Ebay find: DSO81204A 12GHz/40Gs/s scope and how not to bid - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2016, 11:25:15 pm
content: There is a nice bidding war going on for a non-working 12GHz scope which was alread taken apart:www.ebay.com/itm/332016994407Look at the bidding history and you learn how not to get a good deal on Ebay. Don't get tempted unless you really know what you are buying (disclaimer: I'm not bidding on this and lost interest when the price got over $50).

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 01, 2016, 11:50:10 pm
content: Certainly more then I would spend on it. I saw it when it was first listed and figured it would be fun to watch.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 12:18:49 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 01, 2016, 11:25:15 pmYeah, there's just one crazy person among the bidders who is either determined to "win" (by losing his wallet) or a shill for the seller. Definitely not worth wasting time on, except for entertainment purposes.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 05:20:15 am
content: "Agilent Infinium Digital High Speed 12GHz Oscilloscope DSO81204A, Agilent 80000 series, no longer supported. This one is DEAD. Power supply makes a buzzing sound, but no signs of life. It appears that originally the scope had a a trigger problem and also did not show a graticule, then some time later, someone robbed the power supply and put a bad one in this scope. So..... Bid at your own risk, look at all pictures. No further testing done, sold for PARTS/NOT WORKING. ALSO NOTE SHIPPING COSTS!!! TOTAL WEIGHT WILL BE AROUND 37 pounds, so consider shipping costs when bidding"And still this is bid up to US $910.00 ? ? ?

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 06:16:59 am
content: Quote from: bitseeker on November 02, 2016, 12:18:49 amMaybe someone just badly needs that thing to get the parts to fix their own scope.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 06:57:22 am
content: If you really need a 12G scope it could be a reasonable gamble.The big risk is that the RF voodoo has lost its mojo.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 07:10:43 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 02, 2016, 06:57:22 amThat sounds like a wonderful failure report.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 08:40:47 am
content: Quote from: coppice on November 02, 2016, 07:10:43 amFraming that - and it's going straight to the pool room!

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 01:51:38 pm
content: Looks like someone enjoys sadomasochistic and totally fucked up test gear repair.Pay way too much for something that is most probably broken and destroyed beyond repair and where you certainly get not a single bit of joy by fixing it. Only pain and misery, because the more you try to fix, the more broken it gets.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 03:37:28 pm
content: On a smaller scale someone bought a Tek 453 from me that had no knobs and no transformer for £75 on ebay. I don't get it either when people sling the cash on that sort of junk.

author: WackyGerman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 04:31:00 pm
content: That s crazy. Bidding so much money for a dso which had a smokie time and went to the dumpster

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 04:56:07 pm
content: Quote from: setq on November 02, 2016, 03:37:28 pmDid it have a CRT in a known condition?

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 05:08:12 pm
content: Yes. Dead. Full status:- dented to bits- heater gone in tube- Front end FETs blown- Tunnel diodes removed- Power supply capacitors dead.- No transformer- No fan- No knobs- Mains lead snipped- Some trimmer caps removed- Some transistors removed.I only paid £5 off Gumtree for it. Got it home, realised it was a wreck, snipped the mains lead, stole all the useful bits to me out of it and the knobs for a friend's 454A and stuck it on ebay. The previous owner said it had been powered up in 110v mode on 240v which had wrecked it instantly and he only wanted the fan out of it.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 06:30:51 pm
content: I'm sure you were honest in your description, so maybe the case / fascia / feet were wanted, or...If you have a look at fleabay, it appears than many Tek scopes are worth more as parts than as a whole.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 06:42:44 pm
content: Chassis parts were mostly good so possibly. Was definitely honest as well.I've given up on ebay. Total rip off for most things.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2016, 07:15:15 pm
content: Quote from: setq on November 02, 2016, 06:42:44 pmI haven't been burned yet. You definitely have to have your wits about you, and be able to read whatisn'tin the description! But that's a standard life/engineering skill, so "no change there, then".

author: max-bit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 10:04:22 am
content: E...I recommend you read.The last photograph at auction.Maybe it's a trifle.Or completely damaged data acquisition board.But as they say: "is the risk, it is fun"

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 10:36:31 am
content: I went to an (physical) auction a couple of months back and there were two high end 20GHz or something Agilent spectrum analysers.Problem was they had been clearly immersed in sea water! Corroded to buggery.I was willing to pay a few hundred for video teardown kicks, but a HAM radio guy paid like $3k for them, he outbid an always resident ebay reseller guy.Said he wanted them for parts and it was his retirement project.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 01:38:09 pm
content: That's why they try and sell them still. There's always someone who'll buy it!

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 10:03:40 pm
content: Quote from: setq on November 02, 2016, 05:08:12 pmWow! Well, I guess you'd call that a reverse score. Congrats on the windfall unloading that one.

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 11:17:42 pm
content: The seller is a gentleman, there are people out there that with the same unit will tell you just "does not power on"...

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2016, 10:02:19 am
content: Quote from: bitseeker on November 02, 2016, 12:18:49 amWell, that depends. Are those input amps removable? If they are, they would be worth quite a bit if they're OK. Especially if you had one of these scopes with a blown one.

author: max-bit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2016, 10:41:33 am
content: First:Preamplifier and ADC module is one component. (see picture)Soldered to the motherboard. (problem desoldered ?)Second:You do not know what is broken.If ADC DATA PROC LSI Decel ...this is not to be repaired. (ASIC IC)Memory can be easily replaced.and damage could also be power modules ...Diagram SM:https://www.topdogtest.com/inventorypdf/54856-97001.pdf

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2016, 08:02:45 pm
content: Quote from: max-bit on November 04, 2016, 10:41:33 amAccording to that doc on page 172, it looks like the ADC is separate from the amp.Are you sure that the amp is BGA? I only ask because I've never worked on one.If it is soldered, and given the value of a working one, even re-balling may be feasible.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 04:16:52 am
content: Lol, $2302 for that piece of trash

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 05:09:15 am
content: Quote from: MadTux on November 05, 2016, 04:16:52 amWow.I bet the seller is smiling.

author: max-bit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 06:23:12 am
content: Quote from: Jwalling on November 04, 2016, 08:02:45 pmYou may be right.Preamp -> ADC> ....Is the price of $ 2300 is a lot?If someone has broken the same and need spare is not necessarily the price is high.Let us remember that this oscilloscope is worth $ 10-20k. Of course, efficient... Maybe it bought "TheSignalPath"

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 07:00:30 am
content: Quote from: MadTux on November 05, 2016, 04:16:52 amSniper too.Was worth $900 to g***u and $2270 to n***lSo two people thought it was worth over $2kCould be a commercial T&M dealer who repairs them.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 07:30:34 am
content: If it is someone who has repaired several of them they may be confident in a repair, they may think they got a heck of a deal.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 07:31:24 am
content: n***ehad two bids still alive - one of which wasat least$2,302 and the other, higher than that. Makes you wonder just how much they actually put in as their maximum...

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 07:34:48 am
content: Quote from: TheSteve on November 05, 2016, 07:30:34 amAlways possible, I suppose - but they would have to have a pretty good idea of what they were doing, considering the list of things that was presented ... and the possibility there might have been more problemsnotdetailed or even known.

author: max-bit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 09:11:22 am
content: Everything can not be damaged.So the two osc may be able to do one osc. It's easy if it has the appropriate equipment for repair.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 09:42:54 am
content: Quote from: MadTux on November 05, 2016, 04:16:52 amI just saw that too:I guess the buyer must be knowing what he/she bought.Also notice that none of the ones bidding the item up actually 'won' the item. It always goes like that so why bother bidding?

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 10:06:45 am
content: Quote from: MadTux on November 05, 2016, 04:16:52 amI *am* surprised that it did go that high! A pity that Ebay now hides the buyers ID. It would be interesting if we could watch the buyers stuff for awhile and see what shows up back on Ebay. Whoever it was has a feedback of 1239, so certainly not a newbie.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2016, 02:59:27 am
content: Yeah, definitely not a newbie. Must have been for a repair or to supply to someone who desperately needed one for its parts.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2016, 03:40:51 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 06, 2016, 03:03:45 am

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2016, 08:34:15 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 06, 2016, 03:03:45 amAnd his/her level of insanity! In the Netherlands we have a saying to answer what something is worth: 'Whatever a crazy person pays'.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2016, 10:29:45 am
content: Similar saying in the UK: "Muppets!"

author: koalafan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 07, 2016, 05:57:24 am
content: i think taobao is cheaper