One thing on which I must disagree: you don't need 'an external HPIB controller' to use the HP 1630. It's nice to be able to save configs and traces to floppy, but I don't know if the PC software to actually move it to a host for analysis has survived. I've never controlled my 1630G with anything but its front panel.
On Wed, Jun 10, 2015 at 9:01 PM, Ken Seefried <seefr...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks for the input everyone. In summary, I got recommendations for: > > - HP 16500C (lesser a 16500B, but not a 16500A) (mainframe) > - HP 16700/16900/17500 (mainframe, bigger-faster-stronger, still pretty > expensive, can use 16500 cards) > - HP 166x or 167x (portable, modern, look for hard drive) > - HP 165x (portable, older, only buy cheap, look for hard drive) > - HP 1630D, 1630G or 1631 (old, HPIB and HPIL interfaces, no special > software needed, but you apparently need be able to control it with an > external HPIB controller to get the most out of it) > - Tek 1240 > - Gould Biomation K100D (software in rom, HPIB interface, assuming you need > HPIB literacy to use effectively) > - Tek DAS9200 (be careful to get the right pods (several variations), etc) > - Tek TLA710/TLA720 (PC attached, Linux capable) > > General advice offered: > > - Look for hard drives or no special software required for longest life. > Floppies required == bad. > - Make really sure you get probes, and the right probes, for your kit. > They're often not available separately for non-st00pid money. > - There's a crazy array of ancillary features to consider: o-scope > functions, processor assemblers/disassemblers, pattern generators, > specialized inputs/outputs, timebases, embedded Unix machines, etc. Know > what you might need. > > So I've got a lot of manuals to read, but the 16500C sure looks like a ton > of bang per US$. You can even get an expansion chassis (10 additional > slots) if you need to go to ludicrous speed on the number of > probes/features. > > KJ > -- Ian S. King, MSIS, MSCS, Ph.D. Candidate The Information School <http://ischool.uw.edu> Archivist, Voices From the Rwanda Tribunal <http://tribunalvoices.org> Value Sensitive Design Research Lab <http://vsdesign.org> University of Washington There is an old Vulcan saying: "Only Nixon could go to China."
