine (ivy bridge, etc).don't just assume that a usb port means your chipset will work. it SHOULD but you need to verify and be prepared to reject/return if the chipset is not working out.fwiw, it is a chipset issue as both linux and win7 show the same identical issue with my usb uac2 sound dongle. I had to use another older pc for my audio stuff even though I bought the haswell mobo just for this task ;(just be aware. until you see things work, don't just assume it will. things are complex and not every vendor really does their work properly (I'm looking at YOU, intel!!)

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 05, 2015, 03:07:32 pm
content: Quote from: ElectroIrradiator on August 03, 2015, 12:37:24 amUS$138 for me:http://www.ebay.com/itm/261397671097

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 05, 2015, 03:10:38 pm
content: Ripoff ones are here:http://www.ebay.com/itm/82357B-GPIB-USB-Interface-Compatible-with-AGILENT-82357B/251641990975Genuine used ones here:http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-Used-HP-Agilent-82357B-High-Speed-USB-GPIB-Interface-USB-2-0-Tested/221792394818

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2015, 03:17:38 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 05, 2015, 03:07:32 pmExcellent, thanks Dave and everybody else. I now have one of these in the mail en route to Denmark, from the very same seller.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2015, 03:33:42 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 05, 2015, 03:10:38 pmWhy do you call the clones a ripoff? As far as I know, they work just as well as the Keysight ones. Is it just that you think they should be cheaper?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2015, 10:56:59 pm
content: Oxford dictionary:QuoteSee the second definition.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2015, 11:30:37 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on August 05, 2015, 10:56:59 pmOK, then what is inferior about them?

author: amc184
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 04:43:34 am
content: I think they might be counterfeits. The boxes and packaging are really convincing, but there's tonnes of counterfeits out there with as much attention to detail. There has been clones around by Beiming and others for a while, I'm not really surprised to see someone take the next step and put Agilent labels onto them.For people who ask what's wrong with the clones / counterfeits, here my view:A big chunk of the development cost of these devices is the PC software, Agilent IO Libraries. It's also the thing that makes them really useful, compared to something like a Prologix. It'll definitely be against the license of IO Libraries to use one of the freeloading clone adapters.Agilent probably tested their USB GPIB adapters with a huge range of equipment during development. I wouldn't trust Beiming to have been so thorough. That said, I've heard that Agilent adapters aren't 100% compatible with older gear in some situations (more a hardware than software issue), so I guess you just can't win.I've used a Beiming clone before, and it worked fine for me. I use an HP E2050A now, it's great.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 05:00:16 am
content: They aren't just Agilent labels. They are screenprinted with Agilent logos, the enclosure has the molded Agilent logo. They have serial numbers that match the high-quality labels on each box. The plastics and hardware are high quality.They are manufactured in Malaysia and come in boxes that are themselves made in Malaysia.The included disc and documentation is exactly what you would expect to get with any other Agilent product.The disc does have some Asian text on it in addition to English, so I suspect these were intended for the Asian market. I doubt they were ever intended to be sold in the West.If they are "fake", then they are made on the same tooling and assembly line as the real ones. That could be, but so could it be with any product then.I have examined my unit in detail, and there are just too many tiny details that would be so very difficult and expensive to clone. Why fake such a product, which is certainly a low-volume, niche item? There would be no way you could expect to recoup the cost of investment on tooling and exactly duplicating the included documentation/product look and feel.Though quite a few have sold on eBay, USB-GPIB adapters aren't like Beats headphones with universal appeal.

author: anotherlin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 07:43:21 am
content: Quote from: amc184 on August 06, 2015, 04:43:34 amBeiming is very probably the OEM manufacturer of the Agilent !The Linux driver code for both is the same.

author: amc184
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 08:00:23 am
content: QuoteI didn't mean that so literally.I think it would be worthwhile to counterfeit them, there's a fair few selling on eBay, as well as most other auction sites. I've purchased a product before that came with a similar set of bumf (manual, warranty card, box, etc), found it was totally fake. It was only when I got it side by side with a real one that it was really noticeable (and subtle even then, you had to know where to look).One suspicious thing I noticed is that every listing I saw on every Chinese website these are listed on (eBay, aliexpress, taobao, etc) that shows the box has a datecode of 20091102. Either there was a huge batch that went to Chinese sellers, or the guy who made the counterfeit labels didn't think the move the batchcode around.QuoteBecause it's a clone. It needs to appear the same so Agilent software will work with it.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 08:05:24 am
content: Date code on mine from eBay is (second post in this thread) 20141016.I tried to find the least-shady seeming seller on eBay. Not the cheapest, but best feedback and other buyers indicated they received legit product.This is such a niche product that I will be very surprised if these are being cloned.

author: amc184
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 08:20:33 am
content: Maybe they're real, you got a great deal if they are. Even if they are counterfeit it's not a bad price for what you get.I wanted to clear up the terms I was using; by clone I mean a functional equivalent that doesn't claim to be the same thing, like the Beiming S82357. By counterfeit, I mean a non-Agilent made device that claims to be an Agilent 82357B.The Agilent 82357B is definitely being cloned, but only possibly being counterfeited.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 08:33:43 am
content: Sometimes clones are better than the original product.But I agree that it should be sold as a clone and not as a counterfeit, so the consumer can make the decision to either buy the original or a clone, and that there are no surprises afterwards.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 08:40:37 am
content: I have several original of these Agilent adapters, some bought directly from a German distributor and they all look exactly like this one. As was said before, they are probably original Agilent, made for the Asian market bot not a clone of any kind.

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 10:24:33 am
content: I had seen these but was skeptical too. After hearing on hear others had bought them and they were as described, I offered $100us and got a counter offer of $110us. Counter offer accepted, paid and will await it's delivery.I have been looking to get some gpib interfaces for my test gear to play around and see how it works for a while now. Next thing is what software etc... I'll add it to the pile of things to play with and work out how to do itCheers for the responses above about this adapter too.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 10:34:26 am
content: I'll just wait until the price drops to $50 or so.

author: anotherlin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 01:30:59 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on August 06, 2015, 10:34:26 amWhy wait ? Just make on offer at $50 and see what's the answerMore seriously, I didn't expect we would be doing so much talking about an USB to GPIB interface.Mine has just been shipped, I'll open it and put photos in this thread when it arrives.There are photos of the Beiming 82537 here :http://sigrok.org/wiki/Beiming_S82357Along with a USB information dump :http://sigrok.org/wiki/Beiming_S82357/InfoIn particular, Beiming is specified as manufacturer and Agilent as vendor.I suspect Beiming is the actual OEM of Agilent 82537.

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 01:55:32 pm
content: I also got a counter offer at 110.still a bit pricey for me. but if you need this, it sounds legit.

author: Ryano
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 07:58:50 pm
content: Is there any advantage to get one of these new in the box with CD and manual vs used without for about half the price?

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 08:03:31 pm
content: 100 USD is indeed expensive!A GPIB-USB adaptor is not rocket science at all.You can probably build one yourself at a fraction of the cost using the links belowwww.1000bit.it/support/manuali/download.asp?id=882ftp://ftp.zimmers.net/pub/cbm/documents/projects/ieee-488/index.htmlhttp://6502.org/users/andre/cbmhw/ieee488/index.html

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 08:05:53 pm
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on August 06, 2015, 08:03:31 pmMy time to build such a device is worth so much more than $100. Maybe as a learning experience-but most people don't get their jollies by building interface hardware like this. Would much rather build something more interesting.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 09:47:54 pm
content: Or you could buy a new one from Keysight for $553.http://www.keysight.com/en/pd-851808-pn-82357B/usb-gpib-interface-high-speed-usb-20I wonder if this glut of ebay units is related to the Agilent - Keysight split. Maybe there was a warehouse full of excess inventory Agilent labeled units (with Agilent logo molded into the case), and Keysight decided they didn't want to deal with them, so someone is dumping them?

author: lukier
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 10:27:13 pm
content: I believe these adapters (genuine, fake or Beiming) are just NAT9914, CY7C68013A, GPIB drivers (75160, 75162) and small I2C EEPROM that holds Agilent's USB VID/PID. Firmware for the EZ-USB is uploaded by the PC.Not really rocket science, just slightly more complex than FT2232 based JTAG and $100 is still a bit much (at least for me). Agilent's price is just bonkers.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:09:03 pm
content: I just opened up a genuine 82357B and had a look.It contains:Agilent 1822-0639 GPIB controller, MPN 14063-501 from AMIS semiconductor (now ON Semiconductor)Cypress CY7C68013A-128AXC USB controllerATMEL 24C08A 8K serial EEPROM

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:23:34 pm
content: 5-10 USD in BOM parts versus 553 USD for a new unit from Keysight.Go figure!

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:25:27 pm
content: Quote from: rfeecs on August 06, 2015, 11:09:03 pmCrappy cellphone picture attached.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:28:22 pm
content: I will open my eBay-special unit after work tonight and post similar pictures. Perhaps then we can decide once and for all if they are genuine or impeccable counterfeits.

author: ywara
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:41:55 pm
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on August 06, 2015, 11:23:34 pmThese things have never been and will never be worth $553. I have had a many of these fail in fixed installations unexpectedly on legacy systems I am responsible for. Occasionally the failure can be traced to bad contact on the internal USB connector and can be fixed with acetone and sandpaper, but usually they start failing on startup for no discernible reason. I will likely continue using them for compatibility, but any new systems I am responsible for will use something far cheaper and more reliable.Prologix offers a comparable (not drop-in, unfortunately) replacement for $150. These are, in my experience, far more reliable. $553 for a USB interface to an archaic, low-speed bus is bordering on insanity.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:59:55 pm
content: How about National Instruments GPIB-PCI for $597?http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/203786It is basically just one ASIC (Which they also sell, for unit price of about $30):

author: lukier
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 12:41:12 am
content: Here you have a schematic for a clone:http://www.mikrocontroller.net/topic/276715#2910910I think the difference is that NAT9914 clock is generated from CY7C68013A.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 01:33:58 am
content: Quote from: dadler on August 06, 2015, 11:28:22 pmMaybe it's empty inside, or maybe filled with bubble foam, or even Chinese sand

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2015, 08:53:54 am
content: Ordered one a week ago, arrived today! Free shipping with DHL Express, they must make good money on these

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2015, 12:41:20 pm
content: Mine also arrived today via DHL Express. I took a lot of photos while unboxing it, stickers and everything, and it did come in what appears to be a sealed Agilent box. If this isn't the real thing, then somebody went to a *lot* of trouble to make it look like it is.Haven't tested it yet, nor cracked it open. Not sure I will open it, unless there is a good reason to do so. But I do have photos of the packaging paraphernalia if we need them.

author: Le_Bassiste
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2015, 03:53:17 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 05, 2015, 03:07:32 pmmine arrived through DHL, just one week after placing the order for two of these. excellent stuff, seems to be unused and original Agilent. Driver CD with lots of circular scratches, perfectly readable though. works like a charm on my PM6304 w/ GPIB.Be aware of hilarious German customs "adder" of almost 29%, including 12 EUR as "Kapitalbereitstellungsprovision". holy cow, angela!

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 10, 2015, 07:13:32 pm
content: Ah I totally forgot to break my open and post pictures. Got distracted with life.I'll try to do so ASAP.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2015, 09:59:13 pm
content: Just received mine from herehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/201392178689.Packaging and everything looks OK. I plugged it in and looks OK, but didn't do any real testing. Opening it up, it looks terrible on the inside. Looks dirty, flux everywhere, parts look hand soldered. Some are mis-aligned. The three main parts all have the authentic part numbers. The Cypress part looks like it was replaced and hand soldered.Seems like something fishy is going on.Well, I'll do more testing. If it works functionally, I'm satisfied with the price at least.

author: skennedy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2015, 10:14:52 pm
content: I ordered one too to see what they were like. It certainly looks like the real deal and a lot cheaper than almost any real alternative. Compatibility seems to be the name of the game for these GPIB controllers.I bought a Beiming clone earlier in the year and was a little shocked how rough the soldering is but seems to work just fine. Interestingly the Beiming website seems to have disappeared. Maybe they have found a skip full of agilent molds. I'm pretty sure they shipped DHL too.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 12:11:50 am
content: Did a little more testing. Still seems to work OK.You can look up your serial number here:https://service.keysight.com/infoline/public/details.aspx?i=COV&pn=&sn=&lc=&cc=Mine says it was first shipped in 12/8/2009. Warranty expired in 12/8/2010.Looks like the Cypress chip has a date code of 2013, so that doesn't add up for a "new in box" unit with "2 year manufacturer's warranty".A few other differences from the genuine unit: The genuine one has a metallic coating on the inside surface of the case. The eBay unit is plain plastic. Genuine unit has a torx screw holding on the cover, eBay unit is a Phillips screw. Both PC boards say "rev 2" but they are clearly different quality.This is looking more and more like a straight up counterfeit.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 02:23:42 am
content: So I disassembled mine, and yeah I think you are right. Something is up with these.From the exterior you'd not know they were off, but on the inside they don't look so hot.Seems there is hand-soldering etc on the board.I'm not sure if they are entirely counterfeit (probably?) or throw-aways that someone hand-finished?I don't even know if the ICs are real, although they have real-looking etching on them (don't the fake ones all)?I'm going to go ahead and say you probably should *not* buy one of these--although mine works fine and the Agilent software communicates with it properly.Color me extremely surprised that someone would go to the effort to try to fake these (if that is the case, which it seems to be), considering they are really a niche product and GPIB is sorta dying.Pictures:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nft0i1dppaobxpj/AADwdl_0facGw83OkM8QZfWfa?dl=0Apologies if anyone bought one of these because of my "testimonial". I truly thought what up I bought was authentic. I guess you can't trust anything you read on the Internet, especially if I posted it.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 06:38:39 am
content: Is the Agilent 82357B GPIB-USB adaptor compatible with IO connectors labeled HP-IB, or just with connectors labeled GPIB?Are you using these primarily to read data from your test equipment into your computer, or to control the test equipment from your computer? What are your favorite uses for the 82357B (or similar interfaces)?Which gear do you tend to use the most with the GPIB (oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, signal/waveform generator, power meter, other)?Thanks

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 07:25:28 am
content: Any chance these are defective returns that someone got a hold of, is repairing and "refurbishing"?

author: Mr Simpleton
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 08:01:59 am
content: Got one for $110, to compliment my genuine 82357B... Once I do get the box I will compare the two

author: anotherlin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 11:42:03 am
content: Ouch !Mine is waiting for me to pick it up at the post office.I'll open it when I get it.

author: knotlogic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 02:46:25 pm
content: Quote from: TheSteve on August 11, 2015, 07:25:28 amYes. From the description of the insides, maybe what happened is someone got hold of a bunch of parts that were either overruns, returns or failed testing, likely been sitting around for a while, and clobbed them together to produce a run of working units. It's possible that the serial numbers are produced from a legit source too, just that Agilent/Keysight may not know they weren't used on an official production run.Here's a thought, are you all getting *different* serial numbers on your parts?Years ago, I of stuff like this happening in the semicon field. Chips that failed testing are sent off to be destroyed, but never get there.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 06:30:59 pm
content: Looks like the serial numbers are different but close to each other. Agilent Connection Expert software reports the serial number on the label.Mine looks like pretty much all hand assembled. Also looks like the case is a copy and the PC board is a copy.The fake unit has no EMI shielding. The real unit has metallic paint on the inside and the cable has a metal clip to contact the case.Some pictures of the genuine unit:https://flic.kr/s/aHski6wCprPictures of the eBay unit:https://flic.kr/s/aHskexv9Dc

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 06:42:09 pm
content: The serial numbers are different and sequential, probably faked from an ascending series (of real devices) from 2009.Mine shows a 2009 "warranty" start date.I thought these were "grey market" as opposed to counterfeit, but they do seem to be some sort of counterfeit.I can't tell if mine is entirely hand assembled or not. Some of the soldering does look reflow-soldered, other parts are clearly by hand (done poorly, with little spiky pieces of solder). There is also flux in many places, but not everywhere--which I would expect if it was entirely hand soldered. Just guessing here.I don't know if the PCB is real or fake, although it seems good quality to me. I think it's a 4 layer board. Is the layout identical to the real thing? Maybe someone that worked in the real assembly plant stole a bunch of engineering data and decided to clone these things. Cloning them from scratch seems to be a big effort.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 07:25:32 pm
content: Quote from: rfeecs on August 11, 2015, 06:30:59 pmRegarding the "pictures of the eBay unit"... can you please post the link to the particular eBay item you are referring to? Thanks

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 08:47:18 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on August 11, 2015, 07:25:32 pmThis was the eBay item:http://www.ebay.com/itm/201392178689For the PC board, attached is a picture for comparison, genuine unit is on top, eBay is on bottom.Definitely have a different font and different silk screen. I don't know if the layout is exactly the same. The eBay unit has many more reference designators on the silk screen.It does seem bizarre that someone would make a knock-off. There are a couple programmable devices they would have to copy as well.Anyway, I bought this unit for work. It seems to be working fine so far, so I'll pretend it is the real thing and see how it goes.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 09:04:27 pm
content: Staring at the pictures, I notice that the PC board artwork is not exactly the same. There are lots of small differences. Traces are different widths and slightly different placements, and some pads are different sizes.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 09:16:10 pm
content: Yeah I'm seeing the same differences. But the general layout does look very close. Really seems that the layout leaked, or the Chinese have some impressive layout-reverse-engineering skills. Probably the latter.I guess I continue to be impressed that people put such effort into cloning products, when they could be doing legitimate work and building legitimate things. I would feel guilty, but I guess some people can turn that off.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2015, 09:41:13 pm
content: Notice the genuine board has "Agilent" in its proper font, while the knock-off just used whatever was loaded into the PCB design(copying?) program.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 03:37:27 am
content: dadler and macboy - does this look like the item you guys purchased? (Same seller you purchased from?)http://www.ebay.com/itm/261397671097?_trksid=p2060353.m2763.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITGiven all the back and forth on these, anyone want to post a link to one that you are still confident is genuine?

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 03:57:36 am
content: Today, I received the one I had ordered, from eBay as being "Item condition: New" from seller nettcy168Mine too is being reported as being out of warranty since 12/8/2010 on the Agilent website.The first seven digits of the serial number seem to be the same as everybody else (MY49450...).Is there a rule on eBay that prohibit selling counterfeit equipment?

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 03:58:19 am
content: Same seller I purchased from. It works fine. Despite my initial impressions, after opening the device it seems it is a counterfeit or a hand-fixed throwaway. Quality seems good but the soldering is poor in places.For the price, not a terrible deal--I may have haggled with the seller if I knew it was fake. I notice now that they sell deliberate "clones" in black enclosures, which are probably the exact same boards in a different housing. Would probably go for one of those. I don't think I could convince myself to pay >$500 for a "real" one in any case.So I don't know, I'm not thrilled I was duped. I found references on the time-nuts mailing list originally that claimed these units were authentic surplus Agilent products. I searched eBay for the most reputable-seeming seller and took the risk. Exterior-wise, my unit looks very, very convincing. The plastic housing feels high-quality, the cabling is high quality, the cable strap around the cable is high quality. Came in very convincing packaging. The GPIB screw anchors look exactly like those on my authentic, Agilent-purchased GPIB cables (hard to describe, the sort of stippling on the metal surface).Only after opening the case did I realize something was up. That the warranty was "expired" didn't alarm me, as I was under the impression these were old units anyways.So I don't know. My ego is hurt more than anything, as the device still works fine. I mainly feel bad that I said the item was genuine, when clearly I was not the best judge of that fact. I have edited my original post, so others aren't misled by my naïveté.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 04:04:51 am
content: Quote from: dadler on August 12, 2015, 03:58:19 amThis is calledKurnls;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knurling

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 04:43:07 am
content: Yeah, that's what I meant. My brain clearly had those two concepts organized near each other.

author: philpem
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 06:26:09 pm
content: Well damn... I've just put in an offer in on this one:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261397671097?_trksid=p2060353.m2763.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITWish I'd seen the comments about them being knock-offs first..."If it seems too good to be true..."

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 08:20:55 pm
content: Haven't opened mine yet, nor tested it. But I am quite impressed by the handiwork of the people involved if this is not the real thing. The packaging certainly seemed spot on.Aaanyway, I am not too concerned given the price, and the fact that I wouldn't have bought a genuine one at full retail anyway. At least not right now...

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 08:46:36 pm
content: If you think about what can be made in china for a low price it kind of makes this product ideal to ripoff. The normal retail price is insane so investing decent money into a fake still means they are making a huge profit when selling them for 100 bucks.I offered one of the ebay sellers 40 dollars shipped for one - which is probably still more then they should be selling for. I encourage others to do the same.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 09:49:58 pm
content: And what if this is something like a 'first test batch'. It might have been this was never intended to be sold. It might have been produced for testing and validation purposes of high volume mfg process of the definitive design. Or to be reviewed by some beta-testers before a go for production is provided.Ok there are differences, and the most remarkable is that the Agilent name is not written in their specific font. but on the other hand so many components look exactly the same on both boards.It might make sense to copy this interface as a lot of us are looking for this thing, it however does not make sense to copy it with so much attention to really small details and then making errors such as not putting conductive paint within the case.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 10:42:29 pm
content: In the name of science, I just submitted a semi-low best offer on the deliberate clone version:http://www.ebay.com/itm/82357B-GPIB-USB-Interface-Compatible-AGILENT-82357B-new-version-/251692772284If my offer is accepted, I'll post pictures of the internals of both units side-by-side.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 10:44:46 pm
content: Quote from: Swake on August 12, 2015, 09:49:58 pmThe genuine unit was made in 2007. The eBay unit has chip date codes of 2013. So it couldn't be a prototype.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2015, 11:52:43 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on August 12, 2015, 10:42:29 pmOffer accepted... hehe. I'll post pictures when I receive the overt clone.

author: philpem
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 12:07:48 am
content: Quote from: edavid on August 12, 2015, 07:45:46 pmThey've just sent me a counter-offer of $110, same as they've done for other people here. I've got the option of accepting, rejecting, or sending another counter-offer back.What's making me curious is where they're getting the Agilent custom GPIB controller chips... surely there aren't that many broken 82537Bs kicking around with working chips they can salvage?

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 12:16:22 am
content: They accepted $51 for the explicit clone.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 12:36:58 am
content: Quote from: philpem on August 13, 2015, 12:07:48 amIt seems to be readily available:http://www.digchip.com/datasheets/quote.php?action=search&pn=1822-0639I think it was used in other Agilent equipment as well.

author: radioFlash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 02:20:07 am
content: Here are photos of my ebay 82357B. Differences compared to the "genuine" photos posted by rfeecs:* PCB doesn't have "Agilent" anywhere on it* The oscillator by the Cypress IC is a cheap ass oscillator that would be at home in a $2 watch* There are no stickers on the ICs on the bottom of the PCB* The interior of the case isn't metallized

author: radioFlash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 02:21:23 am
content: ...and the interior of the case

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 02:35:40 am
content: Which seller did you buy from?At least the soldering on yours isn't that bad.

author: radioFlash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 02:44:40 am
content: I got it from the seller ann201221.Here's one of their current listings:http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Agilent-82357B-USB-GPIB-Interface-High-Speed-USB-2-0-/271684776057?hash=item3f41acb079

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 02:47:28 am
content: Interesting, so there are several versions of these things floating around. How bizarre.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 12:45:22 pm
content: Did someone try it with Labview or some other lab software? was everything ok and functional?

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 02:17:27 pm
content: I'm surprised that they are still selling fake product and nobody from Agilent/Keysight wants to stop them.

author: Le_Bassiste
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 03:34:01 pm
content: Quote from: Swake on August 13, 2015, 12:45:22 pmdid modify an example excel VBA project from the accompanying driver disc (which contains Agilent IO libraries Suite V. 15.5.) to control a PM6304.so far, everything works as advertised. in the light of the price, i'm ok with what i got, although soldering job is craptastic and definitely cries "refurbished!". won't buy from that seller again, though.

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 04:29:09 pm
content: I have a National Instruments GPIB-USB-HS, so just for fun I opened it up and took some pictures:https://flic.kr/s/aHskeCrnbVA bit denser design than the Agilent. All the components are on one side of the board. This unit is about ten years old. Uses NI's TNT5004 ASIC.These things are all over eBay from China as well:http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-In-Box-National-Instrumens-GPIB-USB-HS-Interface-Adapter-Controller-IEEE-488-/141405356185

author: SoundTech-LG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 12:15:13 am
content: Probably well worth the additional cost. National is the leader in GPIB, and I'm hearing from many engineers at work the operation/firmware/software is far superior, and more compatible across the wealth of instruments out there.

author: Sbampato12
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 12:07:04 pm
content: Quote from: SoundTech-LG on August 14, 2015, 12:15:13 amI have a GPIB-PCI boar from national. They support to any other option beyond labview is very poor. I've managed to get a really old driver to work with Delphi/C++ in a undocumented way (that should only work with Win98 and below, or something like that).At least, when I've searched for support or help material this was what I found. Based in this experience I would prefer non-NI options.I expect that HP/Agilent/Key... has a better support for non labview options.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 03:27:03 pm
content: I'm using several years NI GPIB HS and I did not find any incompatibility issue. Eg. Keithley use the NI HS OEM version I suppose as KUSB-488B.http://www.keithley.com/products/accessories/ieee/usb/?mn=KUSB-488B.Another alternative can be GPIB gateways, it is more universal with similar pricing as GPIB adapter ( used).

author: rfeecs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 04:45:40 pm
content: I've also used NI since the DOS 3.3 days through to Windows 7 using BASIC, C, C++ and .NET, not LabView. Used it with both Microsoft and Borland compilers. Never found a lack of support.The Agilent and NI USB products are pretty compatible. I can literally unplug one and plug in the other with no changes to the software.HP created HPIB (Before they changed to Agilent, Keysight...). NI brought GPIB to the PDP-11 and IBM PC and just about everything else.Anyway, I suspect those NI GPIB-USB-HS's from China are just as fake as the Agilent ones.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 08:24:39 pm
content: I think so. e.g.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Used-National-Instrumens-NI-GPIB-USB-HS-Interface-Adapter-controller-IEEE-488-/221472994812?hash=item3390d1b5fcdoes have different screws ( similar to Agilent GPIB adapters).But other where seller has huge quantities marked as used does not looks genuine as wellhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-National-Instruments-NI-GPIB-USB-HS-High-Performance-GPIB-Controller-/161776750165?hash=item25aaa54e55Screws on this listing look like on genuine NI product.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 16, 2015, 10:06:46 pm
content: I ordered one from this seller:http://www.ebay.com/itm/261397671097$115 for me.After all the speculation, of course I couldn't keep the lid on.Like the others, mine had a lot of excess flux on the board, but ONLY on the Agilent 1822-0639 GPIB controller, the Cypress CY7C68013A-128AXC USB controller, the Xilinx XC9536XL CPLD, and a 5-pin SOT labeled "LTKS" that appears to be part of a switching power supply. These were all clearly hand soldered, and the way the pads look I believe they are replacements.All the other components appear to have been machine placed with good alignment and the board was properly reflowed and cleaned. There was a small amount of flux on the GPIB connector pins, but not nearly as much as the chips above. It seems likely the connector was originally hand soldered after reflow.My box was unsealed, but the serial number on the box matched that on the unit. Mine also came with a CD and manual, both in pristine condition.My guess is that these adapters were either repaired or re-manufactured by Agilent (or possibly someone else) to correct a defect.The adapter works ok under linux-gpib, but the driver is reporting occasional errors accessing registers on the adapter. I'm not sure yet if the adapter is at fault or if it's the driver.So, I don't think they're counterfeit, but it's surely stretching ebay's definition of "New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging." There's no question these units have an unsavory history.And if they are counterfeit, it's a pretty good one. Someone went to an awful lot of trouble.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2015, 10:51:51 pm
content: My attempts at getting the 3 lowest price sellers to counteroffer led to one bowing out and the other two ending up at $80 including delivery. Now I don't need one of these as I am happy with USB-TMC and RS232 at the moment, but I am sure I will pick up some gear in the future that requires GPIB. If the non-fake but still a copy device is going for $51 (+ $10 P&P) then that seems the better deal to me.I really do not want to reward counterfeiters with any premium. Blatant copiers I'm ok with. There is a difference. Also the likes of Agilent & NI need shooting for their absurd prices.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 01:34:36 am
content: Quote from: MarkL on August 16, 2015, 10:06:46 pmSo, I bought mine from this same seller. Mine was boxed and sealed in the box with "Agilent Technologies" paper tape.I truly thought it was real, grey-market, yadda yadda. Now I truly think it's entirely counterfeit. I still don't know why someone would go to such effort to clone these things, as I can't imagine the market for these devices is that large. GPIB is a pretty niche interface, at least for the general public that buys stuff on eBay. Real companies, that depend on their tools, would never source test equipment like this on eBay.Parts of my board are certainly hand-soldered, and there is a lot of flux on the tops of the various ICs. However, some of the soldering may be reflow-soldered--hard to tell. Some of the SMT caps and resistors look to have been hand reflowed, perhaps to fix faults.In comparison to "real" devices posted by others, the facets that concern me are:- These suspect devices have ICs with date codes years after the "warranty" date associated with the serial number on the device/packaging.- Serial numbers all seem to be from a short sequence of "real" devices from 2009. I don't even know how many unique serial numbers are being assigned, could only be 10 different ones as far as I know.- PCB quality, differences in font in the word "Agilent, some of the pcbs missing the "Agilent" branding altogether, PCBs have lots of component designations (e.g. R5) that are not found in authentic versions- When I tried to pierce the serial number label to get to the screw underneath, the ink/pigment smeared. Hard to describe, but not confidence inspiring.- Phillips head screw holding case together- No shielding on the inside of the case- Many of the SMT passives are misaligned- Re-evaluating the software/driver disc that came with the unit, I realized the printing is out of focus/blurry. The quality of the disc does not match other Agilent discs that I have.- The "Agilent Technologies" box that the unit came in, was imperfectly "stamped" with the text "Agilent Technologies". It's sort of double-printed. For contrast, I have a truly authentic DSOXLAN box here (Purchased from Newark), and the text on the cardboard is impeccable--very sharp. Not the case with the packaging of the eBay 82357B.When I first got the unit, I tested it and it worked perfectly. From the exterior, it looks good. Even the packaging looked good to me, until this thread made me question my initial conclusions. Looking back, I see all sorts of indicators this is an outright fake.I have purchased one of the "deliberate" clones from the same seller, and will tear it down when it arrives.Here are inline photos of the interior of my eBay 82357B:

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 01:40:51 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on August 16, 2015, 10:51:51 pmI actually got them to accept $51, postage included (DHL Shenzhen->USA)

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 11:41:59 am
content: I've just opened my unit up. Excess flux around the agilent chip, the cypress chip and the xilinx chip too. Everything else looks squeaky clean. It is a heck of a lot of effort to go to for a item like this. I will fire up the old workshop computer (The only windows PC I have) and give it a quick whirl to see if it works or not.

author: schopi68
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 12:15:00 pm
content: Companies like Agilent have a extreme high respect to their Logo and proper printing of it in the right colors, sizes and fonts.On several of the pictures show here i can see that the Alignment of the blue Agilent Star in respect to the A does not fit. Its right line does not point to the middle of the A in the word Agilent.Furthermore if you compare the Agilent on the PCBs you'll see that the counterfeit-parts are not using the correct font. I would not expect Agilent to produce something with a wrong logo on it, so it must be counterfeit.Where i am not sure is the Agilent logo printed on some of the chips in the pictures shown here. It looks like the letter spacing may be wrong on some of the pictures.

author: guido
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 10:49:45 pm
content: I have a fake 82357B, which doesn't try to hide; just a square gold box with a sticker saying 82357B GPIB-USB controller. I tried to get it to run with the applications i'm using (EZGPIB, Timelabs) but ran into problems. No idea if it was due to the adapter or the HP suite (or the combination). Now using a prologix.The inside of the box is not that interesting; all of the chips and even other components are hidden under black epoxy. Nothing to see. But the soldering job is pretty good compared to what i see here.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 06:36:44 am
content: I bought a few of these over the last few years and never had any problems with them and never suspected anything wrong, even when the price was low.But now I am tempted to open all my units.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 08:26:34 am
content: As promised, here are pictures of the Clone unit I purchased for $51 shipped @http://www.ebay.com/itm/82357B-GPIB-USB-Interface-Compatible-AGILENT-82357B-new-version-/251692772284I actually think this one is higher quality than the faux-"Agilent" version that I paid ~$130 for. The circuitry is clearly different, though. Seems to work fine in BenchVue. For the price, I think this is a pretty good deal. I've only played with it for about 30 minutes, but seems ok so far.I really am surprised that they can blatantly sell products with the "Agilent" name plastered all over them, and not get hassled by Agilent/Keysight?A few more pictures:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kse4k3pw103qaq9/AACxiQPkh3lCRIQAjZYc2R6Ha?dl=0

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 09:07:12 am
content: Dadler, does it have its own USB device driver or will the official ones work? Is it signed to work in Windows 10?

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 10:07:26 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on August 19, 2015, 09:07:12 amThe real Agilent drivers detected the device under Windows 7. I haven't installed the software/drivers that came with either device, I am using the Agilent drivers.I don't have Windows 10 installed yet, so I cannot speak to that.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 02:59:16 pm
content: Bah! I triedbut it didn't workBest I could get him down to was $65 + $10 P&PI don't know how you do it dadler, $51 all in? you silver tongued bastard!Now if I actually needed one of these...

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 04:39:47 pm
content: The assembly looks to be nicer then the more official looking clones, quite possibly a fair deal at the price you paid.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 05:07:43 pm
content: I am in the USA and had purchased from him before. I also have a relatively high number of feedback on eBay, and my eBay account was opened in 1999.My initial offer was $51, and he accepted almost immediately. My wife uses a similar trick when negotiating insurance settlements, that random-looking dollar amounts must have a reason. People are more likely to accept an insurance settlement of $497, rather than $500. $500 invites additional negotiation because it seems arbitrary. I tried a similar approach, maybe it helped, maybe not. I probably just caught the guy in a good mood?

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 05:17:36 pm
content: Some of those clones doesn't work with linux-gpib (I know the "gold one" has problems)They won't activate when loading the "usb firmware" under linux.The Agilent "clone" i have (agilent plastic house) , works fine under linux , and so does the Beiming/Bingo

author: hs3
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 09:02:35 pm
content: I also got one for $51 shipped. I offered $51 and it was accepted quickly. It should have cleared local customs now so should be getting it this week.

author: hs3
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 09:28:02 pm
content: Who wants to start making clones of the clonesMain parts:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/FREE-SHIPPING-NAT9914-BPL-NAT9914BPL-NAT9914-PLCC-IC-10PCS-LOT/2033018304.htmlhttp://www.aliexpress.com/item/CY7C68013A-100AXC-TQFP100-Original-authentic-and-new-Free-Shipping-IC/2039269349.htmlhttp://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping10pcs-DS75162AWM/32401705022.htmlhttp://www.aliexpress.com/item/DS75160AWM/762712698.htmlJust some random links so should be available cheaper too.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 10:00:01 pm
content: Quote from: hs3 on August 19, 2015, 09:28:02 pmKickstarter! Someone get a PCB design sorted, get them fabbed and all the bits in, and sort them and flog them as kits! I reckon I could solder one up better than some of the atrocious examples here.

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 10:03:23 pm
content: How well do these work with older hardware. My newest is a 34401A, oldest GenRad1658. With a hp 3456 and 5335 sprinkled in. Running windows.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 11:45:44 am
content: Purchased 82357B GPIB USB Interface-Compatible with AGILENT 82357B new version, we will see how it will works compared to NI USB HS.82357B GPIB USB Interface-Compatible with AGILENT 82357B new versionSeller accepted 51 USD.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 12:04:17 pm
content: Maybe it didn't work for me because I offered $41 as it adds on the $10 P&P. Then the back and forth started and he wouldn't budge. Are people offering $51 and not mentioning the P&P ?

author: plazma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 12:07:14 pm
content: I also bought for 51$. Including free shipping.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 12:11:32 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on August 21, 2015, 12:04:17 pmI offered 45USD and after 60 USD counteroffer seller accepted 51 USD.

author: SrS
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 12:37:43 pm
content: Quote from: plazma on August 21, 2015, 12:07:14 pmSame here, the seller must be wondering why everyone is offering $51

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 12:56:05 pm
content: I'm curious how long it will take them to clone Prologix GPIB adapter.http://sigrok.org/wiki/File:Prologix-usb.jpg

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 12:58:45 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on August 12, 2015, 03:37:27 amThat is the seller that I purchased from for roughly $120 (incl shipping) around two years ago.After seeing the photos of the genuine one, I can now confirm that mine is a fake. It is a very good fake, and a very functional one, but fake nonetheless. My PCB does not look exactly like any posted here; the word "Agilent" appears on mine but in a font that is not exactly true to the Agilent logo but close (maybe just standard Arial, etc.). The case is not internally metalized. I'll grab a photo or two later. I still have the box for some reason, and now that I look at it with a critical eye, it looks fake. The word Agilent is not using Agilent's font anywhere on there... not on the front of the box, not on the serial number sticker, not on the sealing tape. A real Agilent product would have consistent use of the logo/branding I believe.One of the things that originally had convinced me it was real was the use of the Agilent branded IC, plus the superficially quite convincing 'factory sealed' package. It appears that Agilent sells that IC as a kind of general purpose GPIB bus controller, making the fakes possible. I wonder why nobody ever faked a $500 NI PCI card using that card's controller IC that was available for $20 or so?

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 01:03:52 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on August 21, 2015, 12:56:05 pmWhy would anyone want to do that? It doesn't use proper GPIB bus transceivers, and it doesn't have VISA or GPIB32.dll support... it is (was) a toy for hobbyists. The 82357B clones and compatibles are affordable and available, and are so much more useful that there would be no point. Even hobbyists should opt for the 82357-alikes.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 01:19:08 pm
content: Quote from: SrS on August 21, 2015, 12:37:43 pmBut the seller isn't offering free shipping. It's $10. So if you offer $51 it costs you $61.I can't even offer any more as I used my allowance up and ebay will only let me pay full price nowAh, I just changed my country from UK to USA, and the shipping is free. Tried a load of other countries too, and it's free for everyone except the English and the Germans. I guess the seller hates anglo-saxons.Oh, he hates the Ozzie's too. But not the Austrians which is odd considering he doesn't like krauts and limeys. Those dutchies, frogs, and paddys that surround me all get free post too. Very odd.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 01:24:21 pm
content: For me free shipping to EU. Just needs to ask for new total. Shipped by DHL.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2015, 11:18:50 pm
content: I bought a supposedly brand new unopened Agilent 82357B fromnettcy168on eBay. nettcy168 is located in China.http://www.ebay.com/itm/261397671097I had offered $118.The serial number is MY49450765 and the date on the box is 20141016 (which is September 10, 2014).But according the the Keysight website (thank yourfeecsfor providing the link in post #49), this serial number date back from 2009.I contacted nettcy168 through eBay. I explained to him that the item I received wascounterfeit.nettcy168 wanted me to return the counterfeit 82357B to an address in United States (he did not offer to pay for the return) and he claimed he would reimburse me once I would provide him the tracking number.I pointed to nettcy168 the eBay rule against selling counterfeit item and the fact that eBay does not require to return a counterfeit item (it would make no sense to return a counterfeit item anyway).One hour later nettcy168 refunded me.Counterfeiting is illegal. Everybody who bought a counterfeit Agilent 82357B on eBay should open a claim to be fully reimbursed.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2015, 07:52:02 am
content: Quote from: SkyMaster on August 21, 2015, 11:18:50 pmWell, this kind of proofs, that the seller knew that he is selling a counterfeit item.It is still hard to believe, that someone would go through all the trouble and counterfeiting such an item.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2015, 01:02:59 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on August 22, 2015, 07:52:02 amI was initially surprised as well.But E V E R Y T H I N G is manufactured in China now. This where WE moved our manufacturing. There is 1.3 billion people in China; their market is huge. It seems that if there is a market for something; there is a profit to be made by counterfeiting it.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2015, 08:01:09 pm
content: Not helped by the absurd margins Agilent & NI expect on their gear. If it was manufactured in the USA then fair enough, but the corporate scum want to sack all their western staff, pay peanuts to china, then sell it back to us for even more than they used to charge because Danaher, buying out competition, monopolisation, etc...What the MBA dickwads don't understand is when you give your crown jewels to any Tom, Dick or Harry in China, India, etc... don't expect to hold on to them for long.

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2015, 08:15:31 pm
content: I sure hope China start 'producing' their own MBAs that push our homegrown MBAs out of a job. Might be enlightening for those buggers to go and collect food stamps.Blergh

author: Noise Floor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2015, 09:17:14 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on August 22, 2015, 08:01:09 pmIs the official adapter made in China? I don't own one. All my Agilent gear was made in Malaysia. I'm looking at a used E3600 but will require an adapter to control it; wondering which to get.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2015, 09:55:01 pm
content: Quote from: Noise Floor on August 22, 2015, 09:17:14 pmBy all accounts go for the$85, $51 compatible one. It works with the official drivers, has proper buffers (unlike Prologix), and looks better built than the fakes too.I would have one and I don't have any need for it. But the seller is an idiot if you are English.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2015, 10:09:13 pm
content: Quote from: macboy on August 21, 2015, 01:03:52 pmPrologix clone? Who knows...http://www.ebay.com/itm/PROLOGIX-GPIB-USB-CONTROLLER-/252054027293?hash=item3aaf973c1dSame seller.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 27, 2015, 02:49:43 pm
content: Similar to SkyMaster in post #121, I also purchased a (purported) Agilent 82357B from nettcy168 on eBay for $115:http://www.ebay.com/itm/261397671097At first I suspected a possible driver problem, but I eventually discovered that it wouldn't even _start_ enumerating on USB most of the time. And when it did decide to run, it would crash within an hour or two of use and need to have the firmware reloaded.I returned mine for a refund on a "defective" basis, and received a refund for it and the shipping. nettcy168 initially wanted to send me a replacement to preserve the sale. No thanks.I returned it to a US address in Delaware, which was odd since it was shipped from Hong Kong.Also, like SkyMaster, according to Keysight's web page the serial number on the unit and box showed a manufacture date of Nov 28 2009, but the box had a printed date of Oct 16, 2014.What a waste of time. Beware.

author: plazma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2015, 03:17:15 pm
content: Received my 51$ unit today. DHL delivered it to my work address. I opened it and soldering quality is just fine. Will test functionality tomorrow. I'll replace a qenuine one with the clone and see if it work.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2015, 03:30:18 pm
content: Today received thehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/82357B-GPIB-USB-Interface-Compatible-with-AGILENT-82357B-new-version-/251692772284?hash=item3a9a0eebbcfirst several connection - not possible to obtain identificators. After about 10 connecting and disconnecting cycles start working.I will run some overnigh test, but it looks like that something is wrong with this modules.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 27, 2015, 04:26:33 pm
content: Are you sure the USB connector is seated fully? I had similar trouble until I realized the USB connector wasn't making good contact and had to really force it in. Then it worked for a couple of hours without issue (the extent of my testing).

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 27, 2015, 08:37:33 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on August 27, 2015, 04:26:33 pmI suspected a mechanical problem too and did some wiggling and bending of the connectors on both sides, but I couldn't find any correlation. However, I agree that it still doesn't rule out a mechanical issue.When plugged into a single piece of test equipment, there was a 0% success rate of it coming up, regardless of whether the test equipment was powered on or not. Completely unplugged on the GPIB side, it took 2 to 3 tries of unplugging and plugging the USB to get through enumeration.But it's returned now, so it doesn't matter. I'm just documenting it for anyone else.In my haste to jump on what I thought was a great deal, I didn't notice it was from China. I would not have ordered it. For the hours I spent trying to get this thing to work and going through the non-standard return process with nettcy168, I could have spent $550 for a new one from Keysight.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2015, 04:29:05 am
content: Quote from: KE5FX on August 07, 2015, 07:17:20 amThe quote is from a different thread but is on topic.Happy to report this thingy works with KE5FX's plotter emulator 7470 program:http://www.ke5fx.com/gpib/7470.htm

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2015, 04:41:59 am
content: Quote from: MarkL on August 27, 2015, 08:37:33 pmSince this adapter is powered from USB, could its firmware possibly was not properly negotiating the power with the computer, or consuming over 500mA so the computer could not do it.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2015, 04:47:18 am
content: Quote from: dadler on August 19, 2015, 08:26:34 amDadler, your last photo shows the interface connected to your test equipment with a cable but presumably the interface could plug directly into the test equipment without the cable? And it should work with GPIB and "HPIB"? Thanks, EF

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2015, 05:23:22 am
content: Quote from: Bud on August 29, 2015, 04:29:05 amReplaced (I hope) my oldy trusty Do It Yourself workhorse thingy. Men, cant believe I made it.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2015, 03:15:31 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on August 29, 2015, 05:23:22 amYeah, but your "Do It Yourself workhorse thingy" is genuineWhile the counterfeit "Agilent 82357B GPIB-USB adaptor" from eBay is... counterfeit

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2015, 04:02:33 pm
content: I just opened one of my Agilent 82357B to see if it is real of fake.Based on what I have seen in some pictures in this thread, the soldering in my item looks real genuine.What do you think?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2015, 04:25:23 pm
content: Well, I just opened a REAL genuine Agilent 82357BWhat a difference !The one shown in pictures of my previous post are from a FAKE one!It is a difference between night and day between the fake and the real one.But it is only really noticeable, if you have one for comparison.Unreal !Anyone in the market to buy my fake one?It works great!

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 05:10:25 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on August 29, 2015, 04:25:23 pmCould you post similar shots of the genuine one? (to compare)

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 04:21:09 am
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on August 29, 2015, 04:47:18 amIt can plug directly into the unit, I just don't have much clearance behind the PSU.And GPIB/HPIB are equivalent. HPIB is the old name when it was Hewlett-Packard exclusive, rename GPIB "general purpose" vs "HP".

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 04:36:14 am
content: Quote from: SkyMaster on August 29, 2015, 03:15:31 pmSure it is, but it only was good for use with one instrument at a time (did not have proper bus buffers) and the firmware had to be updated for every new instrument. It also was prone to unexplained hang ups during transfer of big chunks of data (i.e. VNA S-parameter files). GPIB signaling is convoluted, I gave up at trying to debug, though it also may had been the Microchip Serial USB framework which was giving the headache.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 09:14:24 am
content: Quote from: TheAmmoniacal on August 30, 2015, 05:10:25 pmSure, here you go....Let's start with the housing.Real: copper colored metal coating inside the shell housing (Conductive < 1 Ohm from end to end)Fake: No metallic coating insideUSB connectorReal: metal shielding around the USB connector on the PCBFake: No shielding at allNotice that the light pipe in the fake one is loose in the housing and the real one holds the light pipes really good in position

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 09:20:38 am
content: And here are a few pictures of the Real PCB(Sorry, no more pictures of the fake one, it was sold because of this thread)

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 09:34:23 am
content: For completeness, I have opened up my National Instrument GPIB-USB-HS and took some pictures.What also sticks out right away, is the fact that the housing is also coated with some metal and at the end where the GPIB connector is located, there is even some metal mesh for further RF shielding.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 09:48:11 am
content: And for even more completeness, I have opened up my old trusted "A" version of the Agilent 82357A (Not 82357B).This "A" version is limited to USB 1.1 speed.And - of course - no surprise here,1. coated plastic housing,2. shielded USB connector,3. extremely high quality soldering on all IC's4. Light pipe fixed in holder5. sharply printed silkscreenIn short: Really good Agilent quality, as expected.Here are some pictures of the

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 09:57:41 am
content: Ok, here is my last set of pictures.There are the molded writings on the outside and the Agilent "spark" (Logo) in the middle.Sorry, I do not have made comparison pictures of the fake one.But it was clearly visible, that the depth of these letters and logo patterns were about half as deep on the fake one.These following pictures are made of the REAL 82357B

author: BloodyCactus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 04:45:23 pm
content: thanks for those pics, I need to find a genuine GPIB-USB-HS off ebay... pricing on those on ebay is fairly set, but paying 200+ without being able to know if its a knockoffugh

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 07:57:53 pm
content: Do not affraid. I expect that ebay will provide you full refund in case you will receive fake. In this thread you can find documentation of almost all fakes.Notice the difference in screws it is first noticeable difference between genuine and fake adapters.

author: t3chiman
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2015, 02:51:28 pm
content: Another data point in the nettcy168 saga: I ordered one, and it was delivered promptly. Upon initial, cursory, examination, it was legitimate. A closer inspection, though, revealed discrepancies when compared with the authentic Agilent part. My request for a refund was approved within minutes. The return process was painless. Paypal shows that the refund was credited without delay.Thanks to EEVblog members for alerting me to the fraud.Some oddities:nettcy168 has a photobucket page showing a vast array of electronic control items. I would be shocked to find that all of them are counterfeits.The return address is to an addressee "huchirong udf-krgiox". Pretty cryptic. But huchirong is a user in github. In fact,huchirong/gpibusb-documentationwas forked 3 years ago fromGalvant/gpibusb-documentation. And Galvant is a perfectly honorable professional (in fact was an active poster on eevblog, asscasagrande), making and selling, of all things, GPIB-USB adapters. Small world, after all.

author: plazma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2015, 03:25:49 pm
content: I tested my 51$ unit. I replaced a genuine one with it. I logged 6 thermopair readings per second for a while. It worked as well as the original one in that setup.Sent from my SM-A500FU using Tapatalk

author: N8AUM
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2015, 07:56:13 am
content: Just purchased th $51 specialAny thoughts about this item ?http://www.ebay.com/itm/UGSimple-USB-to-GPIB-Controller/171631337518?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D32933%26meid%3De549fb8648b14c60850c30a218eb9cb7%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D251692772284

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2015, 10:38:22 am
content: Quote from: N8AUM on September 10, 2015, 07:56:13 amNo idea, but at least it looks genuine aftermarket.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 10, 2015, 11:55:13 am
content: Quote from: rfeecs on August 13, 2015, 12:36:58 amIt's in the 34970A, 34401A, and 8753ES/ET. From the description in the 34401A it's:IC-GPIB Controller IEEE-488 1975/78 01295 TMS9914AFNLIt's a TI part.Interesting that Keysight find-a-part lists it:NFTS IC ASIC HPIB CONTROLLER, KEYSIGHT TRADE RESTRICTED.Item Status: Not orderable, Contact Keysight for repair serviceLooks like it's obsolete...Jay

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 10, 2015, 02:13:05 pm
content: Quote from: N8AUM on September 10, 2015, 07:56:13 amThe seller states:QuoteBoth of these, each on their own, are crippling limitations.The seller says the binary issue will be fixed "soon". Personally, I don't buy future features or promised bug fixes. (Had to learn that lesson several times...)Plus, no idea what kind of GPIB line drivers (if any) you'll find inside.I wouldn't buy this adapter.

author: N8AUM
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2015, 02:52:55 pm
content: Mark, I saw the "future features" part but missed the length of data it can handleTNX 4 the heads up !

author: N8AUM
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 06:08:55 am
content: So far so good with the 82357B GPIB USB Interface-Compatible that cost me $51 DELIVERED in 5 days from China !Had no problems when I hooked up my 53131 but had change the "Agilent 488 properties" in order to use the programs from KE5FX for my old 8591E.I opened it up and was surprised how well it looked, no complaints from meIn my opinion it was well worth the $51

author: neopticus
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2015, 12:03:44 pm
content: I also purchased the "new" version of 82357B from nettcy168:http://www.ebay.com/itm/82357B-GPIB-USB-Interface-Compatible-AGILENT-82357B-new-version-/251692772284It arrived to Finland quite fast (in less than a week) via DHL.It seems to work just fine with BenchVue (detects my instruments, can send and receive commands/data) but I haven't done any fast data retrieval or long-term testing.Dadler already posted some pictures of the tear-down so I won't repeat that here, but I did open it up to check the construction and it seems to be hand-soldered. Few slightly kinked components and few pieces of stray solder on the PCB but nothing weird otherwise. I scraped the extra solder away to make sure they don't get loose later and cause short circuiting, and I suggest you do that too if you buy the same adaptor.Anyway, for 52 USD it wasn't a bad deal. On his eBay page he states that it's "compatible with 82357B" and not authentic device, so I guess there's no complaining that they are not genuine Agilent devices (even though the sticker on the back side states otherwise)

author: Noise Floor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 02:23:17 pm
content: FWIW I ordered one early, appears to work well. Not sure if I'll keep it or scrap it.Thanks to High Voltage for the images of real vs. fake.

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 07:08:48 pm
content: Quote from: N8AUM on September 16, 2015, 06:08:55 amI have been trying one out and my labview program that used the VISA trigger function failed whereas the "Agilent" version from the same seller had been working fine. I changed the trigger method and the program worked again.The instrument is an HP 3456A and it is initialized with T4. A gpib trigger should cause it to take a reading which I then read with the VISA read function. The read times out with this clone adapter. The alternative trigger is to write "T3" to the instrument. In this case, the instrument does take a reading and the VISA read succeeds.The Agilent(Keysight) IO monitor shows the VISA trigger command succeeding and the VISA read command timing out. Given that the Agilent branded adapter does work, it is probably a firmware bug in the adapter.I noted that when the Agilent branded adapter is plugged in, it comes up as vid:pid 0957:0518. The firmware is loaded by the driver and the adapter disconnects/reconnects as 0957:0718 with product string "82357B".When the so called clone is plugged in, it immediately comes up as 0957:0718 and has product string "H82357"... so its firmware is built in.Is it worth the $51? Perhaps if you are writing your programs from scratch. If not, I'd say all bets are off. I will communicate this problem to the ebay seller.I have not managed to make either of these adapters work at all on Windows 10 (cannot find instruments) and just don't ask about mixing Agilent IO libraries with NI Visa...Edit: clone and IO libraries 17 seem to work on 2012 Server R2 - at least it finds an instrument and Keysight Interactive IO can communicate with a 3456A. Interactive IO can't do trigger command so that problem hasn't been tested yet.

author: N8AUM
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 11:52:09 pm
content: orin,Sorry to hear that the "$51 special" isn't working out for you. The seller does allow returns but I wonder how much that would cost ?Do you have any other devices you can hook up and try ?Wish I knew more about this subject but these gizmos weren't around back in the vacuum tube days when I was in school so I am trying to learn LOLGood luck !

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 12:58:56 am
content: Quote from: N8AUM on September 25, 2015, 11:52:09 pmOh, I'm not concerned about returning the device. This problem was easy enough to work around. I will try a different instrument... Mr 5335A, your turn!I did reproduce the problem with a different computer, OS (2012 Server R2) and different 3456A. (The log file from Keysight IO Monitor is attached as a .txt file; it's actually xml if the forum lets it through. It shows the assert trigger succeeding, but the following read failing.)Edit (9/28/15): Message sent to seller on eBay on 9/26) about the trigger problem. No response as yet.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 07:15:44 am
content: Did anyone try the $51 clone with linux-gpib ?I have an "Agilent" (prob a clone) , and 2 Beimings , that both work excellent with linux-gpib.I worked with Beiming, to get their versions to work with linux-gpib.So i know they had to change something in their firmware to make it compatible with the way the "Agilent" behaved under linux-gpib.A non working linux-usb would be a 100% showstopper for me./Bingo

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 08:37:35 pm
content: Quote from: orin on September 26, 2015, 12:58:56 amWell, I never got to trying the 5335A due to the general incompatibilities of the Keysight IO Libraries. The 5335A does not send an EOI with its output; you have to either read exactly 21 bytes, or terminate a read on '\n'. No way I've found of configuring this that I've found to work - there is an EOS setting for the adapter in Keysights configuration, but it doesn't seem to do anything.Then NI VISA decided not to see any devices from Keysight VISA, even though I had the correct passport selected. Solution: change the interface name from GPI0 to GPIB1 in the Keysight configuration. There was a hidden configuration for a GPIB0 somewhere in NI VISA that prevented it looking for a GPIB0 from Keysight VISA.Next, make the remote Keysight VISA work again since it's now seeing a ghost instrument that is different from that shown on the remote machine and only showing. Solution summary:1. Install the latest Keysight IO Libraries. 2. Keysight's remote VISA connects to the SICL gpib name, not the VISA gpib name and yes, they can be different. So I made them the same for the 82357B and reconfigured on the remote machine.Now it was only seeing one of two instruments on the remote machine. Autoscan is failing due to the timeout reading from the 5335A and not going on to query the 3456A. No way of telling the autoscan to continue on the remote machine, though you can on the local machine. Solution: manually configure the instruments on the remote machine.Now I can see both instruments locally and remotely, both with Keysight's "Connection Expert" and NI's MAX. NI's test panel actually configures the line termination character properly and can read data from the 5335A correctly without timeouts.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 03:29:58 pm
content: So I just purchased one of these. Looked authentic, sealed, new in box, yada yada, yada.I posted about this in another thread I started and was posted to this thread of fake or not.Anyway, I'm far from rich, this is a home hobby. So I just called keysight. Customer service was friendly and had no problem looking up the serial number. She said it was from the Malaysia plant, shipped from the plant on November 29, 2009. This matches the certification date of November 10 being tested. And the label on the box of November 02. Box is made first, then item is tested, then it's shipped and logged. The date in their system is just the shipping date it left the plant to a reseller.They are going to email me a copy of the testing certificate and it should match the unique number on mine that's looks like a photo copy.Well of the test cert matches what the plant emails me next week I'm good to call mine authentic despite the little changes. It's just old stock from 2009, but the warranty should still be good and it was only $130, not the $550 listed on keysight web site.I'll try to get pictures up. Keysight may also chime in, she mentioned she would pass on the concern of fakes to the public relations department. They may be able to provide us some pictures showing the changes with this hardware over the years (I hope).Scott

author: deadlylover
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 03:45:51 pm
content: Nice work chasing up Keysight on this issue, I'm looking forward to what they have to say.Hopefully it's something innocent like an earlier revision, I don't recall anyone posting pictures of a known genuine adaptor that's been manufactured before the late 2009 suspect ones...I think.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 05:02:07 pm
content: Quote from: Scottjd on November 05, 2015, 03:29:58 pmNot to rain on your parade, but even if they do send you a certificate, and it matches the unique number on yours--how are you going to conclude that you don't have a clone/counterfeit? My serial number matched the website too. If I were cloning products (not my short-term plan as a career goal), I would at least make an effort to clone the documentation too.All of these fakes (I am now certain that at least mine is fake, due to the solder quality, internal build quality, and other factors), come from a short run in 2009. Yours also being from 2009 is at least arguable circumstantial evidence that yours is like ours.I won't leave our hope for the possibility that we are all wrong, but things are not looking good here...

author: rx8pilot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 05:07:48 pm
content: I bet that if you purchased a bunch of them, the 'unique' numbers would start repeating......

author: Stupid Beard
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 06:33:00 pm
content: Can anyone recommend a low cost USB to GPIB adapter that works with linux-gpib and isn't a fake?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:15:38 pm
content: I got a new one for $60 including shipping (the square model) after making an offer the seller couldn't refuse because the market is already satured. Not bad to finally toy around a bit with GPIB...

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:26:08 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on November 05, 2015, 05:02:07 pmWell the problem I guess I see is I'm not sure sloppy soldering is a definitive statement of being fake.I need more then just that, and that board A components are different then board 002 rev since components change during manufacturing all the time.If Agilent had Malaysia and 2 other plants making them, it's even possible he same years will have different component just because the plant sourced different parts, but the main parts are the same. I've seen it before.So before I go getting an Amazon prime store shut down claiming fake (and I've done that before) I guess I'm looking for a little more.I can't test it until I get the meter next week. I can send it back claiming defective and request a different date code one, but they most likely won't do that. It's Amazon.....If a block of certificates and serial numbers got copied then at least Agilent knows about it know. I've dealt in fraud professionally and theirs always a definitive mark that gives it up, but only Agilent can share pictures of all the possible makes and versions for us to be sure.I'm it saying everyone is wrong, or correct. I'm just being a skeptic, maybe. It things like the letter depth changed on the plastic case in the wording, that could of just been sourcing a different cheaper plastic lying company and again, only Agilent would know this. Now if they allowed people to register the device then they would have already noticed dups in serial numbers being registered. Or the user would get a message that this serial number is already registered. I don't understand why they don't have this, but they have all the serials from the time it was made originally because she was able to pull it up.This is why I am trying to fold them in. At most they need to be aware of it, they may have a manufacturing plant with a big leak and fake items may work at first, then die. This affects their reputation in quality products.Opps, I meant keysight in all of the above. Not Agilent.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:26:35 pm
content: Fake or not, they work well.I had a fake one that I would never have suspected to be a fake one because it worked so well.Well, I sold it anyways and the new owner was very happy with it.As soon as you open up the case and find it not metal coated inside, it is a fake!Because Agilent had shielding metal inside the housing already on the "A" version, as I have shown earlier in this thread.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:35:49 pm
content: How about they forgot to 'metal coat' a whole batch?

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:39:55 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on November 05, 2015, 07:26:35 pmSince mine I think is a B version, they could have opted to leave it out also.So I don't know why customer service to mention this to me earlier, but if you register on the site make an account you can register your product also. I guess this will start repeating if they are all the same fake batch being made.

author: Stupid Beard
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:46:45 pm
content: Thanks. I guess as long as they work I don't mind too much if they're fake.Quote from: nctnico on November 05, 2015, 07:15:38 pmIsthis onethe one you're referring to?

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:53:04 pm
content: Quote from: Scottjd on November 05, 2015, 07:39:55 pmI don't have much faith in that feature. They didn't recognize the serial number on my 82357b when I entered the first two letters as lower-case, and I still haven't figured why they don't recognize the SN on my early-run 34401a

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:54:38 pm
content: Quote from: Stupid Beard on November 05, 2015, 07:46:45 pmYes. Linux recognises it but I have not tested it fully yet.

author: Stupid Beard
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 08:04:25 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 05, 2015, 07:54:38 pmThanks. I put an offer in.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 08:09:52 pm
content: Well, mine is registered and says the warranty expired. It should be showing one year for the date of registration. So the serial number was valid. This is now escalated to keysite fraud department and I should be getting a call next week. I have 30 days to return it, but since the serial was already registered I'm surprised they have not picked up on this until now.Since I spent 16 years working digital security, fraud, shutdown down the biggest credit card fraud ring once at that time and securing networks by finding vulnerabilities to protect customer information. Well I don't view this fraud any different.It's stealing from keysite. And the people that buy it may have it burn out to find out its fake past the return date, so it's steeling from them also. All this while the forger gets rich from other people's engineering and designs. Maybe the people selling them don't know? Or maybe they got lied to when they bought a block of them and also found out late.Either way it's a lie. It's taking money and jobs away from people, part of it may be the big companies fault for outsourcing manufacturing and they took the design that way? Or it may have been reversed engineered since some people are talented enough to do such acts. Nothing against that talent, I have to do the same with software code to see if it's secure. But it's my ethics that prevent me from making something malicious to steal from other people.I guess the point of this rant is..... I don't care if it works. I don't support or condone forgeries. Not a $130 GBIP to USB or a $20 set to tweezers. It doesn't matter the cost, it will go back if it works or not.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 08:21:35 pm
content: Did you ever hear about installed base or the term 'industry standard'? If Keysight was really worried about the 'fakes' (we still don't know whether these are fake, rejects or surplus!) GPIB adapters they would have shut it down long ago. It just helps to get Keysight's name out there while crushing the competition for cheap GPIB adapters. MAYBE Keysight even initiated it in order not to have to deal with crappy GPIB adapters which aren't compatible with their Benchvue software and flood their support department with questions.For example: 'fake' Xilinx programming cables have been available on Ebay for years and Xilinx is just fine with it. What is better than having a non-core business product they don't have to have produced, stocked and distributed and still supports sales of their products? Life couldn't be easier!

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 09:03:50 pm
content: Quote from: Scottjd on November 05, 2015, 07:39:55 pmI have 4 genuine adapters:1 x "A" version with shielded case3 x "B" version with shielded caseI doubt that Agilent ever made a run on "A" or "B" versions without the proper shieldingIf you only look at the fake one, its is hard to see, what we have been talking about.I had both, the genuine and the fake one next to each other and then it becomes very obvious, what is true Agilent quality.Take a look at my pictures, earlier in this thread.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 09:20:08 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on November 05, 2015, 09:03:50 pmEDIT: Fixed the quotes:Thanks, Ive already read the whole thread. I try to read the whole thread before chiming in unless its like 90 pages long.So I saw the pictures. Good to know both A and B have the shielding.Well I have 30 day return on amazon, but I will wait until key sight replies first. They may want it? Fortunately I have a video of me opening it up from the sealed box tape and all with the name Agilent Technologies even on the tape that sealed the box.Since mine I think is a B version, they could have opted to leave it out also.So I don't know why customer service to mention this to me earlier, but if you register on the site make an account you can register your product also. I guess this will start repeating if they are all the same fake batch being made.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 07:37:50 pm
content: After while my fake Agilent 82357B just died ( device descriptor request failed ).It looks like like corrupted FW, sometimes it requires few connection attempt to make it workingTime to go back to genuine NI-GPIB-HS adaptor

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 07:48:49 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on November 08, 2015, 07:37:50 pmThat's exactly what happened to mine, a few pages back.I found that unplugging it from the GPIB bus allowed it to boot successfully more often, but it was terribly unstable. Piece of junk.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2015, 02:17:44 am
content: Quote from: plesa on November 08, 2015, 07:37:50 pmI'm looking at buying a NI-GPIB-HS. Still trying to find information on it.Will this run all the same software like agilents bench view, I'm assuming it will.What I'm trying to figure out is if I buy this NI adapter used will I be able to download the software once I register the serial with NI.I figured I would ask you since you seem to own one.The only thing holding me back on returning the fake one is keysight, waiting a week to see their response since my case went to their fraud department. But I have 26 days left to return it, so not in a big rush.

author: Bazillus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 09:02:53 pm
content: I can confirm that the adapters sold by lotusdechine2006 are counterfeit ones.No copper-sprayed plastic cover, no shielding on the USB connector, no firmware version sticker on the microprocessor.However, I contacted the seller for full reimbursement within 24 hours, otherwise I will open an Ebay and PayPal case referring to counterfeit items.I should have known better ...Michael

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 09:27:15 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on November 08, 2015, 07:37:50 pmSounds more like a bad USB connector or cable than a firmware problem.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 09:51:31 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 11, 2015, 09:27:15 pmI tried short cable with ferrite beads, does not work eitherFor a while worked connection through USB hub with additional power.But it worked for three times and after that adapter seems to be dead.I can try to replace connector and solder decent quality cable and we will see.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 11:40:32 pm
content: Do these 82357B GPIB-USB devices support the entire bus (like Ethernet) or are they only single device only (like USB-TMC or USB-Serial)?If the genuine Agilent ones do, and I would expect they would, then do these Chinese versions work with multiple instruments too? at least when they work

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 09:27:18 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on November 11, 2015, 11:40:32 pmThe fake one I used to have, worked on multiple instruments without problems. I had 4 x 34401A hooked up at one time and I really did not see a difference to the genuine one. But I sold the Chinese version, before it failed.

author: scasagrande
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2015, 01:11:54 am
content: Quote from: t3chiman on September 07, 2015, 02:51:28 pmSorry to necro this post (at least the latest post in this thread isn't too old!) but I only just read this! Thanks for the kind words. I hope someone isn't using my work to screw people over

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2015, 05:46:47 pm
content: Quote from: Scottjd on November 05, 2015, 08:09:52 pmeBay specifically state tonot returncounterfeit item.The seller, nettcy168, tried to make me return the counterfeit adapter. When I told him that his request was against eBay policy, he refunded me within minutes.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2015, 07:43:02 pm
content: Does anybody tried to load into the fake Agilent 82357B GPIB firmware measat_releaseX1.8.hex by fxload?

author: ManateeMafia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2015, 08:03:52 pm
content: Yes. I have been playing with the clone that looks like the Agilent original and linux-gpib. The clone worked with Benchvue but has been difficult/sporadic on a B+. It has been impossible, so far, to get working on a PI2.I am typically getting timeouts when it is not working. There is a specific order to installing the software and I feel I am close to automating the whole thing, including modifying all files. I have an image file that is working, but I want the script working too.It would be nice to get it working on a PI2, but I have ordered a second B+ so I can get the only functional one grabbing data on a 3458A.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 06, 2015, 08:08:19 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on December 06, 2015, 07:43:02 pmYes, it works, but I had to change a couple of lines in the supplied script, /etc/hotplug/usb/agilent_82357a. I had to export the PATH:export PATH=$PATH:/sbin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/binAnd add an explicit DEVNAME to fxload:$FXLOAD -D $DEVNAME $FXLOAD_OPTIONS -I $FIRMWAREThis is on CentOS 6.6, which is somewhat behind the times. YMMV.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2015, 08:14:14 pm
content: Quote from: MarkL on December 06, 2015, 08:08:19 pmThanks for sharing. And can you check adapter identification if it is H82357 or 82357B?

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 06, 2015, 08:38:08 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on December 06, 2015, 08:14:14 pmI don't have it anymore because it kept crashing (returned it to nettcy168), but here's the syslog from one of the moments when it did work plugging it in:Code:Aug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: usb 2-3: new high speed USB device number 122 using ehci_hcdAug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: usb 2-3: New USB device found, idVendor=0957, idProduct=0718Aug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: usb 2-3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=5Aug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: usb 2-3: Product: 82357B ()Aug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: usb 2-3: Manufacturer: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Aug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: usb 2-3: SerialNumber: MY49450490Aug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: usb 2-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choiceAug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: probe succeeded for path: usb-0000:00:1d.7-3Aug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: gpib0: exiting autospoll threadAug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: agilent_82357a_detach: detachedAug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: attached to bus interface 0, address 0xffff8802141c6000Aug 17 16:15:58 localhost kernel: agilent_82357a_attach: attached

author: ManateeMafia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2015, 08:39:09 pm
content: Thanks for the tip.

author: nightpanda
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 07:54:03 am
content: Well, I saw someone talked about Beiming GPIB interface in this thread, and I happened to be the one who build up this small toy, so I do feel very happy to be mentioned here several times.I saw someone said Beiming is the OEM vendor for Keysight/Agilent. Well I'm sorry that's not correct, Beiming is just a tiny company with just one employee (it's me), and Beiming doesn't have any connection with Keysight/Agilent.I start this project 5 or 6 years ago, and by that time, I was very curious why Agilent 82357B was that expensive. I think maybe I can make some thing really cheap and good enough to use.Originally, I hope to use FPGA to build IEEE488 protocol inside by myself, but shortly found that is too much work. So I changed to the way same as Agilent does, using NI chipset instead which could greatly ease the work.So if you open S82357, you will be able to see NAT9914 and 75ALS162, 75ALS160, which are same with Agilent 82357B. I'm also using the same USB controller as Agilent does, which is CY68013.You guys may not know, NAT9914 is not cheep. From NI sales channel, this chip is about 20 bucks, and with 75ALS162 and 75ALS160, they may cost over 40USD, which is too much for me. But good thing is, here is China. And you can always got low cost stuffs. I search on Alibaba and found someone sell NAT9914 at 6 buck, I thought they must be faked chips, but what surprised me is, it works as well. From this vendor, I got all the GPIB related chips with much lower price, which made this project more feasible. I still have no idea how they got those cheap NI chipset from, maybe refurbished ones?The USB controller part software is developed by myself. Because I hope it could be compatible with 82357B or Agilent IO environment, I need to analysis the communication between 82357B and PC, there are plenty of software help to capture the data package over USB for analysis. I tried with many different combination of instruments and software, and try best to cover all circumstances. I remember paid 300 bucks to rent a R&S CMU200 for one week just to make sure S82357 works with it. And that's why I'm keep updating the firmware in past few years, which bothered a lot of customers. I do feel really sorry for that. I also got a lot of help from different people, I remember some one helped capture USB log and email to me for trobleshooting because I can't got his instrument which is working in IEEE488 legacy mode. There is another gentleman helped me to try my Linux driver with his setup (he is in this thread too), I have generate 4 or 5 different version for him and he keep providing me the feedback. I made some really good friends during this process and had a lot of fun here.What most ironic to me is, although I'm working on a counterfeit 82357, there are also someone trying to counterfeit mine. Someone from Shenzhen bought a very early version S82357 and just use the same design and firmware to sell at a lower price, which is quite a surprise. So after that, I add a small trick to my EEPROM, and made them not able to copy my firmware that easy. That's why there are some not fixed bug keep existing in their version.Later I made a new version GPIB interface called F82357, which support DMA mode and make the communication speed faster for block transfer. Agilent 82357B support this function, but it took me some time to understand how DMA works over GPIB. F82357 share the same hardware with S82357, the difference just lies to firmware.Another thing you may ask is, has Agilent contacted me for doing this? The answer is yes, I got warning message on ebay told me not to mention Agilent with my prodcut. I also found one gentleman bought a S82357 and a F82357 on ebay and shipped to an Agilent office in Colorado. I think they have analyzed my work, and found the software was developed by myself, so they decided to let me away. I should attach a greeting card with my GPIB interface together.And in 2014, I found people sell real Agilent 82357B on ebay with very low price, and I start to know my GPIB interface business is done. I think those Agilent 82357B is true, I bought one and compare with mine which I got from Agilent dealer, the hardware are identical, and it works fine. I thought they came form some big contract manufacturer sites like Foxconn. They used to bought thousands of 82357B for their manufacturing project, and when the project is done, all those equipment comes to the second hand market. I stopped my business on ebay, which took too much of my time on packaging, debugging and supporting works with very small margin.So feel free to buy the Agilent 82357B on ebay , and enjoy the low price, I think they are true with better quality and reliability.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 08:27:15 am
content: Thank you nightpanda for your explanations.Very good to know.I would also think that not all Agilent 82357B on ebay are a fake but it is almost impossible to detect, before you buy them.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 11:33:17 am
content: @nightpanda, fascinating storyit's a shame your little business has ended. I would also call your device compatible, rather than counterfeit!

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 12:08:54 pm
content: Quote from: SkyMaster on December 06, 2015, 05:46:47 pmI bought mine from Amazon prime account. Theirs a reason I bought it from Amazon, and cheaper to return also since it was a prime item from a US amazon wharehouse. So I don't have to ship it back to the APAC region.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 01:35:07 pm
content: Just a quick update, I had requested the certificate from Keysight and they did provide it.Their a a few notable differences, so if anyone receives an adapter new and sealed in a box the certificate can tell you if it's fake or not. It took them a few weeks since they had to pull it from the archives.The certificate number is a real number on the keysight form, the fake one just had 82357B.The serial number was on the real certificate, the fake one didn't have any serial number listed.The big one, it looks like it was copied with a cheap copy machine.And as I mentioned, of you register the serial number with keysight it's probably already registered in the past and the warranty is expired.Their are other differences, but I won't mention them all since they will try to fix it.But those are the easiest to figure out if it may be a fake one you received. It's funny, they out the time in listing the serial number on the box that matches the one in the adapter, but didn't bother to list it on the form.Oh, and your software CD probably has a scratch on it, and it's in a very flimsy CD case. I guess they don't want to bother burning real CDs with the software, so they just print labels and out them on bad CDs. So who knows what data was really on the CD. I should have checked, but to late now.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 02:58:18 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on December 07, 2015, 11:33:17 amI agree, it is a compatible, not a counterfeit. When I replaced the alternator in my car, I used a compatible after market one. It is not counterfeit either, just a less expensive option for the consumer who wishes to choose that.However, those look-alike 82357B clonesarecounterfeit. They copied the look, the PCB layout, and presumably the firmware. Because it is identical in every way (except build quality) it works identically too, which is great for users, but it is clear-cut IP theft. I own one of these (see my earlier post), but I didn't get it as cheaply as some here, and I did believe it was authentic. I would not have purchased it had I suspected a counterfeit.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 03:09:00 pm
content: Thanks for joining forum and posting story behind it. So the currently discussed adaptershttp://www.ebay.com/itm/82357B-GPIB-USB-Interface-Compatible-with-AGILENT-82357B-new-version-/251692772284?hash=item3a9a0eebbc:g:GBgAAOSw8cNUTQ1Owith ID H82357 are based on one of your design?Based on yesterday test these adapters accept the measat_releaseX1.8.hex firmware uploaded by fxload.But uploading this firmware the adapter ID is changed to 82357B with SN: US12345678Maybe this can explain why adapters does not work in Win10 at all and in Win8 they works on random basis.

author: nightpanda
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 04:01:37 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on December 07, 2015, 03:09:00 pmYes, that's the one I mentioned in my post. This guy bought two pieces from me, and then start sell his version on ebay. I also bought one unit from him, and compare the firmware file with mine and found only the ID and SN number was changed (you can simply do this by a ASCII file editor). I have also published my schematic on a local forum, so its not difficult to get all the stuffs.But what he has is a very old firmware version. Basic SCPI send and read function is ok, but not support SICL mode (not able to communicate with old HP instrument like 3458A). Not support secondary GPIB address (like R&S CUM200), no DMA mode, and no Linux support.Since we have the same hardware before 2014, the firmware file from S82357 could be used with his adapter too. And after that, I change the hardware and added another piece of EEPROM on S82357 with SN number and some other information on it. Before running the code, it compare those message and decide whether to run the code.So, after 2013, S82357 firmware file is linked with its SN number. You can not simply read firmware from one piece and upload to another piece. That's why I'm always asking customer to provide SN number for firmware upgrading. I need to generate firmware for each piece of S82357 individually.I think that explains why H82357 with my firmware not works in Win10 or win8. It just failed at SN check point.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 04:18:59 pm
content: I found a teardown of the Beiming S82357 onthe Sigrok website. I guess we can identify the scratched off IC numbers now

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 04:27:15 pm
content: Quote from: nightpanda on December 07, 2015, 04:01:37 pmOh I get it it was not clear to me from first post. So glad to receive full refund from nettcy168 and I can put it into dust bin:)

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 05:10:35 pm
content: QuoteHi ChehNice hearing from you againSo that's why i can't find any Beiming adapters on *bay anymore./Bingo

author: eliocor
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 02:48:20 am
content: Hi Cheh (nightpanda),I'm one of your lucky customers and I can only praise your work!!!My F82357 has always worked flawlessly._ Elio.

author: Mosaic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2016, 11:17:46 am
content: Ok, I ordered a HP82357B USB GPIB from the nettcy168 guy for 59 total.From the blog it seems the compatibles are better made than the fakes...so Ill give it a go as 'used' NI are still 3x the price.I Have an HP8753D I want to use with it.ALL his -ve revies are for the Agilent 'fakes' he has good reviews on the 'compatibles'.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2016, 04:06:25 am
content: Well since I was one that bought a fake one not knowing they were flooding the market and also recently bought a real one I thought I would do a video showing some of the differences in packaging between the fake and real adapter.I can say the real one is working great so far, no problems setting it up even on Windows 10 and already having the NI Visa bus installed. Everything still installed smoothly and worked.The video is still processing for HD versions, but should be done in the next 20 minutes.https://youtu.be/NWHg_20cr7A

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 25, 2016, 10:27:21 am
content: I can't recall seeing this issue in this post but are there fake NI GPIB-USB interfaces as well?I have a "good" fake HP 82358B which doesn't easily link with linux-GPIB on a RPi, but does run BenchVue etc on 34401 etc.EDIT; ANSWER = YES, seehttps://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/hp_agilent_equipment/conversations/topics/71997

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2016, 10:45:06 am
content: nightpandaThanks for joining forum and sharing your view. Hope you have more stuff going on to share with us in future

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2016, 11:19:35 am
content: Quote from: VK5RC on January 25, 2016, 10:27:21 amAs you already discovered, yes. I also spoke with NI on the phone and they confirmed this and they are aware of it. I like the fact that they were able to admit their are fakes and they know about the problem.Scott

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2016, 11:32:01 am
content: Quote from: TiN on January 25, 2016, 10:45:06 amHi TIn,Was that message to me? I really couldn't tell.But if it was.....Yes. I hoe to have more stuff to share also. I have a few videos I haven't got to editing yet. And working in changing the channels name also, I know that can be confusing. I used to be a network security professional and did investigations and this channel was an alias that I decided to use now that im not working. But for now it stays labled as Dave B. Reviews until I decide what I want to call it.

author: davebb
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2016, 06:31:17 pm
content: Mouse over image to zoomHi I got one of these interfaces from nettcy168 ,I can not fined the usb driverin the manual on the disc that came with it it says just open Agilent IO Libraries Suite , and it will install the driver for the interface, it does not ,I am running win xp,please tell me what I am doing wrong as I see there are a lot of you running this interfaceThanks Dave82357B GPIB USB Interface-Compatible with AGILENT 82357B new versionhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251692772284?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

author: davebb
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2016, 12:05:21 am
content: Hi all working now, I had to go into the program files in win xp and get the driver from thereThanks Dave

author: bsgd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 08:30:59 pm
content: Hi all,I've read all pages on this thread since Im in the market for a 82357B. From what I gather, all chinese NIB 82357Bs are fake, and as far I understand, some are dying prematurely.Is there a realible seller selling used original items? If not, do the fake ones work fine or do they all die prematurely? Since Im just a hobbyst, spending $600 dollars on this is a lot, but I am considering getting a new genuine one.Thanks!

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 10:11:04 pm
content: Quote from: bsgd on February 29, 2016, 08:30:59 pmAs a hobbyist I had the same thought for the cost. Do you have a device already? If not maybe you want to go with one that has USB?As the new "Agilent standard 34401A replacement" meter start getting adopted I'm sure more authentic used adapters will hit Ebay. Also the NI " National instruments" adapter is just as good and fully comoatable with Agilent/hp/Keysight stuff. I think it was cheaper. I spoke with NI before about the compatibility.Just take caution on the NI also, at least they had admitted to me that they are aware of some fake NI adapters being sold. That's another story, so who knows how good the fake NI adapters are.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 10:45:45 pm
content: If you're patient you should be able to find a genuine one for under 100 USD used off of ebay. Yes it can be tough to determine if it is authentic. Without opening it you should be able to see just inside the edges where the case halves meet to see the gold metallic spray shielding that is only present on authentic units. I got a real one for 25 bucks as the mounting screws had been snapped off which is fine for my needs.If you do get a fake you should have no problems getting a refund.

author: bsgd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 11:10:00 pm
content: Quote from: Scottjd on February 29, 2016, 10:11:04 pmYes, I already have the device: an Agilent 8903B Audio Analyzer. I was actually using it with a Beiming GPIB adapter but all of a sudden it quit working. I opened it up but did not find anything wrong with it. Windows says the device is malfunctioning and wont recognize it.NI might be a good option too. You see, Im not too keen on buying a fake product, but as a hobbyist Im not convinced I should spend $600 on something which I will probably use a couple times a year. I have been looking at some chinese Agilent GPIBs but my guess is that they are all fake, made by the same people/company/whatever.Quote from: TheSteve on February 29, 2016, 10:45:45 pmThis is a good option, altough my current adapter just failed and I am really in need of a new one. I guess I should leave my current project on standby and wait for a chance to get a genuine used product, even though now with all these fakes its getting hard to tell the fake ones from the real ones just by looking at some pictures.I have dropped the Beiming guy an email in hope there is a known issue with my adapter that can be fixed, but its been a long time since he stopped selling these so Im not sure he will get back to me.Right now I really wish my 8903 had a USB port

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 11:32:03 pm
content: Well o cam tell you for sure that the authentic one does not say Agilent. So if they claim it's real and say Agilent and it's listed about $130 US then it's fake. If the date on the side of the new never opened box is 2009 then it's fake.My authentic one I have came and has KeySite on the adapter, no Agilent and was made in 2014, I think? Or maybe 2015???Well it's in this video somewhere I mention or show the date.....https://youtu.be/NWHg_20cr7A

author: bsgd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 11:39:38 pm
content: Quote from: Scottjd on February 29, 2016, 11:32:03 pmThanks Scottjd! Yes I did watch your video. At first I thought those Agilent GPIBs were NOS, from some distributor that closed down and ended up passing up surplus units to the market. But then people started posting all these horrific soldering jobs and now Im positive all chinese adapters are fake. Yes, the newer ones have the Keysight logo.Are there any fake 82357A units? I dont really need USB 2.0 support.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 01:16:23 pm
content: Quote from: bsgd on February 29, 2016, 11:39:38 pmYes, I thought they were surplus also because USB took over the use of this technology. But after I bought one someone pointed out this thread, after opening mine I was disappointed in what I thought was a good deal. Further research since then showed me these are more acurate an stable reading then new meter with USB and this tech still rocks. Still I gather Keysoght/HP/Agilent already made back their engineering and development costs and the manufacturing and part BOM has come down considerably. I'm shocked that Keysight who has now even given up on GPIB and makes all new meters with USB hasn't dropped the price of this unit. The markup has to be at least 1,000% by now.I was even more disjointed when seeing in this thread people were making offered of $55 and getting them on eBay since I paid the full $130 from Amazon for the fake one. Now one store on Amazon is 7 store or more with the fake one. I guess amazon also made returning it easier, no questions asked, and return shipping paid for with fast money back into my account.I'm not sure if 82357A was forged or not, maybe someone else that has been involved with this longer would know.

author: mojoe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 05:49:53 am
content: Good info here. Just wish I'd seen it earlier. Before I came across this thread, I recently ordered a "used" Agilent GPIB-USB adapter. When it arrives, I'll have to open it up to see if it is a fake.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 05:58:25 am
content: Quote from: mojoe on March 02, 2016, 05:49:53 amWell the good news is 99% of the forged units are being advertised as new. They come sealed in a new box and all with a fake cert. I think I showed a picture of the new box in my video above in this thread.So since you ordered a "used" one their is a chance it might be a real used one.Good luck, keep us posted. If it ends up being real and the seller has more please share the info on this thread for other that may want a real used one.

author: mojoe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2016, 07:49:34 am
content: It arrived today. I was hoping that since it was used, it would be the real McCoy. It is a counterfeit, just like the pictures posted here. The top-side soldering looks decent. The back-side a bit worse, with the GPIB connector hand soldered and covered in flux.I don't know if it works or not, as I haven't had time to test it. I will be pursuing a refund because of it being a counterfeit product.This is what I bought. I offered less.http://www.ebay.com/itm/181921320882

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2016, 08:02:15 am
content: Quote from: mojoe on March 06, 2016, 07:49:34 amSorry to hear you received a fake. I think the fact that he had more then 10 available and already sold 18 of them might indicate the seller is selling fakes.It's hard to tell, because more test gear is moving to USB. But maybe this seller is selling all the other fake units that have been returned and opened?Or this seller doesn't know he has fake ones in stock?

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 06, 2016, 09:11:23 am
content: Quote from: Scottjd on March 06, 2016, 08:02:15 amI suspect that the seller is selling as used as an act of deception, "used" implies someone else thought it was genuine at some point...

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 06, 2016, 10:01:53 am
content: Quote from: dadler on March 06, 2016, 09:11:23 amI wouldn't be surprised if these fakes were originally made for the Chinese market, and have actually be in use in Chinese factories.The one shown in the ebay listing looks like it has some grime on it and the cable.@mojoe - does your fake look like a newly made fake, or does it look like it was actually used? Does it have the metallisation on internals of the plastic housing?

author: bsgd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2016, 11:44:30 am
content: If anyone gets the real deal from China, please let us know. I need one and dont really care whether its used or not, but I dont wanna get a fake low quality adapter.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2016, 02:35:30 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on March 06, 2016, 09:11:23 amIt could also be that selling it as "new" was too easy to prove it actually wasn't new to a third party, like an ebay or Amazon, by simply showing them the serial number lookup on Keysight's web page. All the "new" fakes we've seen so far have serial numbers from late 2009. Clearly the item sold was not "new". No questions asked when submitting a claim for return.If you buy it "used" and it's a fake and you want to return it, you might have a to work a little harder to prove your claim. Although *we* know what quality to expect from Agilent/Keysight, "bad soldering" might not receive an instant decision in your favor by the person processing the claim.Buying anything of value direct from China sellers is always risky.

author: mojoe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2016, 05:04:01 pm
content: Quote from: Kean on March 06, 2016, 10:01:53 amIt looks like new, but came wrapped in bubble wrap and with no accessories. It looks just like the pictures here. Phillips screw, no metal paint, etc.

author: Gandalf_Sr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2016, 03:43:34 pm
content: I just ordered a '82357B GPIB USB Interface-Compatible with AGILENT 82357B new version' from nettcy168 on eBay - I paid $61 which included shipping, I think folks here have had good expediencies with these - any gotchas or anything I should watch for?I don't think there are any copyright laws in China.

author: mojoe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2016, 04:49:35 pm
content: Quote from: mojoe on March 07, 2016, 05:04:01 pmContrary to what others have reported, I had to return the fake product in order to get a refund. Ebay said to return it. I'm still waiting for my refund.

author: Stupid Beard
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2016, 07:06:28 pm
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on March 24, 2016, 03:43:34 pmIt doesn't work at all on Linux and it's sporadic on Windows, but how well it works may depend on the instrument you use it with. Old pre-SCPI instruments are unlikely to work at all. I ended up getting a refund for mine.

author: Gandalf_Sr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2016, 09:37:56 am
content: Quote from: Stupid Beard on March 24, 2016, 07:06:28 pmThanks, I was hoping to use it with my E4433B Signal Generator. It's supposed to arrive Tuesday so we'll see, I can always get a refund if it's no good.

author: z01z
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2016, 04:34:05 pm
content: Thanks a lot for everyone who participated in describing the differences between real and fake adapters. Based on that info I've managed to get a real 82357B off ebay. It is a very used one, with a cracked case and a cut cable but it works fine nonetheless.I've noticed that several 82357As are also available, maybe those are a viable option as well.

author: z01z
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 07:10:08 am
content: Thisis the seller but it won't do much good, he has no items at the moment.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 09:33:30 pm
content: Quote from: mojoe on March 24, 2016, 04:49:35 pmmojoe,Was it clear to eBay that the product was counterfeit?In my case, when nettcy168 asked me to return the item to a USA address (which was strange), I replied that returning a counterfeit item was against eBay policy, and then nettcy168 refunded me quickly.

author: Signal32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 09:43:07 pm
content: Quote from: SkyMaster on July 08, 2016, 09:33:30 pmeBay is not able to say/tell if the item is counterfeit.Even we don't know for "sure" if it is. Of course it actually is, but there is no official memo from Agilent stating that all genuine units have metal inner shielding / high quality soldering / etc.What is most likely to happen is that if you contact eBay and tell them that the item is counterfeit and then the seller says it's not, eBay is going to tell you to return the item for a refund as they do not know if it is or it is not. The seller probably chose to refund you directly as they did not want to draw attention to themselves which throughout time could get them banned from eBay.Also, many Chinese sellers have/partner with warehouses in the USA. It might also have been the case that the seller was actually trying to see if you really have no use for the item and would rather keep it rather than not have it and get your money back(this has happened to me where just before shipping out the item the seller said to keep it).

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 09:51:10 pm
content: Quote from: Signal32 on July 08, 2016, 09:43:07 pmOf course eBay cannot tell by themselves if an item is counterfeitIt is the responsibility of the buyer to (try to) demonstrate that the item is counterfeit.I would still like to know what happened to the mojoe case.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 10:19:08 pm
content: There have been some seriously bad fuck ups with ebay/paypal and their counterfeit policies. An example:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2082060/PayPal-eBay-buyer-destroy-2-500-violin-deemed-counterfeit.html

author: Signal32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2016, 08:01:50 am
content: Quote from: z01z on July 08, 2016, 07:10:08 amSeems like eBay UK and eBay US even though they share users they don't share items.The point being that the same seller that you got your genuine one from has two more (although these are the 82357A not 82357B) in similar condition to the one that you bought. The description is basically identical to the one you got, minus the broken case. Cut cable, detected by OS, etc.Lowest offer he seems to be willing to accept is $65 + $10 shipping.http://www.ebay.com/itm/181696458256If someone adventurous decides to go for it, let us know how it goes.PS: the $65 price was the 3rd counter-offer I received

author: msraya
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 12, 2016, 08:35:16 am
content: What is difference between 82357B and 82357A???I'm searching for in the Internet, but nothing found..RegardsManuel

author: Signal32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2016, 08:47:43 am
content: Quote from: msraya on July 12, 2016, 08:35:16 amThey're basically the same.The differences are:USB 2.0 on the 82357B vs USB 1.1 on the 82357A. Both will work with any USB device.82357B max transfer speed 1.15MB/sec vs 850KB/sec for the 82357A.82357B seems to be the only one that has Parallel Polling (check response of up to 8 devices at one single poll).Both seem to have same software support / support max 14 Devices in parallel.

author: msraya
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 12, 2016, 09:21:31 am
content: Thank You!I'm using a B one, that I borrow from a friend of mine, but I must to buy one..If someone have one genuine, good working and cheap, please contact me.Manuel

author: Signal32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2016, 11:53:50 pm
content: Didn't see this mentioned: There is a way to tell if you're dealing with a fake or genuine 82357B without having to do anything intrusive to the unit.The inner metal shielding extends outside of the case, but only where the screws are at the back. This is only on the genuine unit, the fake unit is exclusively plastic. So if you see one for sale, this would be an easy way to tell if it's fake or not.A picture of a genuine unit (notice the metal inner shield ).

author: msraya
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2016, 08:19:16 am
content: Are these:http://www.ebay.com/itm/122047211852Counterfeit??Someone know the seller??Thanks!Manuel

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2016, 12:11:51 am
content: Quote from: msraya on July 20, 2016, 08:19:16 amIt's hard to say with the low quality pictures, one had the cable replaced with the black USB cable, others look like they don't even have knurling on the finger screws and some even show some rust in that stack. It's a typical eBay auction of chance. The price alone says they probably are, but then again you would think that these should be dropping in price as people move to the new keysight meter as they discontinue the 34401A.No way to confirm without better pictures, sorry.

author: Signal32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2016, 12:22:26 am
content: Quote from: Scottjd on July 21, 2016, 12:11:51 amMost likely fake because:- I msg'ed the seller requesting more info / pictures and she replied with a nonsense response that would make you think that she doesn't understand English.- 2nd picture having lower resolution than the 1st makes me think that the pictures are fake ( she does not have access to the items in the first two pictures ). I do think that the items in the first two pictures are genuine.- The 3rd picture shows a single unit. This one looks different than the others. Notice that all the others have their cable tied with a zip tie. This one does not, it's cable it's tied with the same as the fake ones from other sellers. Also it's cable is folded neatly ( factory-packaged style ) vs the ones from the previous pictures where the cable is somewhat messy.IMO the seller is posting pictures of used genuine units(to make buyers think that they are used but genuine) which she doesn't have and probably shipping out new fake units, as used.But, you can make an offer asking specifically for the black cable one and only that one. If the seller accepts it's a high chance that you'll get a genuine one

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2016, 07:08:03 am
content: Quote from: Signal32 on July 21, 2016, 12:22:26 amAll good points, but if you read the whole 11 pages of posts you will also see that the fake ones come with the zip tie wrap also. Even the one I originally received. It was a good %95 fake. From the packaging to the item case. A few mistakes with the included cert, a scratched CD with the wrong software on it, sealed box. It wasn't until a few of us took them apart to see the big differences are on the inside. And eBay sellers are not willing to take pictures of the inside especially if they claim they are new.But the wire tie is a common item on the good fakes.It looks like the word about the fakes are spreading, stores are loosing the ads from being reported to Ebay. They are being returned, and now the opened returned fakes are being sold cheaper from other sellers. They will just keep trying to sell them until they are all gone.FYI, all the adapters in the last few years say KeySight, not Agilent on them. So when people start updating the meters they will sell the real ones eventually but look for the ones labeled keysight. I have not seen a keysight fake one yet, but it might happen.

author: FlyingHacker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2016, 08:53:08 pm
content: Any advantage to one of these vs. just buying a Prologix new for $150 direct from Prologix?I want to get a GPIB to USB, but have no experience with them.Thoughts?

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2016, 02:46:15 am
content: Quote from: FlyingHacker on July 30, 2016, 08:53:08 pmA new, and real, Keysight 82357B USB/GPIB Interface is $731 (Canadian dollars) according to Keysight website.It seems that all "Agilent 82357B" from China are fake. Fake unit, in a fake box with fake manual and fake CD.At least Prologix appears to be a legit company. On their About page, they list some of their customers:http://prologix.biz/about.html

author: FlyingHacker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2016, 05:20:02 am
content: I know the new ones are very pricey, but price != quality or utility.I am thinking of getting a Prologix, and wondered if there was any reason to choose the Agilent or NI model instead???

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2016, 07:26:44 am
content: Quote from: FlyingHacker on August 01, 2016, 05:20:02 amIt depends on the usage. If you want to program your own application, Prologix is OK. But if you want to use Labview and applications like BenchVue and etc. buy rather NI GPIB HS ( lot of fakes are also on eBay).Also consider Agilent E5810, they are LAN-GPIB gateways. Which you can buy cheap on eBay.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2016, 07:59:30 am
content: I have 3 Beiming's , an Agilent "lookalike" (prob. a clone) , a Agilent E5810 , and a Prologic Lan.My Agilent works fine with linux-gpib , same does my Beimings.I really dont understand all the fuzz ... About the Agilent. Well aside from the "IP theft".I'd go for a NI HS if i was to use Labwiev, then you don't have to rely on the (Win Only) NI-Compatibility layer from Agilent/KS.I'm linux-only , so i use linux-gpib. With own logging mostly in python. That does the job for meI almost never use my Prologic-lan (slow) , and haven't gotten around to the Agilent E5810 yet (but @ 125$) i just grabbed it for future use./Bingo

author: FlyingHacker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2016, 06:12:12 pm
content: I would be writing my own software either in C or Python. Since this is a hobby I doubt I would ever spend the money on LabView. I am mainly playing with this stuff at this point.The Prologix USB with EZGPIB looks pretty slick.I see some NI USB-HS units can be had on eBay for around $180. I guess these are fakes, but probably work fine.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2016, 07:17:04 pm
content: As you might have read earlier in this tread, I used to have a fake one and sold it.No worries whatsoever, it was working perfectly alright.And the buyer also was happy with it.

author: Gandalf_Sr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2016, 12:35:22 am
content: Well, as expected, my 82357B from eBay was a fake and I got a full refund - Keysight Connection Manager would not see it on my Windows 10 64 bit PC.So I just bought an Agilent E5810A LAN / GBIP unit used on eBay - pretty sure it's genuine - and I also just won an auction for a used NI GPIB-USB-HS that looks genuine for $100 with my last few seconds sniper bid

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2016, 01:42:34 am
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 10, 2016, 12:35:22 amGood luck in both. I hope they are both real. Just so you know their is fake NI adapters also. I haven't seen one and don't know how to identify one as fake. But I called NI and they said they know of fakes on the market. That's the difference, NI will admit it, keysight plays dumb if you ask them. And keysight knows about it, trust me.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2016, 07:22:28 am
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 10, 2016, 12:35:22 amFake NI GPIB-USB-HS had different type of screws, but now it seems they fixed it.There are also covers available on ebay.Make fake E5810A is much more difficult, because it is more complex (PPC inside). And I was not sure if E5810A is Agilent product, it looks more likehttp://www.icselect.com/product.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2016, 08:51:20 am
content: Quote from: plesa on October 10, 2016, 07:22:28 amThat is an interesting thought.I have a Keysight branded E5810B and will open it up to check the markings on the PCB.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2016, 09:22:01 am
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on October 10, 2016, 08:51:20 amI'm not sure about E5810B, but both E5810A has on PCB Agilent marking.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2016, 09:29:32 am
content: plesaHave you successfully integrated the E5810A in to the Keysight connection expert?Somehow I have trouble getting the E5810B recognized inside of the I/O Libraries (Connection Expert)The web interface to the E5810B works very well.

author: BloodyCactus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2016, 03:26:43 pm
content: Keysight did rebadge one of the ICS boxes, but its ok, ICS made good gpib stuff. I use a ics gpib<>ethernet box that works flawlessly.I believe the ics rebadge was the N4865A, but also maybe other sku.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 08:26:53 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on October 10, 2016, 09:29:32 amJust go to the "Manual configuration" and select "Remote GPIB interface" and "Find interface". This should find your 5810 within 30 seconds.Or I will needs more detailed issue description.

author: Gandalf_Sr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 02:30:07 pm
content: My E5810A was plug and play for Keysight Connection Expert (KCE) under Windows 10 64 bit. My (genuine) NI GPIB-USB-HS did not find a driver and I went to the NI site to download and almost 1 GByte package which I gave up on when it told me it was going to rename the Keysight VISA drivers. Any advice on how I should proceed? I'm thinking I just need a few kBytes of driver.inf stuff for the USB device to work with KCE; any throughts?

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 04:40:14 pm
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 14, 2016, 02:30:07 pmDo you still have a Keysight adapter? If not, there should be no need for the Keysight drivers and everything should work with the NI drivers. Even if the NI install renames the Keysight drivers, they are still available. I have both installed on my machines and NI Visa can see devices found by the Keysight drivers. Any software that was accessing the Keysight Visa should be able to talk to NI Visa just fine... So I'd just let the NI install do its thing.

author: Gandalf_Sr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 07:43:34 pm
content: Orin, thanks, I will consider that but why do I need a 1 GByte install just for a USB driver, do I get a load of extra stuff with the NI install? Is so any idea what it is?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 07:57:36 pm
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 14, 2016, 02:30:07 pmMy problem was similarI had installed the software for a keithley DMM and it screwed up my Keysight VISA settings and more.After I removed an re-installed the Keysight Connection expert and I/O libraries all worked perfectly with the E5810BWhen I downloaded the latest Keithley drivers, it was also huge and took forever to install.May be better to keep only Keysight VISA on one computer exclusively.

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 09:36:57 pm
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 14, 2016, 07:43:34 pmI really don't know why it's that big. It could be that they include .net or C runtime libraries that might not be installed already. Even so, it's excessive.They do include utilities such as NI-Max and their utility to send commands to an instrument is far better than Keysight's IMO.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 10:02:20 pm
content: The Keysight I/O Libraries installer will ask if its VISA drivers should be installed as the first driver or alongside a VISA driver from another vendor. If you do need to have two different ones installed, you could try installing the Keysight second and choosing the latter installation option.

author: Gandalf_Sr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2016, 11:46:10 am
content: Thanks for all the input; I'm thinking of following HighVoltage's advice and just using the Agilent E5810A with the Keysight Connection Expert drivers. I'm moving my work into more research and development and want to add a full-blown data gathering package. Although it's old,this articleand it's comments suggests that LabView is difficult to use and expensive, it seems Agilent (Keysight) VEE may be the better route and a license is 'only' $1,000. Any comments?Assuming I go the Agilent VEE route (likely), I have a genuine NI GPIB-USB-HS for sale, pm me if you're interested in it before I put it up on eBay.

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2016, 04:11:43 pm
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 15, 2016, 11:46:10 amJust my opinion: I gave up trying to learn Labview long ago after several tries. I did not find it intuitive, and debugging a Labview program can bring even non-believers to prayer. I have not tried VEE, so it may be better.Though I am normally a graphically oriented person, for things like instrument control and repetitive operations, I have found text-based programming to be the most clear and by far the easiest to debug. This is especially important for me because instrument control is only about 5-10% of my job, and a programming project comes up only a couple times a year, so there is significant relearning at the beginning of each on. I use Python with pyvisa, and so far, so good. I'm not sure that I like python or not, but I can get it to work, and it handles all different kinds of data quite well. You can do a GUI or not, as meets your needs. Also, you are not locked in, the benefit of which is that you will not later be locked out.Oh, and it's free.John

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2016, 05:43:20 pm
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 15, 2016, 11:46:10 amIt depends which instruments you want to control and what you want to achieve.For logging only I can recommends Python as general purpose.Labview is good for fast application development.For Agilent instruments with support in BenchVue, I will vote for compute stick and using BV capabilities.Also check the CommandExpert and use it with Excel.

author: Gandalf_Sr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2016, 09:46:17 am
content: Thanks guys for all the good input.I already have got to the point that I have Keysight Connection Expert running and seeing all my instruments and power supplies, I think I'll dip into Excel next and then download and teach myself Python.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2016, 09:56:20 am
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 16, 2016, 09:46:17 amThat is pretty much how I see it at the moment.My I/O library, Connection expert and BenchVue works really well together.I tried a few times to add the Keithley VISA as a secondary but the conflicts are so big that either one will not work.So, I will probably have an old laptop run the Keithley VISA completely separately to keep it divided.Controlling the Keysight instruments out of Excel also works well.Next is to learn Python, but I have to learn that from scratch. May be it is easier than I think?In addition, I got a ProLogix GPIB adapter and the Software from RF Scientific.This works well, even when the I/O Libraries are installed with primary VISA pointing to Keysight.For data logging, the RF Scientific software works very well.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2016, 10:33:13 am
content: Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on October 16, 2016, 09:46:17 amI will keep the NI GPIB adapter, it is the best USB/GPIB adapter on market I suppose. On ebay are lot of fakes which push the price.There are lot of examples on TiN websitecheckhttps://xdevs.com/guide/ni_gpib_rpi/https://xdevs.com/article/hp3458a_gpib/and others.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2016, 12:41:29 pm
content: Quote from: FlyingHacker on August 01, 2016, 05:20:02 amYes,The Agilent 82357B (or the fakes, or the non-fake compatible clones) will all communicate seamlessly with all professional software that interfaces to a GPIB bus. The Prologix will not. It does not implement a GPIB32.dll which is the de facto standard way for software to access a GPIB interface. Instead, software needs to talk to it directly over a serial port and must know its particular proprietary command language. Alternately, you can write all the low level code into your (e.g.) LabVIEW project yourself, but then it is tied to the Prologix adapter. Normally LabVIEW or other software will be able to talk to any "real" GPIB adapter without modification, no matter manufacturer (Agilent, NI, etc.) or method of connection (PCI, USB, Ethernet, etc.).

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2016, 06:16:09 am
content: Does anybody in this thread successfully using 82357B clone from ebay under Linux?In case yes, can you post your gpib.conf and firmware which you uploading and serial number of module?In windows this adapter is working, but under linux-gpib everything including uploading firmware seems to be OK, but it is not possible to connect to instruments.Thanks

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 06:59:00 pm
content: For what it's worth, this one seems to be the real thing:http://www.ebay.com/itm/181921320882Shipping was kinda slow, but it arrived in good condition, it works under linux (once you do that stupid thing where you have to load the firmware TWICE), and I broke the seal and took the screw out and the insides look legit too. The QFP IC has Agilent markings on it, nothing looks bad about the assembly.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 07:03:36 pm
content: Quote from: mmagin on January 28, 2017, 06:59:00 pmI'd say the odds of that being a real Agilent are about 0.0001%Post some pictures.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 07:33:31 pm
content: Quote from: mmagin on January 28, 2017, 06:59:00 pmWell the picture on the eBay has a different serial then the fake one I bought. So either the changed the label because people are catching onto the scam or it might be real?I would give it higher then 0.00001% since companies are moving away from the 34401A now since it's no longer supported. But still a lot of fake on eBay that look exactly like these pictures.Does your serial number end in 0491?Be sure to look at this video also for how a real one is packaged when it's new.https://youtu.be/NWHg_20cr7A

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 07:55:54 pm
content: Quote from: TheSteve on January 28, 2017, 07:03:36 pmThis was sold as used, not new, so it's somewhat more plausable to me, but...On closer inspection, and a look at some of the stuff up-thread I think you might be right. But it sure is a good copy. It's hard to say whether or not some of the differences from the genuine posted up-thread are possibly just Agilent revisions or not. I'm a bit suspicious that mine doesn't have the EMI-coating on the inside of the plastic (not pictured), and it doesn't have the labels on the ICs. The finish on the QFP seems possibly a bit different than it should be (blacktopping?) though that may be hard to discern in my crappy phone pictures. Oh well, still a good deal for the functionality I got for $80.

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 07:59:16 pm
content: Quote from: Scottjd on January 28, 2017, 07:33:31 pmYeah, I didn't make a note of the serial number before breaking the seal, cannot read it nowAlso, this one was sold as used, the other packaging was not present. It's certainly possible it is a counterfeit from a few years back, which has seen some industrial use in China, and now being sold off by other parties

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 08:13:22 pm
content: No EMI coating instantly confirms it is a fake/clone - doesn't mean it won't work for you though. Buying one out of china and getting a real one has got to be extremely rare.I think they sell them as used so if you find any issues they can just say it is because they aren't new.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 09:40:01 pm
content: Quote from: TheSteve on January 28, 2017, 08:13:22 pmYes, they started doing that because of eBay's policy. Besides the parts you already mentioned the isolation crystal component on Y1 is always the full lean that, the fake ones went with a cheaper smaller one.The two inductors near the USB plug with three dots is a fake common part as well.And it's missing the USB cabbie metal clip that prevents the cable from coming loose.Also if you rub the label over the screw you may find the ink smears.Their a few other I could point out, but hey. It was affordable, you said it works for your needs. So use it till it does or starts giving you problems. Some have had these last for over a year depending on usage.You may run into problems with daisy chaining multiple units, but if your using it for one device or a few it should be fine.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 12:48:26 am
content: Quote from: mmagin on January 28, 2017, 07:55:54 pmIt is fake/counterfeit, just like the one I bought a while ago. On the PCB, the word "Agilent" is not using the genuine Agilent font.I was fully reimbursed and I did not return the counterfeit item. When I pointed to the Chinese seller that it was against eBay policies to sell counterfeit item and that there was no requirement to return the counterfeit item, the seller reimbursed me within minutes.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 01:28:14 am
content: In some countries (IIRC the US) it is illegal to put counterfeit items in the mail so legally you can't send it back if you are under such laws.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 02:30:24 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 06, 2017, 01:28:14 amHmm, I was not aware of that law. I need to look into this. So asking for a credit from Amazon three times, and three times they wanted m to send the fake item back and I should have kept it, interesting.On the other hand that might mean I broke the law by sending it back also.Little off topic, sort of.I have a Bluetooth speaker that started to act up. I figured a blow cap from the symptoms and was surprised to see a blow swelled LiPo pack. The manufacturer wants me to send it to them for a replacement, lol. It's hard enough to ship batteries, but you want me to send this knowing it has a welled damaged battery in the mail under my name. Um nope. Try again.So we are disputing the warranty terms and how they don't follow the law making the warranty illegal.Scott

author: iainwhite
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 09:53:01 pm
content: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail_and_wire_fraud

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 10:47:29 pm
content: Quote from: Scottjd on February 06, 2017, 02:30:24 amIANAL, so consult your attorney, as needed. My understanding of18 U.S.C. §1341is that there must be (1) intent, (2) a scheme or thing, and (3) use of the mail. Returning a fraudulent item by mail only meets requirements #2 and #3. There's no intent to defraud (requirement #1) since all parties involved in the return of the thing already know what it is.

author: usagi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2017, 09:03:30 am
content: i'm wondering if these are legit manufacture boards which failed QC and were intercepted/dumpster dived by someone, to be sold as these counterfeits?anyone have pictures of a legit 82357B to compare to the counterfeit?

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2017, 09:44:54 am
content: Quote from: usagi on March 17, 2017, 09:03:30 amStart with this post, and then look at the follow 4 posts.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/flood-of-new-agilent-82357b-gpib-usb-adaptors-on-ebay-the-real-deal/msg744004/#msg744004

author: msraya
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 06, 2017, 07:12:56 pm
content: I must confess that I have fallen into the purchase of a counterfeit unit...I just received it and although I know it is not original it is well finished and seems to work without problem with a single connection. The price is right, 70 euros, ten times less than the original value.So I finally cannot afford to buy an original unit for lack of funds.I hope it continue working..Manuel

author: Navarro
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 05:37:10 am
content: I bought a counterfeit and couldn't make it work with the Bechvue and my 34401AAny tips?

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 07:14:06 am
content: What contempt one, does it say Agilent?First thought, return it for an exchange. Or write the seller if it's on eBay telling them it's doesn't work and you found out it was counterfeit. Since it's against eBay's policy to sell counterfeit items the seller will probably want you to go away without any bad rating or review and just refund you.And if you want to see if you can get it to work I would probably give more details when asking for help.Error messages? Lights turn on? Any addition details help other members help you without having to ask.But for the sake of starting off with basic troubleshooting I'll offer these ideas.Do you get any kind of error message?Did you check the event logs to see if it's a USB driver issue? Are you plugging it into a hub, if so try directly to the computer USB port or another computer to rule out that it's an issue with the converter.Does any of the LED's light up on it when you plug it in. Did you install all the needed software?What operating system are you running, windows, Mac, Linux?Did you enable the port on the HP 34401A in the meters settings?Do you run any other GPIB equiptment to that same computer? If so make sure the address assigned to the HP is not conflicting with any other address assigned to another piece of test equiptment.Are you using an extention cable? If yes, remove the cable and make sure it's not a faulty cable.I would start with the above basic triple shooting first.If the lights don't come on at all then try just plugging it into a USB power plug, but not another computer incase it has a short inside you don't want to mess up the computers USB port.If you get no lights at all then it's a hardware issue, not a computer or software issue.Now if you don't plan to send it back or maybe are being refunded then I would take it apart and look for basic bad soldering. Maybe a short between some legs of a chip, or a component that is not soldered on all the way and is loose.Or maybe even a missing component, compare yours to other pictures posted in this thread.I hope this is a good start and helps,Scott

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 12:42:07 pm
content: Quote from: Navarro on June 07, 2017, 05:37:10 amMaybe the 34401A is configured to use the RS232 port instead of GPIB? You need to choose one or the other, both can't be used. It's in a menu somewhere.

author: usagi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 07:08:06 pm
content: Quote from: Navarro on June 07, 2017, 05:37:10 amdo you know for certain your 34401a has a working gpib? did you verify it with a known working gpib adaptor?

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 07:11:14 pm
content: Quote from: Navarro on June 07, 2017, 05:37:10 amIs it detected by operation system? What is VID and PID?Which type of clone you purchased?

author: Navarro
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 08:44:42 pm
content: Yes, it is detected and I can't return because It was send to the hotel room of a friend in Shenzhen. I asked for a refund because it's a counterfeit, the Agilent name in the other side of the adapter is not on Agilent font.It is detected on the Keysight software and the Keysight software detects the 34401A but, when I try to connect in Benchvue it goes similar if it was desconnected. I tried to change the GPIB addres, it's on SCPI but didn't worked yet.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 09:05:37 pm
content: Quote from: Navarro on June 07, 2017, 08:44:42 pmIn the "Keysight Connection Expert" software, can you send and receive a *IDN? command to and from the 34401A?Usually the fake Agilent 82357B adapters work well, as reported here in this thread.

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2017, 02:25:14 am
content: Interesting. Yes, do what high voltage asked with *IDN.But I find it interesting that you see the adapter and the meter, then when you try to connect it goes offline.Are you using a laptop? The are rated to use a certain amount of power, I think it's 500mAh. Some laptops have a tendency to put out less power on the USB port. And newer ones with windows 10 tried to power management the USB port and regulator the output.This might be one time you want to try using a powered used USB HUB inline with it?Scott

author: MattSR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2017, 07:16:23 am
content: The COA in this auction is priceless:-http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-HP-Agilent-82357B-USB-GPIB-Interface-High-Speed-USB-2-0-/192183296063?epid=854505730&hash=item2cbf04603f:g:FawAAOSwZ4dZEvFjMisspelled perfectly!

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2017, 08:52:34 am
content: COA?

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2017, 09:05:18 am
content: Quote from: tooki on July 07, 2017, 08:52:34 amCertificate of Authenticity

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 07, 2017, 11:21:02 am
content: Quote from: MattSR on July 07, 2017, 07:16:23 amSshhh!! You're giving away secrets useful for identifying the fakes

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2017, 12:22:20 pm
content: That's awesome, I looked at my fake cert and it has the correct spelling. See,s we have a new batch of fake manufactured ones hitting eBay's market now.Serial number still missing from being on the certificate also. 10 of November, 2009 is the wrong date even when compared to the real certificate I requested from keysight with the serial number of the fake one I received. It is in November 2009 and I think all the carts have the same date, just different serial numbers and it's not the 10th day in November., but close.And when I was looking I think I found another batch of fakes like this was. This batch of fakes went the extra mile to pay and get it UL certified. How nice of them to pay extra for that certification.Even my real authentic one directly from keysight and has the keysight printed on the adapter (not Agilent) doesn't even have the UL certification on the label. So another new sign of a fake one.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Agilent-82357B-USB-GPIB-Interface-Adapter-GPIB-USB-Controller/192183300711?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20161027085944%26meid%3Df00a6a4a86bf4823b4417bb3d8d1b986%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D192183296063

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2017, 12:59:34 am
content: So after shopping for another eBay buy that I can't afford to buy the new thing I stated to look deeper into eBays policy on counterfeit/fake items being sold.I found the following in eBay's policy of "Money Back Guarantee" as of today's date on this post. It may change so I'm mentioning the date I copied this.EBay's policy on counterfeit items is covered under the money back guarantee policy as stated below on August 6, 2017.https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/money-back-guarantee.htmlThe section on fakes copied from the policy as of August 6, 2017*Counterfeit items*If a buyer suspects that an item is counterfeit, and there are strong indicators that the item is counterfeit, we don't require the buyer to return the item to the seller. The buyer agrees to cooperate with us to ensure the proper disposal of the item. In such instances, we refund the buyer for the full cost of the item and original shipping, and the seller reimburses us for the refund. The buyer may not sell the item on eBay or elsewhere.Now only if Amazon will do the same since fighting counterfeit items take up a lot of resources, money, avoid taxes. I'm almost sure the store I bought the fake GBIP adapter from is still running and selling them on Amazon.This also handles the problem of some countries not allowing people to ship fake items if it's true since eBay doesn't want you to send the seller the fake item back. They want to cut the stock, and hurt them financially for violating the sellers agreement. They will go as far as shutting down the store and possibly paypal account also unless the seller can argue they didn't know it was fake and also sells other items that are not fake. Let's face it, sellers get ripped off sometimes also.For more information on fake/counterfeit items, how they affect everyone, what they find like human trafficking, slavery, sweatshops, and drugs you can read my post I just put up that has links for more information.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/counterfeitfake-hakko-fx-951-information-on-fake-items-and-ebay's-fake-policy/msg1275040/#msg1275040Scott

author: Simon Spiers
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2017, 12:18:48 pm
content: I too bought one from Ebay a few years ago. I w3as assured it was genuine when I paid the money although I doubted it. When I cracked it open it was obviously a fake, nothing like the genuine article inside. It did however seem to work OK, but I was piseed that they lied to me so demanded a refund. They did ask me to return the item but I told them I was not obliged to return fake items according to the UK law. They did refund the full cost on the agreement that i destroyed the item.Oh yes, of course I did!

author: Scottjd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2017, 05:25:46 am
content: Well, I little,off topic but not.I was assured today that the “replica” finger monkey was the same thing as the fingerling monkeys.Well, expect for the extra $5 price tage. Then he pulled one off the desk and showed me how it did the same thing, had the same sensors and all.When he turned arround I picked it up and what he showed me was an authentic fingerling monkey, not the ones he was selling in the boxes. So not only are they selling fakes, they are showing you the real thing to make the sale and lie to your face and charge you $5 more.Of course I bought it, how else am I to do a video showing the difference between a real and a fake and tear them both down?I did find it funny that they refused to sell me the demo one when they could have just opened another box for the demo. Oh, and the scrapped off the paint from the fingers to make it look like it was a fake one.But I have the whole conversation on video showing the really one with the Wowwee name half scrapped off the back, the authentic model number, serial number. All this stuff is missing from the fake ones in the box they are selling.I’m sure Wowwee would be interested in that video since they are in a roll with 132 law suits and stopping most of them at customs. All they did was changed the name and packaging and they now get past customs again in the US. But some of the really good fake packaging still gets past.But I think it will be a fun video to do, I’m looking forward to it. Besides, I want my microscope bench back. Can you find the fake one, lol?Scott

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2017, 06:21:58 am
content: Amazing how many 'used' ones come in a 'final seal package' whatever that actually means

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 04:25:40 am
content: Can anyone point me to an ebay seller who has sold them an adapter that functions well?

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 04:46:42 am
content: Mine came from here bad spelling and all in a final seal boxhttps://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-HP-Agilent-82357B-USB-GPIB-Interface-High-Speed-USB-2-0-NICE-CONDITION/122463606648?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649Only really had a first play with mine. Hooked up fine to both my 34970's Loggers and 6632B Power Supply saw my 34401A but there was some sort of communication issue which I suspect is the 34401's issue but I need to read the manual on bits and parity and language.Based on reading here and elsewhere it is still a lotteryEDIT: Just plugged in the 34401. Language was set to 3478a about to give SCPI a go.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 05:10:36 am
content: Now working fine on SCPI. It was seeing the meter on the 3478a but was getting an error back. Without having any older gear or other adapters to try I would gather it may be a problem to try and use 3478a based codes?

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 05:20:09 am
content: I don't have a 3478A but I have some mid-80's Keithley and some late 80's/90's HP and Tek.If its a crap shoot I might as well go for the cheapest and try and minimize my losses.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 05:30:10 am
content: Given a reasonable level of protection against either non working and or fake items and evilbay paypal protection there is plenty of options if you get a non working one. I went with Hong Kong dispatch rather then mainland China to make sure I had some time to test it. China can be 40+ days to here via MalaysiaHong Kong generally is direct and 8-10.As I am changing my workshop around at some stage I will get another.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2018, 11:32:54 am
content: Quote from: beanflying on February 09, 2018, 05:10:36 amMost likely whatever gave you the error was trying to send the SCPI command *IDN? to the 34401A, which is an SCPI command to identify an instrument. This command is not supported by older meters like the 3478A, so that's probably why you were getting an error. Try opening a terminal and sending it a valid 3478A command (e.g. F2) with the 34401A in 3478A mode, that will most likely work (meter should switch to ACV mode).

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2018, 01:39:02 pm
content: Will give it a go tomorrow back on the 3478a setting then. Apart from what I did almost 30 years ago at Uni all of which I have forgotten SCPI/488 hasn't been used so plenty of relearning to go.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2018, 01:36:48 am
content: Yep that works, turn off the auto identify puts it into listener mode on the particular instrument it doesn't error. In and out using 3478 commands seems to work fine too.Just for fun I have dropped 3 instruments off the adapter. 34401a using 3478a, 34970a using scpi and the 6632b on scpi. Works fine in this configuration too talking to all of them

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2018, 01:46:31 pm
content: Hi everyone. I have just got a 82357B from eBay. I chose one which was "used" thinking there may be greater chance that it is genuine, although it did come from China. It looks used and doesn't have any of the counterfeit trimmings pretending to be new. However, I can't get it to work properly so would be grateful for any advice; I want to work out quickly if i should return it.I am using the latest Keysight software. I am trying to control an HP 3457A DMM. So far I can send commands to the 3457A butall reads timeout. I am trying this through the "Interactive IO" tool in Connection Expert 2018.I realise the DMM doesnt support "*IDN?" so have turned off auto discovery. I have manually added an entry in Connection Expert with the correct GPIB address. Connection Expert says the instrument is connected. I gather this may be to do with getting the instrument configured as Listener and Talker but i can't find any relevant configuration either in CE or on the DMM...Here is the detail:Keysight IO Libraries Version: 18.1.23218.2Windows Server 2016 & Windows 10 (2 PCs tried)Adapter appears in Device Manager with no errorsLEDs on the adaptor cycle through expected pattern according to the manualCommands such as "ACV 10" are received by the DMM and I can see it changing range on the LCD."ID?", "*ID?", "CALNUM?", "ERR?" just time out (not sure if i need the asterisk).The error shown in CE Reading is a timeout: Error VISA:viRead timeoutThe Status Byte is 0x38"REM" (remote) indicator on the DMM does come on after sending commands"ERR" indicator on the DMM comes on after trying some commands involving a read. e.g. "ERR?" causes the DMM to set the ERR flag and stop displaying readings on the LCDTried using GPIB addresses 22 and 15. Same resultsThanks in advance.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2018, 06:29:23 pm
content: How about "*IDN?"

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2018, 06:43:15 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on July 01, 2018, 06:41:52 pmOops.

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2018, 06:44:51 pm
content: Hello,perhaps Interactive IO does not detect the end of a read.Can you see the read data?Try to enable EOI (look Command Reference 4-51)Search in googleni-visa programmer reference manualNI-VISA User ManualThere are much explained.There exists sample programs from National Instruments.perhaps this helps somewhat.Best regardsegonotto

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2018, 06:56:08 pm
content: Termination should be with <CR><LF> or ;

author: Nx-1997
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2018, 10:20:50 pm
content: For HP 3457A. Install NI-VISA 18.0. Then, install python 3.7 as well as PyVISA. Then copy example code from hp 3457a.txt file into python and run it.NI-VISA 18.0http://www.ni.com/download/ni-visa-18.0/7597/en/Make sure in the visa conflict manager change settings according to my screenshots.

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2018, 10:55:46 pm
content: Thanks everyone. I will try installing NI-Visa & connecting from PyVisa and report back. I had tried the various combinations of CR / LF in Connection Expert to no avail.I thought that using the Keysight plain installation was going to be most likely to work given HP Adaptor & HP DMM!Ultimately i do indeed want to use the DMM for data logging in Python so this will be useful to setup anyway. Right now i just need to verify if the Adaptor needs to be returned.Regards

author: Nx-1997
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2018, 11:37:40 pm
content: For those that didn't know, Tektronix Wavestar software works fine with the 82357B adapter on Windows 10. In my opinion, this is the best free software for controlling/getting measurement data from legacy Tek scopes, especially if you have a TDS 500/600/700 series scope. Installing it is tricky, you can't run NI-VISA and TEkVISA at the same time.More infohttps://www.tek.com/datasheet/wstroDownloadhttps://www.tek.com/oscilloscope/tds510a-software/wavestar-oscilloscopes

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 12:20:26 am
content: Quote from: EHT on July 01, 2018, 01:46:31 pmWhether or not to return it depends on (1) if it works (of course) and (2) if you mind having a "fake" one. Depending on what you're doing with it, the lookalike ones may work just fine as reported by others who have them.Does yours have the coating on the inside surface of the shell for shielding? If you don't want to open it, you can see some of the coating if you look inside the opening where the thumbscrews protrude. There are photos earlier in this thread for reference. If yours isn't shielded, there is a high probability that it's not genuine. At least I haven't heard of anyone adding paint to the inside to fake that, yet.

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 10:58:09 pm
content: OK, i have some progress which either may indicate the problem or my failure to follow the instructions correctly...I've upgraded Python to version 3.7 (64 bit) and installed pyvisa and the NI VISA distribution.I have the following problems:From Python (see attached debug info) or from NI's 'Measurement & Automation Explorer' tool only COM1, COM2 serial ports are listed not the USB 82357Brm.open_resource method throwspyvisa.errors.VisaIOError: VI_ERROR_LIBRARY_NFOUND (-1073807202): A code library required by VISA could not be located or loaded.Presumably due to installation order / setup of NI and NI VISA. Will continue to look at this.I've added some debug to the py script - see attached text file. This shows the detail of the two errors above. It is weird that it says the visa32.dll is 64-bit but anyway, i am trying to run it all 64-bit.To Bitseeker's points:Yes, at present I'm not trying to determine if it is fake or not, just if it works. If it may be fake but works fine i wouldn't bother returning it (it seems so hard to find and verify a genuine one anyway..). I can't see the shielding protruding but am not intending to take it apart (well, ironically, unless it works!).

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 11:32:27 pm
content: Yep, if it does what you need, it's good enough. I haven't done any GPIB via Python, so I'm unsure what might be going wrong there.As for the Visa error, double check that you don't have different manufacturers' Visa packages installed at the same time. Although some can be made to coexist, it's easier not to deal with that headache for testing basic functionality of your GPIB adapter.

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 10:14:07 am
content: Thanks. I did not uninstall the Keysight VISA libraries and tools, although when NI installed it did warn it replaced the dll in Windows/System32 folder. I will try uninstalling all the Keysight packages and attempt to get the NI tools to connect.At present the 82357B adaptor appears in the windows Device Manager as a GPIB adaptor (not a USB device) and appears healthy there, with the Keysight driver but the NI software doesn't see it.Thanks for the help!

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 03:23:14 pm
content: Hello,perhaps I can write you a little test program with VC6Then I need some data:for:status = viOpen (defaultRM, "GPIB0::2::INSTR", VI_NULL, VI_NULL, &instr);Is this ok for you?And which commands need you to send to your DMM?My driver is agt357run.sys Version 81.1.20011.4 from KeysightBest regardsegonotto

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 04:34:41 pm
content: Quote from: EHT on July 03, 2018, 10:14:07 amKeysight and NI will coexist and you do need the Keysight drivers installed to run the 82357B.You do have to enable the NI-Visa Passport for "Tulip" for NI to see devices via the Keysight drivers - this may help:https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z000000P9t6SACAt that point, it was 32bit only... so you might have to install a 32bit version of Python.It will work and I have done it. I've even managed to make it work remotely over ethernet. The important steps are:Install Keysight libraries first.Install NI VISA.Enable Tulip Passport.

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 04:54:57 pm
content: Thanks for the help Orin & Egonotto.Quote from: orin on July 03, 2018, 04:34:41 pmGreat - thanks for the clarification.Quote from: orin on July 03, 2018, 04:34:41 pmInstall Keysight libraries first - DoneInstall NI VISA - Done although as i mentioned it is weird that the 32 bit Visa dll is reported as being 64 bit.Enable Tulip Passport - I hadn't heard of this will check. I'll try this first rather than uninstalling the Keysight software.Quote from: egonotto on July 03, 2018, 03:23:14 pmThanks for this Egnotto. At present i'm sure that viOpen() would throw due to either Visa library conflict or not being able to see the USB device.

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 07:04:10 pm
content: Quote from: EHT on July 03, 2018, 04:54:57 pmWhich visa32.dll is being reported as 64bit? On a 64bit system, if it's in C:\Windows\System32, it should be 64bit! The 32bit version, if any, should be in C:\Windows\SysWOW64.One might consider this directory naming not to make sense... I assume it was to minimize the changes required to port an app from 32 to 64 bits - you don't have to change hard coded OS paths, but it makes an awful mess for running 32 bit apps on a 64bit system.

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 07:41:42 pm
content: Quote from: orin on July 03, 2018, 07:04:10 pmI meant by the Visa get_debug_info() which was in the file attached above:Version: 1.9.0 (bundled with PyVISA)#1: C:\Windows\system32\visa32.dll:found by: autobitness: 64Vendor: National InstrumentsImpl. Version: 18874368Spec. Version: 5244928#2: C:\Windows\system32\visa64.dll:found by: autobitness: 64Vendor: National InstrumentsImpl. Version: 18874368Spec. Version: 5244928Anyway - i think I've fixed it now! Now it shows this:Version: 1.9.0 (bundled with PyVISA)#1: C:\Windows\system32\visa32.dll:found by: autobitness: 32Vendor: National InstrumentsImpl. Version: 18874368Spec. Version: 5244928

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 07:54:00 pm
content: Thanks to all. I have it working now!Here is what I changed:Installed Python 3.7 32-bit. As expected this removed the error about failing to load dependent librariesEnabled "Tulip" in NI passport settings as described here:https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z000000P9t6SACEnabled "Enable Keysight GPIB cards for 488 programs" setting in Keysight CE as described herehttps://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z0000019L2jSAEEnsured the 3457A was on. I know it sounds stupid, but the Keysight CE was showing the USB adaptor whether or not the instrument was on. rm.list_resources() does not show an entry for the adaptor, but for the GPIB instrument.The py script from Nx-1997 is working; it returns "HP3457A" from "ID?" and then it is returning voltage readingsI haven't tried looking at the NI or Keysight GUIs again yet.When I have time, I will extend this to cover the Rear Panel inputs. I have the HP44491 Multiplexer in it, which can only be used via GPIB.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 08:27:48 pm
content: Glad to see you got it working. Thanks for documenting your setup. I'm sure others will find it helpful as well.

author: Joel_l
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 02:07:55 am
content: Now I'm looking for one of these interfaces. One of the ads I saw came with Functional Test Ceryficate. Now I suppose it's possible that some Agilent division missed the spelling errors, but more makes me question if they are genuine. But then there's the notion of, if they work, do I care.Anyone get a confirmed counterfeit?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 06:24:04 pm
content: Quote from: Joel_l on July 04, 2018, 02:07:55 amIt looks like you did not read the full thread.Yes, lots of us had a counterfeit 82357B.I had one as well and it worked without problems.But since I only wanted to have genuine adapters, I sold my counterfeit 82357B and the buyer was also happy.However, there have been reports of none working 82357B counterfeits

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 09:23:25 pm
content: I'll probably take mine apart and check the various signs out of interest but I'm afraid it won't help anyone else as it was a one-off listing. I chose one which looked like it was used, and in my thinking, perhaps original. I paid more than the usual price of the dodgy listings. Any of them marketed as new (and cheap) must definitely be counterfeit.

author: Joel_l
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 09:44:06 pm
content: You are right, I didn't, I read a handful. Now that I have looked at more, some of these are pretty bad. I think I will just buy something that's not trying to pretend it's Agilent.Quote from: HighVoltage on July 04, 2018, 06:24:04 pm

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 10:13:57 pm
content: Quote from: Joel_l on July 04, 2018, 09:44:06 pmI'd trust those generic non-brand knockoffs even less. I tried one and it did not work properly. As I recall, it would not trigger the instrument. It was last seen in a drawer in my office. It's unlikely to come out again.

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 10:30:45 pm
content: Hmm. My setup stopped working after rebooting. Came up with the Visa error "Insufficient location information or the device or resource is not present in the system.". The instrument was not showing in the return value fromResourceManager.list_resources()or in the NI App. However, the USB device was showing working as normal in DeviceManager.Power cycling the DMM had no effect. I had to pull the USB cable out of the PC and re-insert it with the VISA apps open, then it started working again. Is this setup normally as flaky as this?On a positive note, I have it reading the 8 channels from the rear inputs of the 3457A.

author: orin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 11:21:15 pm
content: Quote from: EHT on July 04, 2018, 10:30:45 pmThere have been occasions where my (possibly counterfeit) 82357B gets in some state such that needs it to be unplugged before it works properly. Usually the red LED on the 82357B will be on when this happens.On the other hand, it will read values from my 5370A counter for days on end with 'timelab'.

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2018, 01:24:46 am
content: FWIW I asked Keysight about them. They had no record of the serial number shown in the eBay listing.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2018, 08:23:39 pm
content: They're still up there, just received a fake. The SN on the sealed box doesn't match the sticker on the adapter which doesn't match the driver SN. Sticker SN isn't recognized by Keysight's registration program, though the software SN is.Reasonable quality, but I didn't want to spend that much on some fake... I suppose throughput is probably as advertised since it uses the same parts... so I don't really know if I want to return it.Things that give it away:No padding inside of sealed boxNo shielding applied to inside of chassisDiffering serial numbers everywhere you lookNo metal clip around USB cable plugDifferent Agilent name font on PCB copperI sent the seller a message, we'll see what they have to say.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 01:41:27 am
content: Did yours have a piece of paper with "Certyficate" or similar misspelling in the title? I've seen some like that.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 02:04:02 am
content: My certificate seems to be at least mostly spelled correctly, but the middle parts are all wonky with spacing - often no spaces between words or double or triple space between other things. Think it could be missing some carriage returns as well.In an case the SN on the box is MY49458927, on the hardware is MY49455426, and on the certificate it's blank so..... that certainly instills confidence.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 05:24:36 am
content: No doubt.One day, I hope we can learn where they've all been coming from.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 09:34:55 pm
content: My two boxes are fakes as well. Box and inside having different serial numbers, and Ceryficate.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 10:10:38 pm
content: I am wondering now, if the software CD that came in the box were safe? Anyone have any thoughts on that angle?

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 10:31:51 pm
content: Quote from: tkamiya on October 04, 2018, 10:10:38 pmEven with legitimate products I never even bother with the CD - just find the website and get the latest legitimate version you would have to upgrade to online even if you did install an ancient CD version.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 11:08:08 pm
content: Quote from: tkamiya on October 04, 2018, 10:10:38 pmI think it came with Agilent IO Libraries Suite 10 on the disk. Current version is 15

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 11:54:23 pm
content: My CD says 15.5 from year 2009..... whatever!No, that's not what I am worried about. Knowing now that the board is a copy, there is no guarantee that the CD content is right. It could have been modified in some way. (ie. virus, etc)

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 12:03:36 am
content: Yeah I understand, I guess with all the computer hardware drivers nowadays, I never even bother with the included CD when it's something available online, and the out of data software I feel most users just ignore as a matter of course.I rechecked all the SNs on mine and none of them are recognized by Keysight, turns out when you update it, it closes the popped out error, so it was never actually going through before.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 12:10:11 am
content: I kept reporting eBay listings where misspelled certificates were easily identifiable in the photos. Lately, I haven't seen them. Instead, the paperwork is obscured. Might just be a coincidence, but funny nonetheless.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 12:14:58 am
content: I wonder Agilent knows about this?It is becoming such that copies and counterfeits are so common place, you'd spend time and money to kill one, just to have another one pop up. I know of a case, locally, that even an authorized retailer of a product was duped with fakes.I took mine apart. Except for one crocket cap, PCB looked alright. No signs of hand soldering. No EMI shielding of course. Based on OK quality, I'm thinking some players from right distribution chain is somehow involved.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 12:33:08 am
content: It'd be Keysight now, but I'm pretty sure they're aware. When we discussed these fakes last year, or whenever it was, some forum members contacted Keysight both to find out if theirs were fakes and to raise awareness.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 09:33:10 am
content: Quote from: DaJMasta on October 05, 2018, 12:03:36 amSame here, I never put driver disks into my machines, especially those Mini CDR ones that have the panda on them, they're usually snapped in two and hit the bin as soon as I have the drivers from a more reputable source

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 01:02:57 pm
content: I've contacted my eBay seller and he's acting innocent. "Oh, my supplier said it's genuine". Yeah. I'm about to find out what "do his best to satisfy my interest" means.It's so sad that we all know the part of world these come from and approximate players involved but we can't do anything about it. They just flood into this country. Mine kind of sort of works depending on equipment. I've spent time and money to repair/calibrate my equipment. I'm not going to let this kind of silly thing be the weak link.I just wish Agilent one is more reasonably priced relative to BOM.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 01:40:22 pm
content: A few years ago, when all this came up and I posted my pictures earlier in this thread, I was contacted by Keysight and even followed up by a phone call.So, Keysight is 100% aware of this.However, I think this is too small of a case to put a legal team on and go after the bad guys.I also suspected at the time, that the populated PCB was somehow taken out of an official production line, because they were too perfect. But these days anything is possible.What surprised me the most, was that such an effort is put in to an item that cost not too much but has a very small target group. How many of these adapters can you really sell in a year?The latest one I bought is an original Keysight branded model.May be even more difficult to detect, once the fake types will move over to the Keysight logo.Best thing to detect is by pulling on the screw and look for the EMI shielding around the screw opening.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 01:45:40 pm
content: Actually, what I found suspicious was the way USB cable is attached. Once I opened it, I realized the cable is just a standard micro to standard USB2 cable. There's a micro connector on PCB board. Is it this way on genuine article as well? I thought it was wasteful when they can just do pogo-pin method to test and save the expense for molding and connectors.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 01:48:39 pm
content: Quote from: tkamiya on October 05, 2018, 01:45:40 pmOn Page 6 of this thread you find my original pictures of the real PCBAnd yes, there is a USB connector on the PCB of the real onehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/flood-of-new-agilent-82357b-gpib-usb-adaptors-on-ebay-the-real-deal/msg744008/#msg744008

author: Grandchuck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 03:36:49 pm
content: I have both a fake and a real one. I never realized that I had a fake until a recent purchase of a used 3458A that came with the genuine article. Now I understand why there were so many frustrating experiences with GPIB here in my home lab. The fake is intermittent. It seems to be the USB connector on the circuit board, but I am not sure of that. It is too old (the fake) to try to get my money back. It was a bit dumb of me not to think about the "great price" I got at the time

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 03:43:21 pm
content: The fake one does not come back up when the computer returns from hibernation and has to be reconnected. That created a sense of intermittentcy to me until i figured that out. Do not know about the real one.

author: Grandchuck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2018, 06:37:29 pm
content: Something else about my fake unit ... it was reworked, as the picture shows. Burn marks on the top of the IC and flux puddles around it.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2018, 01:51:38 am
content: We are probably dealing with units from various sources. Some factory seconds, some repaired returns/defectives, and some genuine fake.I don't have time for this. I'm going to toss them and get a genuine one. This is not good for my mental health.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2018, 09:20:26 am
content: I did not expect this....I just looked at my original genuine "Keysight" branded 82357B and the "Functional Test Certificate" that came with it. Interestingly enough, the serial numbers don't match !The serial number on the device can be traced on the Keysight website.MY563...The serial number on the certificate can NOT be traced on the Keysight website.MY555...Hmmm, who knows, may be something strange is still going on with this device at the Keysight production or packaging facility.

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 08, 2018, 02:00:42 pm
content: Seems like Keysight has a feeling for that:Source:http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/82357-90003.pdfMore over RTFM, it looks like the serial number is used in the SW, so it must be stored in somewhere inside the 82357B.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2018, 08:36:16 pm
content: I had a conversation with an owner of a local calibration lab. I told him I ended up with a counterfeit HP82357B. He laughed and said all of them are fake! (I'm sure he meant on secondary market) According to him, they usually work just as well and so much cheaper. I guess this is a well known thing in the industry.I guess there are some good fakes and bad fakes?He showed me a copy of an HP cable that even said "Made in USA". According to him, it's a fake. Whomever copied the original did so EXACTLY.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2018, 02:03:16 am
content: Possible. Even in the earlier discussions of this adapter, there were photos of some units that were more obviously fake. In other product categories (e.g., watches or handbags), there are different grades of counterfeits, with corresponding prices reflecting the quality of "fakemanship."

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2018, 08:11:34 am
content: Quote from: zucca on October 08, 2018, 02:00:42 pmInteresting, ZuccaIn Figure 1-1 of this manual page, they forgot to show the "Functional Test Certificate"And in the text above it, they call it the "82357B Certificate of Calibration"With all this confusion, it seems easy to bring fake items on to the market.As to the working ability of the fake adapters:I had two of them and one was working perfectly and the other one always gave me problems and I thought it was software related, until this thread was opened.But at the beginning of this thread, I still believed my fake one was real, until I opened them all!

author: ekeppel
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 01:59:34 am
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on October 06, 2018, 09:20:26 am@HighVoltageLet me preface this post by saying that I have *not* had occasion to examine a genuine Keysight-branded GPID adapter personally, so take this with a grain of salt please.Having said that, did you happen to open this one up and see if everything is up to Keysight standards? I'm not entirely clear from your post if this was purchased directly from Keysight or through another vendor. It may be my own 'counterfeit paranoia' talking, but to me something just doesn't look right about the way that copper paint is applied near the screw. I've noticed that counterfeiters will often modify their products to make them appear more legit once notable differences from the real thing become known to consumers, even gleaning such information from forums like this one, so...I don't know why, but the impression that I get when I see your second photo is that the paint was sprayed on there 'for show', and may not truly extend to the inside of the device. On the less-paranoid side, the differences in paint application from the genuine Agilent branded ones that I've seen may be simply due to slight changes made when the Keysight re-branding took effect.I hope that I'm proven wrong here, since it would eliminate the easiest method (that I'm aware of) for differentiating the genuine article from the fakes without opening the case.--On the topic of fakes, it's getting really bad out there with counterfeits, even down to the component level. I recently ordered some ST-branded 2N3055s on eBay, and they were all fake. I still had a few genuine ones from Mouser to compare to, and even the external differences were obvious. Sure enough, though rated for over 15A, the eBay ones consistently blew at just a couple of amps when tested under load.Had I used them to repair the PSU I was working on at the time, they would have likely fried anything hooked it. I went looking around online, and sure enough there are YouTube videos of folks cutting open the metal cases of these things to see what was inside. Compared to the real ones, the fakes contained only a tiny undersized piece of silicon with no chance of handling their rated current.I now buy components like that only from a trusted source such as Digi-Key, Mouser, etc. Lesson learned. Unfortunately, most hobbyists such as myself can't afford to pay Keysight's retail price for something like this GPIB adapter, so we're forced to navigate the land of make-believe in hopes of finding the real thing.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 03:39:15 am
content: Are the prologix gpib adapters compatible with hp equipement ?, if so im not aware of any counterfeit item in this brand ?

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 04:27:36 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on December 09, 2018, 03:39:15 amWhen a US company that has no Chinese distributors and you can buy a product for 25% less than from the manufacturer out of China I suspect there may be a bit of an issue with cloning.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 04:32:36 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on December 09, 2018, 03:39:15 amgpib = gpib, so they they will talk to the equipment no problem. However if you wanted to use any HPAK produced software etc it won't work with Prologix adapters.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 09:34:34 am
content: The instrument side will be very similar and mostly compatible (IEEE 488.1 and related standards). The computer side not so much. There are some industry standards here (the gpib-32 low-level library, the GPIB resource in VISA), but last time I checked, Prologix didn't implement any of them.This means that generally software developed for the Prologix interface will not work without modifications on a Keysight / NI / ICS / Tektronix interface, and the other way around. The latter includes pretty much any software made by an instrument manufacturer (e.g. BenchVue), any LabVIEW driver and IVI drivers. Open source / hobby initiatives seem split, but in general the industry standard ones seem to be better supported there.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 10:02:31 am
content: Quote from: ekeppel on December 09, 2018, 01:59:34 amYes, I did open this one up and it is a genuine Keysight part that came from a reputable distributor.Probably some unlikely but possible paperwork mixup at the Keysight factory.

author: ekeppel
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 11:41:55 pm
content: Excellent. So at least for now we are safe if we see the copper overspray. Thanks!

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2018, 05:05:13 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on December 09, 2018, 03:39:15 amThe Prologix adapters can talk to the instruments, but can your software talk to the Prologix adapter? Every other GPIB adapter on the market, from Agilent, NI, or whoever, comes with APIs and DLLs conforming to standards, and this allows compatibility between software and adapters. Prologix is the exception, they don't have a VISA layer or a GPIB-32.DLL or any other standardized interface. Some homebrew software supports the Prologix adapters but don't expect most professional software to do so.In this case, I'd lean toward the cloned 82357b. It may be fake, but it is a 1:1 copy, including the GPIB bus driver ICs. These are glaringly missing from the Prologix one. Instead, it depends on the logic levels of the microcontroller inputs (are they true TTL levels as required?), and the drive strength of the micro's outputs (can they sink 48 mA of current on all lines at the same time? Hm...), and the ESD input protection of the micro as well. These are the things that those bus driver ICs are designed to handle.

author: Mr Simpleton
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2019, 09:59:43 am
content: Bugger, I was one of those fooled by the hype and got one of the 82357B from Nettcy168... and of course it was a fake. Now while waiting for the darn thing to show up I managed to get a used NI-USB HS dongle that works like charm. So when the Agilent fake showed up it was put on the shelf and promptly forgotten (should have initiated a refund but...), until yesterday. I had some work done using a 82357A, and suddenly remembered my fake one. Interestingly this one is not even detected by my computer.... Dead as a door nail. Should keep me busy all friday evening looking to see why....They still sell this crap on e-bay and they have upped the offer by showing "Functional Test Ceryificate". Never got a ceryificate with mine so bets are thats why it doesn't even show up at the device manager.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2019, 10:12:48 am
content: It is a surprise to me that after so many years, Keysight is not doing anything against these fake offers.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2019, 10:20:42 am
content: Given they are a relatively simple device perhaps if Keysight were less greedy than $900 AU Pesos retail we may not buy the clones at $130 AU pesos.Much as mine worked fine and continues to do so having Paypal as a backstop for evilbay's claims process makes it a reasonable gamble if you get a Dud.Personally if the cloning clowns produced a functional equivalent in a different wrapper I would still buy one to give it a go so it is a shame they think copying is the way to the most sales.

author: Mr Simpleton
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2019, 10:54:57 am
content: Could not resist cracking this open... and was surprised how "neat" the inside looked. Much much better workmanship than some showed us years ago. Still lacking the metalization on the inside, and the PCB clearly is a fake, but soldering looks OK, but a few puddles of soldering flux.Juggling the mini-USB connector brought the bugger back to life, and I managed to connect to a HP8753E. Closer inspection shows a very very crappy connector on the cable end. Will be interesting to see how long the interface will stay OKFor any critical work I'll reveret back to my NI USB-HS...

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2019, 10:55:27 am
content: For those of you, who are interested:I am selling mygenuineNational Instrument GPIB to USB Adapterhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/(fs)-national-instruments-gpib-to-usb-adapter-new-ni-187965b-01/

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2019, 01:45:21 am
content: Quote from: Mr Simpleton on February 14, 2019, 09:59:43 amYeah, I had a good laugh when I first saw those showing up. Some also use the wrong fonts. I reported the fakes to eBay for over a year, but they can't (or won't) do anything about it, even though I tell them why it's obviously fake. So, I gave up.

author: rkeller
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2019, 11:53:41 am
content: Did we ever come up with a consensus as to what GPIB to USB was worth buying for under $200 US?I see the real deal on Keysight and Newark’s websites for $594.https://www.keysight.com/en/pd-851808-pn-82357B/usb-gpib-interface-high-speed-usb-20?cc=US&lc=enghttps://www.newark.com/keysight-technologies/82357b/high-speed-usb2-0-gpib-interface/dp/31M9424But... is there a reasonable clone or copy that works?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2019, 12:48:57 pm
content: The clones seem to work ok under windows but have problems under linux.I suggest to get a real Keysight or Agilent Adapeter. This way you will not need to worry if your possible problems come from the adapter.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2019, 01:15:17 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on April 25, 2019, 12:48:57 pmOne I have is completely indistinguishable from original and works perfectly in Linux an windows. I use it with Raspberry PI no problem too..

author: rkeller
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2019, 09:45:44 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on April 25, 2019, 01:15:17 pmWhich one might that be?

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2019, 10:22:43 pm
content: Quote from: rkeller on April 25, 2019, 09:45:44 pmThis one..

author: notfaded1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2019, 04:21:04 pm
content: I decided to look for a used real Keysight labeled GPIB. I think I found one and it's on it way from guess where? Fingers crossed it's real. It's hard to tell from the pictures but I'm pretty sure it's got the shielding around the thumb screws and he swears it was a real full priced Keysight he bought with a MM from a distributor. I tried hard to get him budge on price but 110$ delivered was as low as he would go. He has a LOT of real Keysight hardware as well and I've seen pictures of them so after a lot of back and forth I think I'm in the money. I was going to buy a fake but I'd rather have a real one.Regards,Bill

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 27, 2019, 04:27:15 pm
content: Quote from: notfaded1 on August 27, 2019, 04:21:04 pmGet him to send you the serial number and check it:https://service.keysight.com/infoline/public/generic-form.aspx?frm_name=$mobile$warranty-statusSee if it's a known serial number and the date jives with the story.EDIT: Fixed mangled URL.

author: notfaded1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2019, 08:44:30 pm
content: Great news!!! My 82357B came and checks out on the warranty site at Agilent!Check the pic of the shieldingAttached is photo of the shielding I took as soon as I unboxed it!Warranty & Agreement StatusSales order number: : xxxxxxx (Removed)Shipped: : 1/22/2018WarrantyView warranty1Yr,Keysight/Dealer,RTK,8x5I thought I could barely see the shielding in his picture and he swore he bought it from Agilent with another device... for once someone told the truth! For a couple dollars over a C note I'll call this a win!For those watching at home and looking check out the stickers on the back of a real one.Bill

author: Alfons
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2019, 08:19:02 pm
content: Quote from: Nx-1997 on July 01, 2018, 11:37:40 pmCan someone explain to me how this works? I don't get that. The controller is detected under Keysight I/O and can also communicate with the Tek744. Wavestar detects the driver, but always reports that the device is not responding.

author: Alfons
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2019, 09:46:50 am
content: It's good that I still kept my ancient IBM Thinkpad, on which XP is still installed. And everything works smoothly. Now Wavestar is running. However, the Thinkpad's CMOS battery is empty. Have to look how I fix it.

author: Alfons
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2019, 04:10:47 pm
content: Quote from: Alfons on November 05, 2019, 08:19:02 pmUltimately, it's easy to get Wavestar to work with TDS devices in conjunction with the Agilent 82357B adapter under Win10. I made the mistake to start Wavestar in compatibility mode. If you install Wavestar with administrator rights without compatibility mode, it will run. It is only necessary to install Keysights I / O libraries suite and then enable the mode, that other software can access the interface. No other visa drivers are needed and just bother. I had a lot of work getting the Agilent adapter working properly under LabView, which also caused problems for Wavestar. But now everything runs together cleanly. And Wavestar is not bad, but I have to learn something else. It has access to almost all functions of the device.

author: DeepLink
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2019, 10:27:21 pm
content: Quote from: macboy on October 17, 2016, 12:41:29 pm@macboy - do you mean that the 82357B uses GPIB32.dll?I have been using the EZGPIB program with an ICS electronics 488-USB interface (under Win XP) works perfect (with 9 instruments)Now I have a 82357B interface, but the EZGPIB program does not find any GPIB32.dllThe latest Keysight IO libraries are installed (ver. 18-1)Will the 82357B only work under VISA32.dll?BTW - some say GPIB-32.dll, others GPIB32.dll

author: dekagon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2019, 06:19:00 pm
content: Hello,try to aktivate 488 compatibility mode in the IOLib Settings. If this mode is activsted then 488 compatible software can find the drivers and identify the connected gpib measurement devices.EZGPIB is a 32bit software and needs the 488 compatibility mode...For all who are using a counter with visa drivers and want to use Timelab for aquiring timestamps or frequency data please use the 32bit version of Timelab (simply change the link from timelab64.exe to timelab.exe).With 488 compatibility mode Timelab can find the Keysight GPIB USB adapter and communicate with the counter or TIC device...Have funChris

author: harha
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2019, 06:16:25 pm
content: HiI have also bought one--works great with my eq--agilent,keysight and tektronixHardy

author: greasemonkey
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2020, 07:03:25 pm
content: Update from 2020.I just got my fake 82357B and it works like a charm. I even got a plot from my ancient 8568A through ke5fx gpib toolkit.The "shields" are not visible but who cares? It has a valid "Ceryificate"

author: xzswq21
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2021, 08:43:18 pm
content: I changed a PCB inside an old HP spectrum analyzer (HP8560E) and they said meI have to update the firmware of the spectrum analyzer through Keysight software, as you know there are many Agilent 82357b GPIB-USB adapters in eBay from 90$ to some hundreds dollars ... which one I should buy? Thanks

author: greasemonkey
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2021, 08:52:23 pm
content: Quote from: xzswq21 on July 15, 2021, 08:43:18 pmThis is the one I got (Nov, 2020 but the link is still live):https://www.ebay.com/itm/192183277024

author: hnjmkl
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2022, 07:00:51 am
content: I got the same version as fat monkey, I have a 3478A to try it out, what should I check if it works?

author: hnjmkl
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2022, 02:05:12 pm
content: Tried, it works great with other tools too.

author: xzswq21
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 06:38:32 pm
content: Quote from: greasemonkey on December 17, 2020, 07:03:25 pmI have a 82357B adapter and a HP8560E, how should I see them in ke5fx gpib toolkit? Thanks