Free Oscilloscopes !
pjv
Posts: 1,903
To: Ken Gracey;
Hello Ken... over the years our firm has collected many oscilloscopes, mainly Tektronix 4 channel analog types, most loaded with features (at least in their time), and bandwiths as high as 400 MHz. These older, (mostly servicable) units have largely been replaced by current digital models, and the surplus dozen plus units are now targeted for the dumpster. It seems to me that a number of forum members might find value in one of these older models and I would be happy to donate them. The bit of a challenge is getting them into the hands of those indiviuals with paperwork for separate cross-border shipments from Canada.
There are also a number of other instruments signal generators, frequency counters and a working Tektronix 1.2 (??) GHz RF spectrum analyzer with tracking generator that I'd be willing to include.
So..... I wonder if Parallax might be amenable to us making a single shipment (a couple of pallets) to Parallax for "distribution" (sale, red-cross auction, prizes, give-away etc.) at Parallax's choice. If this were combined with the upcoming Conference, it might be a convenient method for folks to take them home without your further involvement. Some could be distibuted as prizes for future events, or individually shipped to deserving members not able to attend the event
Please note that the scopes do NOT have probes.... those are delicate and over the years have all been consumed. Also I cannot guarantee the calibration or full servicaibilty of any of the products. This would be on an "as-is" basis. The cost of transport to you we can talk about.
If this approach is a possibility for you, then please let me know so I can post photographs of the products to the forums for the members' perusal, and also, by means of responses to this offer I am soliciting the forum's interest.
Cheers,
Peter (pjv)
Hello Ken... over the years our firm has collected many oscilloscopes, mainly Tektronix 4 channel analog types, most loaded with features (at least in their time), and bandwiths as high as 400 MHz. These older, (mostly servicable) units have largely been replaced by current digital models, and the surplus dozen plus units are now targeted for the dumpster. It seems to me that a number of forum members might find value in one of these older models and I would be happy to donate them. The bit of a challenge is getting them into the hands of those indiviuals with paperwork for separate cross-border shipments from Canada.
There are also a number of other instruments signal generators, frequency counters and a working Tektronix 1.2 (??) GHz RF spectrum analyzer with tracking generator that I'd be willing to include.
So..... I wonder if Parallax might be amenable to us making a single shipment (a couple of pallets) to Parallax for "distribution" (sale, red-cross auction, prizes, give-away etc.) at Parallax's choice. If this were combined with the upcoming Conference, it might be a convenient method for folks to take them home without your further involvement. Some could be distibuted as prizes for future events, or individually shipped to deserving members not able to attend the event
Please note that the scopes do NOT have probes.... those are delicate and over the years have all been consumed. Also I cannot guarantee the calibration or full servicaibilty of any of the products. This would be on an "as-is" basis. The cost of transport to you we can talk about.
If this approach is a possibility for you, then please let me know so I can post photographs of the products to the forums for the members' perusal, and also, by means of responses to this offer I am soliciting the forum's interest.
Cheers,
Peter (pjv)
Comments
Sadly there is no chance of any of that making it's way here to Finland:(
He sent me one of these units a while back and it has been a godsend. (Thank you!) Get these things into the hands of curious people!
One can do a lot with these older scopes.
This is very kind of your company!
It took almost 18 months to locate a ccd array chip for the 2430A to correct a channel 2 defect. Got very lucky, not quite lottery lucky to get the chip. I also have a couple 223x with channel problems but time to ts is the problem. You may get a great find, but be sure to save for its replacement depending on what fails. Probes for what most of us do are cheap on ebay and elsewhere. I paid $10.00 each for two 100MHz probes.
In any event there will be some happy campers out there if this deal goes through.....
I also understand that the old equipment is likely fully depreciated on your company's books, so they don't want to get into a series of accounting transactions that require a lot of office work and may attract a nosey auditor in the future.
The best fit might be to give it all directly to an educational institution as Parallax would have to have their bookkeeping and their business involved in a big logistical distraction. Alternatively, someone here might buy the whole pile for a token price of $1 USD plus shipping and handling and slowly distribute it out of their garage or storage locker. I suspect there is a home for all of it on EBay.
I do admire you loyalty to Parallax in thinking of them, and us. I'd certainly love an oscilloscope for next to nothing. But I know those deals are more likely found at local ham radio swap meeting than over the internet.
A university Ham Radio Club could claim non-profit status and sell it all through the internet as a fund raiser for future activities. So I am sure it will all find a good home. Maybe there is a local high school with an electronics shop class that would be happy to do this as well.
Parallax might be in a position to suggest an education institution that it is sure will pass everything on to good homes.
Hopefully you can still read this thread, and hopefully it's not too late. I'm an EE living in Illinois, in the US. I'd be very interested in one of those scopes for my personal use. Please keep me in your mind if you ever happen to come accross any similar occasion again. I'm willing to participate in the shipping costs if needed.
Please PM me to let me know that you read this email even if you don't have abnything at hand right now.
Cheers,
Albert.
AO
if you, or anyone is giving away a scope, I would like to have the option of maybe getting one.
Just stumbled across this thread. I'm at the ECEDHA conference in Napa, California today and I need to prepare for a presentation, so just a quick reply. Your plan is admirable and it could work well so I have a couple of questions and comments:
- Shipping from Canada to California can be very expensive. Depending on how we handled the paperwork and valuation, both of us could get a shock on import/export fees, customs duties and actual shipping costs. This is why some equipment gets disposed of unnecessarily, I'm sure. The cost of getting it to the right hands is often more than the value of the equipment.
- Verify that whatever is shipped, works (a power check is all).
If we can get the scopes and test equipment to Parallax without us incurring a shipping or customs fees cost we'd be honored to take the advice of the forum members and get it into the hands of students and engineers for the benefit of whatever organization you choose. It's looking like we might be hosting an Expo in the Fall depending on near-term P2 experiences.
One last request would be that we don't take delivery before August. We're in the middle of a massive office/warehouse renovation at the moment and it seems like we're moving the same pallets over and over again, each week!
Sincerely,
Ken Gracey
That's amazing how I fell into that one, Rick! I have lost all sense of the time continuum. I don't know my age anymore and I apparently I don't read the dates of forum posts either.
Thanks for identifying that very important fact.
Ken Gracey
Enormous value for pennies boys and girls...and they do not build it like they used to.
As for trying to find parts for the old equipment..just buy a second one and keep it under the bench.
No problem Ken...happens to me occasionally when I consider department equipment requests...it's the thought that counts.
Hopefully its not too late and you can still read this comment. I'm a young student in the United States. I'd be very interested in one of those scopes, if you still carry some, for my own personal use. I hope that if you ever come across an item like this, i would be happy to accept one. I'm willing to pay for shipping costs if need be.
Please message me if you've read this thread and have anything to offer.
Thank you,
George
Well George, it just so happens that yesterday I was in the location where they are stored, and someone urged me to deal with them as we could use the space.
Best I should call Ken and see what, if anything, could be worked out.
Cheers,
Peter (pjv)
I'll drive you across the new Bay Bridge for one ;-) Too bad we missed the old bridge.
Thanks and I hope to help you with your storage problem lol.
Steve, thanks again for that ride years ago.
No, sorry, there are no "modern" digital scopes in the batch.
Cheers,
Peter(pjv)
Vern,
Send me a pm to get my phone number to arrange for a pick up. I'll select a suitable scope for you.
Cheers,
Peter (pjv)
This message to Ken Gracey is posted on the forum out of frustration in getting Parallax to return my phone calls. It is not intended to be in any manner malicious, but a venting of a situation that direly needs improvement.
Ken;
On numerous occasions I have attempted to contact you for business reasons via telephone. Typically you are not available, and that is understandable; you are a busy fellow. But then in leaving a call-back message in response to an encouraging machine invitation to do so, a reply rarely comes, and then only after repeated attempts.
My calls to you are not of a nature that can be handled by Tech Support, or via e-mail, they need interactive discussion. Over the years this has become extremely frustrating, and negatively impacts my ability to move forward with business decisions.
Ken, while I respect the prioities you set for your business time, my time is valuable too, and I urge that you consider a more timely response to messages left for you.
I like Parallax, its people, its products and its forums and contributors, and want to support it all I can. but it needs to be a two way street.
In regard to the 20 odd oscilloscopes/logic analyzers offered to the forum, they will be headed for the dump if a discussion to a resolution of my offer is not forthcoming shortly.
Sorry that I feel the need to be so frank and open, but its seems to be the only way I can reach you.
Most Sincerely,
Peter (pjv)
Will the remaining O'scopes and such fit one one pallet?
I know Ken doesn't have a lot of space right now with the office re-do.
I am going to offer to organize a Red Cross or similar donation effort to cover the cost of shipping to Parallax and to the people donating.
I will take care of keeping track of the people making donations, and send the shipping information to Parallax.
That is if Ken takes delivery in Rocklin. Shipping to Connecticut would be absurd.
Jim
It is likely several pallets as I would not want to stack them too high. And I'm aware that space for Ken is tight right now, and I'm OK to hold them for a bit longer.
Ken and I needed to discuss shipping cost and method, timing and such. What finally was driving my post was frustration due to non-response to phone calls..... many dozens over the years, and finally I decided to raise the issue.
I sincerely hope it did not come accross as too ugly.... that certainly was not my intent.
Cheers,
Peter (pjv)
Nah, it's not an ugly statement but it's odd to answer this on the forums. I am difficult to reach and for this I apologize. I've learned that through the years I can't satisfy all the demands of Parallax-related business and I've had to accept that reality else I'll be sacrificing health and family (in fact, right now we're 'watching' a movie together but I'm catching up on communication). People sometimes think it's because I'm rude or I don't value their time, but that's not the case. I'm every bit as normal or boring as anybody else.
Regarding the scopes and T&M equipment, let's get them to Parallax! I prefer not to pay inbound shipping or be responsible for any customs costs for this purpose, however. But I can see that they're handed out at the Propeller 2 Early Adopter's Seminar. Whatever we need to work out to do this, we shall.
To reach me, 916 625 3010 is my desk but it connects directly to my cell phone wherever I am. Usually, I think you call our main number 916 624 8333 which is our receptionist and doesn't usually connect to my cell phone. Better yet, send me an e-mail and I can usually call you within 25 minutes kgracey@parallax.com. Wednesday I am in a course but Thursday I am at Parallax - anytime between 6 am and 3 pm Pacific works.
Let's do this, and sorry for the delay in replying.
Ken Gracey
I will call on Thursday to discuss how we can move this forward.
Thanks very much !
Cheers,
Peter (pjv)
Thanks for the frank telephone discussions we recently had regarding this equipment and other matters.
Given the cost estimates for freight and the handling costs were more than either of us wanted to bear, we decided to give it all away to our local hacker space (ENTS in Edmonton AB). It was much more than they needed, but they will be helping other hacker centers with some of their excess.
They sent over trucks and vans as well as 10 or so people to "soft load" it all up without any packaging or shipping protection. They also took nearly 50 cartons (about 4 cu.ft each) of unused but dated electronic components.
While you and I were thinking of only a pallet or two of scopes, the reality was probably the equivalent of 6 pallets of test equipment. All in all, I believe we moved out a volume of some 20 pallets.
So while the Parallax forumistas did not themselves benefit in this round, I think the community at large has benefitted, and I now have closure on the subject.
So, again, sorry for all the "hoopla" I caused, and I apologize for being a little harsh on you...... it seemed the only way I could get your attention.
Sincerely,
Peter (pjv)