EEVblog #185 - Fluke 87V Multimeter GSM Fix! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: twilliams
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2011, 12:48:01 pm
content: So I don't think this was mentioned in the video but how do those of us that already have an 87 V get ours fixed. Will Fluke send us a new board. Are they going to be sticklers on the unit not being purchased from an authorized dealer?

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2011, 06:25:35 pm
content: Link of the video.Hi Dave ..Many interesting findings again.Now speaking about speed ... we have say all ready so much about it.We made known the GSM story about eight months back.In a way, due to the fact, that the cure was related in a hardware level,personally I can not evaluate their response speed.The most juicy detail as change looks to be the LCD display,yea it looks much better and the degrees of the viewable angle got improved by allot,the Fluke 28II I think that haves a bit better viewable angle from the 87V sold until today.If you like test the new 87V/EUR with the 28II and share your thoughts, about the viewable angle.The dark tint in the LCD screen, it did effected me in a way,the latest Agilent industrial DMM are using too this " a bit dark " display and I was close to accuse them by having the bright Fluke as example,the problem is that now the screen looks better with the back light on, but it forces you to operate the back light more often,if you are in area with poor natural light.Small down size, but some people working in the field, they will spot the difference.By the way, I watched some parts of the video, and I did not spotted any battery consumption measurements.Like how is the LCD display consumption, compared with the " old revision " PCB ?About the test leads I will predict that the TL-75, they will suddenly start to sell on Ebay like hot cakes,because with them the DMM becomes more practical, if you use to turn and secure the test leads around the holster.Nice video as always .. Thump up.

author: pmrlondon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2011, 06:40:06 pm
content: Well, they've fixed it and made some trivial improvements as they've gone. Welcome to the party, Fluke.I would always consider Fluke anyway, but if they were European, even more so.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 10, 2011, 12:14:41 am
content: Quote from: twilliams on July 09, 2011, 12:48:01 pmThere was no mention of this, apart from it effectively being a "silent" update. Meaning that they won't be publicising it, the new units will just come out with the new board.Because it's a very specific fault they won't have an active campaign to go and fix every every unit ever sold.But I am lead to believe that if you are really not happy with your GSM afflicted unit, Fluke will endeavor to make you happy. But don't quote me on that.It's not surprising that they won't go out and fix every unit ever sold off their own bat, because it's the world most popular industrial multimeter, with countless units in the field, and no one ever had a problem until Kiriakos found it and bricked his unit.Unlike say the Agilent meter, that really had a major fault that could effect every unit in everyday use.Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 10, 2011, 12:47:19 am
content: Quote from: pmrlondon on July 09, 2011, 06:40:06 pmAh the cultural cringe. Where an identical item must be some how superior because it has European origin. It's pervasive and a load of codswallop. A fair comparison is based upon tangibly measured variables not popularised politics.It's good to see Fluke responding to ongoing problems and also good to see that the products are still evolving and adopting improved technology. No doubt the accountants in the firm would wish the design to remain static of than changes that reduce production cost. Benchmark status for the 87V would be both a blessing and a curse, the tiny improvements show that the engineers at Fluke still do have a voice.Kudos to EEVBLOG for being recognised as significant by an established industry leader.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2011, 12:59:32 am
content: As always, a great review. Hopefully you can emphasize to Fluke to check the volume on the alarm beep, I preferred it loud as in the current 87V, so it carries above the noise of one's surroundings. I'm also happy for you that eevblog is clearly noticed by the big manufacturers, You may have a scoop as far as the Fluke revision board news & review.Could it just be the piezo beeper quality? If you switch the rear case a simple A-B comparison can be made.

author: ipman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2011, 07:58:59 am
content: Quote from: Uncle Vernon on July 10, 2011, 12:47:19 amYou did not understand. If Fluke factory was located in Europe, there were lower taxes, and so lower price. Simple as that.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 11, 2011, 08:16:16 am
content: Quote from: ipman on July 11, 2011, 07:58:59 amI understood! No doubt about it. Nothing to do with taxes if or cost of manufacture! If that was applicable the desire would be for Asian and not European origin.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2011, 10:11:24 am
content: This is old news , but Fluke had the chance to play and possibly Win in the European market,but it did not use it.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EKF/is_n1965_v39/ai_13909191/

author: deadbuglabs
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 17, 2011, 11:08:11 am
content: Hi everyone,I just made an animated GIF where you can see the difference between the two boards. It's not perfect because of the lens distortion, but it works.Have fun.

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2014, 02:14:03 am
content: I'm bumping this because the question remains unanswered. What do the changes actually consist of? Could old units be fixed?It would make sense if the 4 added pairs of resistors and capacitors were pullups and filtering for the 4 JTAG lines, but has anyone confirmed this? Also note that the chip is specified to have a 60 kohm pull-up on each of the JTAG pins.Then there's the added capacitor, which may act as a low-pass filter.Has anyone tried adding these changes individually to an old meter to see which one, or both in combination, fixes the issue?Alternatively, could an old unit be fixed by adding shielding somewhere? (I'm asking for someone who would prefer a solderless and reversible solution.)

author: elecBlu
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2014, 07:41:57 am
content: it is much easier than that. Just send it to Fluke for repair, you will get a new revision board. The duration was about 2 weeks and it was no problem at all that it was a unit from ebay without invoice (but i registered the unit at fluke before starting the online-RMA process).So no worries about doing the fix by yourself in that case imho