i got a pallet of test equipment and need help - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: P2Pextraction
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 06:48:14 pm
content: i came up on a pallet of test equipment for basically nothing. mostly Rf stuff that i dont have the equipment or need to put to use in any meaningful way. im pretty sure it was spook equipment was it was addressed to the office of the governor and its "information technology unit" in addition to the rf testing equipment there was also 5 old but still in box rack mount battery backup system. also almost 20 cop radios, not scanners, the ones that r basically sdr's and hook into a computer. as well as 20+ cisco aironet 48 volt encrypted wifi access points.(model numbers and pictures to come)i was planning on testing verifying and fixing if necessary then slo selling them on ebay. but something happened with my living situation and o wont be able so sit on them like i planned. so any ideas with anything would be appreciated. i would give away the cisco aironets for basically just shipping cause they will just be destroyed otherwise.https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dwsBAE0lbB2GmXXPcAQqqMOJ-L4v0MhE?usp=sharinghp 4145a - unfortunately it powers up and is responsive to input but crt is not coming ontektronics csa803 communication signal analyserhp4352b 10mhz-3ghz vco/pll signal analyserhp35665A dynamic signal analyzertaz 4500 rf channel emulator x2 plus extra parks

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 06:59:54 pm
content: Who, exactly, canprovethey are thelegalowner of the equipment?Prove means to the police, customs, and in a court of law.

author: P2Pextraction
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 07:05:15 pm
content: i saw the surplus sale certificate and number and it was wrapped up in a pallet for shipping. so i would defend my ownership to any authority. thanks for getting me to clear that up right away

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 09:58:34 am
content: Can you list all the brand / models in the 'Buy / Sell / wanted' section?You'll probably find some interested parties on this forum. A price indication would also be nice.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 10:32:20 am
content: Quote from: P2Pextraction on July 23, 2019, 07:05:15 pmDid it have your name on it?Why don't you possess it?Do you have anything which links that (unproven) document with yourself?QuoteIrrelevant and insufficient. What matters isproof.

author: Johnny10
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 11:45:31 am
content: I doubt if it was spook equipment.And do you know if any of it is functional or are they just parts units?Where are you located?

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 03:38:28 pm
content: Quote from: Johnny10 on July 24, 2019, 11:45:31 amItprobablydoesn't matter if it was "spook" equipment or not. What matters is who legally owns it and the OP is beingtoovague about that IMO. He says that it it was addressed to the governor but doesn't explain how it came to him. Then he kind of implies that it was sold at auction but to someone else and not to him. Given what he's said so far I think I would demand to see some receipts and to hear the rest of the story before I would buy any of it. His apparent complete lack of knowledge of this equipment and the lack of details about it's physical and operational condition are also concerning. Also the fact that he appears to want to sell it privately and not on E-Greed raises some questions.YMMV"it was addressed to the office of the governor""i would defend my ownership to any authority"LOL! OK, Riiight!OP you need to be a lot more forthcoming with your location and the condition and background on this equipment if you want to sell it. I might be interested in the hp35665A, depending on it's price, condition and if it's within reasonable driving distance.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 04:14:09 pm
content: What's with all the suspicion? Sounds to me like a perfectly normal pallet of surplus equipment, this sort of thing comes up all the time.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 04:43:47 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on July 24, 2019, 04:14:09 pmThe language used by a first poster raises orange flags, for the reasons noted by stray electron.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 04:52:44 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on July 24, 2019, 04:14:09 pmSomebody selling something that joined yesterday always gets my attention. Doesn't prove anything, just a possible red flag to look at. Anyone who has been around Craigslist can appreciate it.

author: Johnny10
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 05:43:16 pm
content: I don't think a judgement should be made.I have seen many pallets like that for sale at auctions here in the states.Some going for as little as 150 dollars.More of a concern would be condition, some of the items look pretty beat.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 06:12:25 pm
content: Bakelite meters and kit with a 5.25" floppy drive. I don't think you need to be too worried.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 06:16:21 pm
content: There's some old stuff. Not sure the larger systems would be worth the cost of shipping. Maybe there is a local electronic waste disposal you could pay to have pick them up.

author: Johnny10
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 06:25:42 pm
content: When did they kill those 5 1/4" Floppies?

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 07:25:19 pm
content: The OP likely found the forum while looking for a place to quickly unload some gear they have nowhere to put. I don't see any red flags, this sort of thing happens all the time. If it were a pallet of expensive high end new gear I'd be suspicious but old stuff like this?

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 11:07:49 pm
content: If the OP seriously wanted to unload the stuff he would included a location, prices and a real description instead of insinuations that this was "spook" stuff and that it's origin and ownership are questionable. The grammar and language in the post makes it sound more like a Nigerian Oil "offer".

author: gnavigator1007
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 25, 2019, 01:44:37 am
content: Seems like a standard pallet of surplus. A Heritage Global Partners auction sticker is visible in one of the pics. Shipping label from 2007 was addressed to Sacramento, Ca 95814. Wouldn't expect OP to be too far from there. Aside from the spook stuff comment, nothing really that odd about the post or the surplus. Reads more like they were typing fast or on a phone.As far as ideas to get rid of it, I'd do short auction listings on ebay for as is/parts only with low starting bids and buyer pays shipping. Recycle what doesn't sell immediately or give it away if someone will take it. Packing material cost can be significant so I'd try to set the starting bid to try to match my costs there. Main thing for me would be to avoid taking a loss shipping something that as the OP said was had for "basically nothing".

author: P2Pextraction
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2019, 05:35:14 pm
content: the semiconductor parameter analyser crt does not turn on but its def still doing something. seems like a boot cycle with just no display. havent taken a look inside yet but seems fixable. im just not familiar with how most of these machines work when brand new so even if i get display working and it seems to be working i dont know anything on these old machines but look for and run a self test lol. ie ive seen these machines usually have a companion testing rig thing which i dont have or even know if its necessary. that being said 2 of the 3 TAZ 4500 rf emulators do seem to be in perfect working order and even hav a self test that i found buried in the crazy irritating to navigate ui. the third had obvious damage so i completely disassembled it. it was highly modular and built lik a computer case, motherboard/s section, power supply, "drive" "bays", and front end. with rf equipment lik this idk if i even have the right things hooked up or terminated correctly tho. and i def dont hav any known good test equipment even close to this stuff. i have a the classic 20 mhz analogue scope and a espotek labrador usb toyscope. i have a network spectrum analyzer but its never been verified and i dont kno how to use it. rest is similar story all seemed to be in working order well palletized and just have superficial malfunctions from being handled roughly. and for those saying i need positive proof they r mine most not live in freedomstan lik me here in cali's capitol cause theres something called burden of proof and its on u. u would hav to prove its not mine i dont need to prove anything. goverment sold it as surplus online so its def not theres anymore and thats what they care about

author: P2Pextraction
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2019, 05:36:47 pm
content: no what matters is the burden of proof

author: P2Pextraction
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2019, 05:46:35 pm
content: actually ive been watching eevblog for years just never had a reason to hit up the forum. im very well versed in electronics especially troubleshooting im just much into power electronics then rf and ive never been in a position to spend thousands on test equipment. im also completely self taught and never had an opportunity to use anything in this realm. i also watch mr carlson lab channel too lol if u need to vet me more then ask dont assume lol

author: P2Pextraction
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2019, 06:02:55 pm
content: did nobody even look at the pictures loland im using spook as general name for counter intelligence operation personal i dont think its the cia or nsa necessarily. and it says information technology unit im not even making a inference or leap of logic is literally addressed to a state co-intel UNIt

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2019, 06:25:12 pm
content: Information technology = computers and telephone systems.

author: P2Pextraction
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2019, 02:03:05 am
content: im not saying james bond was here most real spooks are heavily involved in the information technologies. im guessing a team was dispatched to either pen test or just evaluate california's highest levels of state government and see how vulnerable their confidential communication was. Cali would be the 4th largest economy in the world if it was its own country but the capital still uses redickulously outdated tech, this seem exceedingly plausible to me

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2019, 03:28:27 am
content: It's really not that dramatic. Virtually every midsize and large company has an I.T. department, they are the people who maintain the computer and phone systems, troubleshoot PCs, install software, that kind of stuff. Nothing spooky about it at all.