Hi John -- I bought a 3458A (standard version -- not high stability reference) on fleaBay and for me that worked out well -- I replaced the bad display board and upgraded the ROM board (to the current one with the "snap-cap" back-up batteries on top of the ROMs), then sent it to Loveland for cal. I've got about $3k in it total, and it works very well. So if you're willing to invest in some parts, you could save some money buying used versus buying new -- but then it won't have that "new car" smell..... With the exception of upgrades like the Fluke version of the 3458 (note that the Fluke 8508 is actually an upgraded Datron 1281, not an upgraded 3458), I doubt we'll see a performance improvement (or a 9-1/2 digit machine) anytime soon. As a used buy, it's still the best deal in town for my money because, unlike the other 8-1/2 digit meters out there, it is still fully supported by the maker. Good luck! On Aug 4, 2011, at 4:50 AM, volt-nuts-request@febo.com wrote: > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:47:29 +0100 > From: John Devereux <john@devereux.me.uk> > To: volt-nuts@febo.com > Subject: [volt-nuts] Ye Olde HP3458A > Message-ID: <87y5z97jwe.fsf@devereux.me.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > > Greetings volt-nuts, > > My first post to the list... > > I am considering buying a HP3458A, possibly new, but am hesitant about > forking out so much for such an old design. I suppose I am used to > picking up 1980's gear on ebay for <5% of its list price :) > > What are peoples opinions on the likelihood of a newer model coming out > soon? Surely they can't keep making it for much longer? > > -- > > John Devereux

Dick Re: HP 3458A Please can you advise me on the replacement ROM board - what is the cost ?, where did you purchase it from. Can it be obtained in the UK ? Is it a straight swap, or does it have to be installed and re-calibrated by Agilent ? Best regards Roy -------------------------------------------------- From: "Dick Moore" <richiem@hughes.net> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 8:11 PM To: <volt-nuts@febo.com> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A > Hi John -- I bought a 3458A (standard version -- not high stability > reference) on fleaBay and for me that worked out well -- I replaced the > bad display board and upgraded the ROM board (to the current one with the > "snap-cap" back-up batteries on top of the ROMs), then sent it to Loveland > for cal. I've got about $3k in it total, and it works very well. So if > you're willing to invest in some parts, you could save some money buying > used versus buying new -- but then it won't have that "new car" smell..... > > With the exception of upgrades like the Fluke version of the 3458 (note > that the Fluke 8508 is actually an upgraded Datron 1281, not an upgraded > 3458), I doubt we'll see a performance improvement (or a 9-1/2 digit > machine) anytime soon. > > As a used buy, it's still the best deal in town for my money because, > unlike the other 8-1/2 digit meters out there, it is still fully supported > by the maker. > > Good luck! > > > On Aug 4, 2011, at 4:50 AM, volt-nuts-request@febo.com wrote: > >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 4 >> Date: Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:47:29 +0100 >> From: John Devereux <john@devereux.me.uk> >> To: volt-nuts@febo.com >> Subject: [volt-nuts] Ye Olde HP3458A >> Message-ID: <87y5z97jwe.fsf@devereux.me.uk> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >> >> >> Greetings volt-nuts, >> >> My first post to the list... >> >> I am considering buying a HP3458A, possibly new, but am hesitant about >> forking out so much for such an old design. I suppose I am used to >> picking up 1980's gear on ebay for <5% of its list price :) >> >> What are peoples opinions on the likelihood of a newer model coming out >> soon? Surely they can't keep making it for much longer? >> >> -- >> >> John Devereux > > > _______________________________________________ > volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts > and follow the instructions there. >

$3k is sweet. I've tracked 3458a on eBay for 2 years and the lowest I've seen it sell for is $1k, today its typically $2-3K, if not working. Replacement board costs vary. The Loveland metrology cal alone is over $1,000 IIRC. Here's an old chat we had about the 3458a, this is when Dick was just putting his 3458a together: http://www.ko4bb.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=test_equipment:hp_3458a_precision_digital_multimeter At 10:54 AM 8/5/2011, Roy Phillips wrote: >Dick >Re: HP 3458A >Please can you advise me on the replacement ROM board - what is the >cost ?, where did you purchase it from. Can it be obtained in the >UK ? Is it a straight swap, or does it have to be installed and >re-calibrated by Agilent ? >Best regards >Roy > > >-------------------------------------------------- >From: "Dick Moore" <richiem@hughes.net> >Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 8:11 PM >To: <volt-nuts@febo.com> >Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A > >>Hi John -- I bought a 3458A (standard version -- not high stability >>reference) on fleaBay and for me that worked out well -- I replaced >>the bad display board and upgraded the ROM board (to the current >>one with the "snap-cap" back-up batteries on top of the ROMs), then >>sent it to Loveland for cal. I've got about $3k in it total, and it >>works very well. So if you're willing to invest in some parts, you >>could save some money buying used versus buying new -- but then it >>won't have that "new car" smell..... >> >>With the exception of upgrades like the Fluke version of the 3458 >>(note that the Fluke 8508 is actually an upgraded Datron 1281, not >>an upgraded 3458), I doubt we'll see a performance improvement (or >>a 9-1/2 digit machine) anytime soon. >> >>As a used buy, it's still the best deal in town for my money >>because, unlike the other 8-1/2 digit meters out there, it is still >>fully supported by the maker. >> >>Good luck! > >Best Wishes, > > >Marv Gozum >Philadelphia