Agilent 34461A Opinions - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 05:24:22 am
content: Cyber Monday approaches and I'm after someadviceobjective opinions.I'm interested in an Agilent 34461A; It looks like the most bang for your buck in the sort of 1k price range. Has anyone got any comments on this front?Also, any idea if Tequipment are allowed to ship this outside the US? I ask because I'm aware of the Fluke issue.Edit: Here's a linkhttp://www.tequipment.net/Agilent/34461A/

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 07:11:46 am
content: Very happy with mine, especially the graphing and mathematical functions. Very user friendly, haven't had to look at the manual yet! Some people seem to need faster sampling.

author: motocoder
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 07:27:01 am
content: I love mine. My only complaint is the boot time.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 08:12:03 am
content: I am really happy with it too, but was annoyed by the fact that it only does 5k thermistor measurements and is not switchable to any other value.Highly recommend this instrument.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 08:38:25 am
content: Any chance you might like a demo of a Siglent SDM3055 in a couple of weeks when I get mine?

author: LA7SJA
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 08:40:41 am
content: I am really happy with it too, the boot time is a bit long but the instrument needs at least 30 min to become accurate so it is not something you turn on for a quick measurement anyway (for that I use my 87-V). 4W resistance measurement is great for pinpointing shorts on multilayer PCB and to match low value resistors. I have had mine for 6 months now, and I have no issues or features that I miss from my HP344401 (who died/fried in a thunderstorm last spring).I highly recommend this instrument for most types of lab work. What bothers me the most with it is that I can only afford one.Proud owner of Agilent 34461A

author: DJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 25, 2014, 11:05:05 pm
content: Would like one, but not enough of a need to pay full list price.$1100 nope. $1K probably not. $900 yep.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2014, 11:41:12 pm
content: I really enjoy mine.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 11:47:40 am
content: Quote from: tautech on November 24, 2014, 08:38:25 amThanks for the offer. I'll keep you in mind if I don't buy anything soon.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 12:13:31 pm
content: Quote from: apelly on November 24, 2014, 05:24:22 amCyber Monday?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 12:16:41 pm
content: The 34461A is certainly the overall pick of the current bench meters, I don't think you'll ever regret it. Apart from the odd UI quirk, it's very nice to use.Even the Fluke fanboys generally recommend the Agilent unless you are after every last ppm in drift.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 12:16:48 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 26, 2014, 12:13:31 pmI just got an email today from an electronics supplier with a 20% off, because of a "Cyber Monday" sale.Hmm... it is Wednesday here in Germany.I wonder too, where that term comes from.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 12:21:26 pm
content: It's the online response to the Black Friday retail outlet sales in the states. Both days should have bargains.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 12:26:31 pm
content: Quote from: apelly on November 24, 2014, 05:24:22 amThe aussie dollar sucks at the moment :-(You'll be hit with import duty + GST from the US.Practically the same price here!http://au.element14.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=2311062&CMP=KNC-GOO-PLA&gross_price=true&mckv=mpExI7xE|pcrid|59148083448http://www.triotest.com.au/shop/keysight-technologies/3126-keysight-34461a-digital-multimeter-6-digit-truevolt-dmm.html

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 12:45:12 pm
content: Thanks for the links.I'm in NZ. Our dollar is even worse. There isn't any duty on an item like this though. Only GST.e14 wants 1,352+GST for it over here. Obviously I'll take this into account.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 12:47:42 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 26, 2014, 12:16:41 pmAre you talking about this fanboy?There is a $300.00 off or $800.00 in merchandise offer from Fluke going on. That makes the 8846A price much more attractive than usual if the slightly higher performance is needed/wanted

author: LaurentR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 05:41:31 am
content: Anybody with better deals on the 34461A or the 8846A than the plain Tequipment.net price with the eevblog discount? I wouldn't mind scoring either of these for Black Friday or Cyber Monday...

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 01:59:30 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on November 26, 2014, 12:47:42 pmI saw this a week or two ago but I can't find it at all now.

author: ManateeMafia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 02:31:44 pm
content: Robrenz,Do you mean this ?http://us.flukecal.com/node/72322

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 02:36:12 pm
content: Thanks ManateeMafia that's the one.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 10:00:14 pm
content: Thanks for the info guys. Just letting you know it wasn't for nothing:Although I failed to get a good deal between Thanksgiving and Xmas, I finally ordered one from e14 yesterday. 5% off and a "free" crap soldering station. NZ$1284 + GST. Imightbe able to get $200 for the soldering station on Trademe. They have no stock however, and delivery looks to be late February. Such is life.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 10:41:32 pm
content: Quote from: apelly on January 08, 2015, 10:00:14 pmHmmm shame you didn't consider the Siglent SDM3055 could do one for ~ 1/2 that money.~ 2 weeks delivery and you could have had a test drive of mine.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 11:06:54 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on January 08, 2015, 10:41:32 pmNo post purchase cognitive dissonance here! This rounds out my kit nicely. Now I have no excuses for not actually making stuff!

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2015, 04:52:49 am
content: The upshot is that the new meters still say Agilent, with a little Keysight logo stuck on the face as an afterthought. I don't think you'll have buyers remorse on this.