Is an HP 54201D working for less than $20 worth it? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2018, 11:01:41 pm
content: Among all the equipment donated to my ham radio club recently is the above scope. I don't really need another scope (thus not posting this in the TEA thread) but it would put a couple of bucks in the club treasury. I already nabbed a Wavetek 186 phase lock function generator, working, for $20. Again, I don't need it but it wasn't selling and it's for the club. Is the scope something that would easy to flog for a couple of bucks if I decide not to keep it? For that matter, is the Wavetek something that would garner any interest, not necessarily here but in general? I haven't been involved in selling the recent batches of donations so I don't know how the club is trying to flog the equipment. Not sure if I could do better if I decided to get rid of the stuff. Looking for opinions from those who may own or have owned one.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2018, 11:22:51 pm
content: You cannot escape the TEA membersHonestly I would grab it if it’s working. The interface is somewhat horrible though. Not sure you’d get much return on it though.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2018, 11:26:49 pm
content: No.

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2018, 11:48:24 pm
content: The 54201 is good for e waste only, (just dumped 2 myself, both busted in various ways with no service info). I did keep the feet thoughAs for the Wavetek , that would be still of general interest and worth the $20 in working condition.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 11:25:44 am
content: I have wondered whether it's possible to add the 54201 scope boards to a HP 1630G logic analyzer. Same mainframe. There was an option to have a scope + logic analyzer combo iirc. But doing so meant cutting down on the number of logic channels, and there was something about not enough ROM sockets for both. But crude hacks can be more flexible...I have the service manual for my 1630G, but not for the 54201.For $20 I'd have bought it just for nostalgia/museum interest. But this is Australia.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 02:19:07 am
content: So I offered $5 for it and it was accepted. I will pick it up at our club meeting Thanksgiving week. It's a little extra for the club treasury. I'm on vacation that week so I have time to play with it and see just how horrible the interface is. If it wasn't for the club selling it, I would've passed.Quote from: lowimpedance on November 05, 2018, 11:48:24 pmIf nothing else, the feet might be worth $5 to someone

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 06:18:38 am
content: I'd pay $20 for the CRT monitor if I didn't already have a very similar monitor in my stash. Monochrome CRTs are getting hard to find and they're great for retro computing.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 01:39:16 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on November 08, 2018, 06:18:38 amThere's a thought. If I don't want to keep it, I can part it out for the poor souls that have one and want to keep it working

author: t1d
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 04:49:00 pm
content: Noobs are always in need of starter equipment, at super-cheap prices. Maybe sell, or donate, them, here.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 10:21:20 pm
content: Quote from: t1d on November 08, 2018, 04:49:00 pmI have no issue for donating, I have done so in the past. Proper packing and shipping of the scope will cost some money. AFAIK, there is no local makerspace that I could give it to, which is a shame. On step at a time. I need to get in my hot little hands first.

author: Tim T
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2018, 12:59:44 am
content: Has anyone tried to use the 54201D's state triggering? I picked up one a couple years ago for essentially the cost of shipping - it came with two probes and all the pods but I have not gotten around to playing with state triggering. Oh, the interface does work reasonably well once you get the hang of it and provided you know what type of signal to expect (it also has auto scaling). I once heard that it was common for these units to be controlled through GPIB.thanks,tim

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2018, 10:15:21 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on November 08, 2018, 10:21:20 pmWhich coast are you on? And what price would you ask for it, plus pack and post to my reshipper in Hawthorne, CA 90250 ?Like I said, I have an old and much treasured HP 1630G logic analyzer, which has a lot of hardware in common with the 54201. Plus I have the floppy drives unit that works with them. Getting a 54201D quite appeals to me. But need to work out the shipping costs.I can discuss how to pack it to survive international shipping (to Oz) if you're interested. Speaking from long experience.