Fluke 87 mk3, or Agilent U1242B, which is better - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: smudge
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 03:23:15 am
content: I have the opportunity to get one or the other . Have Daves bog standard issue and having one of these would be my next buyAny one have had both and their thoughts would help me, thanks

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 05:19:53 am
content: Fluke 87 mk3 is the clear winnerTouch Hold, AC response to 20khz, lightning fast PEAK Min MaxTHE best Continuity -BEEPER- in the business and loads moreWhat's not to like ?Pair it up with your EEVblog meter and you pretty much have most features covered, what one lacks the other has

author: smudge
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 06:18:12 am
content: Thanks for that, FLUKE it is. My old Fluke 77 is going to be so miserable there's a new (2nd hand) Boss aroundJust need a scope to complete the Zen. Thanks.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 09:45:53 am
content: Suggest a WORKING analogue scope, anything from 15mhz up to a 100mhz bench hogand a budget 100mhz DSO scope in 2 or 4 channel, with dedicated controls directly above each channel (avoid shared / switched up-down-left-right controls BS that quickly drain the brain)any low bug model DSO that's popular and known on EEVblog forum,Siglent or Rigol etc basically anything with the capture freeze function that the standard analogue scopes can't doJust like having two multimeters, two different scopes always helps to verify WYSIWYG, or close enoughHappy spending decisions...

author: mzacharias
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 10:54:44 am
content: This thread is probably already dead, but yeah. The Fluke will still be working when the Agilent has disintegrated.(exaggerated intentionally)

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 10:05:26 pm
content: This thread is not dead till OP smudge says sohttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-u1253b-oled-slowly-going-bad/the latest of many similar posts...

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 10:15:18 pm
content: Bit of a hard call. The Fluke is generally nicer to use thanks to an easier to read screen (even better than the 87-5) and a much easier to hear beep. The Agilent has a better set of features including temperature and I think logging. I believe both have touchhold.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 10:15:48 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on February 02, 2018, 10:05:26 pmDo you know the difference between LCD and OLED?

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 10:25:54 pm
content: AFAIK, the LCD works as a long term robust meter displayand the other is brighter, devours batteries like pacman, and cashes out sooner than later

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 11:22:12 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on February 02, 2018, 10:25:54 pmThen why you link to the tread about early generation OLED screen which has longevity issues when meter in question has LCD.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 12:45:20 am
content: Firstly I deemed it relevant to the casual chat hereand because from what is posted everywhere about Agilents in general, including here >www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/agilent-u1242b/they don't appear to be that great for the dollars,perhaps an eye candy attempt at door busting into Fluke's established territory, with not enough field and longevity testing,with 'new technology' apologies / excuses thrown in to soothe any butt hurt added to coin toss repair/exchange/tough titties supportIf I had to consider a non Fluke, it would be a Brymen or look at Japanese offeringsAgilents appear to be a rushed production Escort rebadge, and I don't see them still going strong in 10 or 20 years (hoping to be wrong on that)unlike my first top end bells n whistles Escort EDM-83B, 20+ years later and still going strong sporting a large LCD and the 9v battery lasts ages.Here's someone using one here >https://rimstar.org/materials/dielectrics/capresist.htm

author: smudge
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 07:08:11 am
content: Dead I am, thread is not. thanks for the suggestion for scopes Electro Detective, desk space I have little of, and btw, it's WYSIWYGN (N=not) closer to the truth from experience.hasn't arrived yet, not in the post today so if it arrives tomorrow, it'll be a fluke cos the postie doesn't work on the weekends.what? that cheap joke would of sucked even more with an Agilent.Do you know the difference between LCD and OLED? ..... "yer, it spilt difurnt, oh, I can just hear Kenny. OLED screens can get "screen burn", look nicer in all lights but not as bright. flexible , emitt UV, CRI of 90 and greater, 1/2 the life of LED and uses 100th the erbs but cost 10x more to produce but that was then. Just bought some LED COB bars to test, spooky thin for what they do. Things DO change from day to day, just follow LiPo battery witchery.OK so theres no witch, who stole it?

author: smudge
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 11:05:56 am
content: UPDATE: it arrived today and it's Sooo nice compared to my other 2 erh . . . what ever they are called.I have no regrets, just a smile.makes the Dave Special look like a pocketsorry Dave.and thanks to all that helped with the decision discussion and help.