I bought the HP-8571A Receiver System and an HP Series 300 Workstation, with the associated HP-85869A EMI Acquisition software ($8000) about 5 years ago. When the workstation developed a problem about three years ago, I found I could replace the workstation with a PC (by buying the HP-85869PC and HP Windows Basic software for another $5100).
After Agilent was created, I got a letter from them saying that they were in the exciting process of re-creating their company, and that they had decided to withdraw from the EMI compliance market. So, within a frame of less than five years, I have a $13,000 software investment which is no longer supported. Now of course, the code doesn't just stop working, but a number of small bugs will now never get fixed. And I have no flexibility for the future, since the HP code is protected. If I want to do anything new, I will have to become my own programmer, or look for 3rd party software. (I didn't attach the letter because I think the IEEE server will delete any attachments. For anyone interested, I'll email them a copy of the small 12KB pdf file. It includes a schedule of support discontinuance dates for various HP EMI products.) Regards, Ed Ed Price [email protected] Electromagnetic Compatibility Lab Cubic Defense Systems San Diego, CA. USA 858-505-2780 (Voice) 858-505-1583 (Fax) Military & Avionics EMC Services Is Our Specialty Shake-Bake-Shock - Metrology - Reliability Analysis -----Original Message----- From: CE-test - Ing. Gert Gremmen - ce-marking and more... [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 12:17 PM To: [email protected]; Colgan, Chris Cc: 'Emc-Pstc' (E-mail) Subject: RE: HP6842A harmonics analyser - is it obsolete? I got the same confirmation from Agilent Netherlands. I cannot recommend the purchase of Agilent equipment for harmonics , flicker etc. to regulatory purposes at the moment. Basically it's the software that becomes obsolete. I think your 68xx system will be obsolete but for precompliance purposes. You might add a separate harmonics/flicker analyser however and use the 68xx for programmable power supply only. Regards, Gert Gremmen, (Ing) ce-test, qualified testing =============================================== Web presence http://www.cetest.nl CE-shop http://www.cetest.nl/ce_shop.htm /-/ Compliance testing is our core business /-/ =============================================== >>-----Original Message----- >>From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf >>Of [email protected] >>Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 6:55 PM >>To: Colgan, Chris >>Cc: 'Emc-Pstc' (E-mail) >>Subject: Re: HP6842A harmonics analyser - is it obsolete? >> >> >> >> >>Colgan et al, >> >>We just received a full one-page letter from Agilent dated 19 December >>2000, if I may reduce it to the essential messages: >> >> Agilent DISCONTINUES any plans to support A14. >> >> Agilent DISCONTINUES as of 31 Dec 2000 (or 1 Jan 2001) the >>14761A/62A/63A software packages for regulatory testing. >> >> Agilent DISCONTINUES manufacture of AC sources rated higher than 1750 >>VA. >> >> Agilent will CONTINUE to make the 6811B/12B/13B models AC sources >>(those rated at and below 1750 VA). >> >> The last date to place an ORDER for discontinued products >>(hardware/software) is 31 May 2001. >> >>Agilent suggests using the 684X as a precompliance tool after the A14 DOW. >> >>The email address provided in the letter is: [email protected] >> >>I hope I paraphrased the letter correctly. If you have any questions, I >>suggest you contact Agilent. >> >>Best Regards, >>Eric Lifsey >> Compliance Manager, National Instruments >> USA 512-683-8474, Fax 512-683-8880 >> >> >> >> >> >> "Colgan, Chris" >> >> <Chris.Colgan@TAGMcLaren To: >>"'Emc-Pstc' (E-mail)" >> Audio.com> >><[email protected]> >> Sent by: cc: >> >> [email protected] Subject: >>HP6842A harmonics analyser - is it >> obsolete? >> >> >> >> 01/02/2001 04:36 AM >> >> Please respond to >> >> "Colgan, Chris" >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>Happy New Year! >> >>Not such a happy start for me though. I have been informed by >>Agilent that >>they will not be supporting a software upgrade for the 6800 series >>harmonics >>analysers for A14 to EN61000-3-2. >> >>I have studied A14 and there appear to be some measurement technique >>changes. Does this mean that I cannot just set my HP6842A to >>measure class >>A limits to test to A14? If I cannot, does anyone know of a company that >>has written or can write a software upgrade for me? >> >>Or have Agilent turned several thousand pounds worth of compliance test >>equipment into a few hundred pounds worth of power supply? >> >>Regards >> >>Chris Colgan >>Compliance Engineer >>TAG McLaren Audio Ltd >>The Summit, Latham Road >>Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 6ZU >>*Tel: +44 (0)1480 415 627 >>*Fax: +44 (0)1480 52159 >>* Mailto:[email protected] >>* http://www.tagmclarenaudio.com >> >> >> >>************************************************************** >> Please visit us at www.tagmclarenaudio.com >>************************************************************** >> >>The contents of this E-mail are confidential and for the exclusive >>use of the intended recipient. If you receive this E-mail in error, >>please delete it from your system immediately and notify us either >>by E-mail, telephone or fax. You should not copy, forward or >>otherwise disclose the content of the E-mail. >> >>TAG McLaren Audio Ltd >>The Summit, 11 Latham Road >>Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 6ZU >>Telephone : 01480 415600 (+44 1480 415600) >>Facsimile : 01480 52159 (+44 1480 52159) >> >>************************************************************** >> Please visit us at www.tagmclarenaudio.com >>************************************************************** ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: [email protected] Michael Garretson: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected]
