[volt-nuts] 3458A Questions

[J. L. Trantham]

I am thinking about adding a 3458A to my list of 'things to think about' and
was wondering if there were any suggestions about what things to consider
when trying to find one.

Any serial number ranges preferred?  Any way to find out when a particular
unit was manufactured?  'HP' or 'Agilent' on the front preferred?  Options
001 or 002 useful or desirable?

I have looked at the Agilent website and the five 'Modification Recommended'
Service Notes.  Also, someone told me that older units could easily add
Option 001 by simply plugging in additional (or different?) memory chips to
available sockets on the board but later units used surface mount chips and
then it was not possible to do that.  Perhaps a return to Agilent or
swapping a board would allow that.

I presume the addition of Option 002 would be simply a change of the
reference board with a re-calibration.

I would appreciate any information about what to consider and where to look
when shopping for a 3458A.

Joe