Tag Archives: test equipment

Special lab equipment update for the 2016/2017 academic year

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Used Equipment Auctions

Used-Line has been serving its colleagues in the world of academia since 1999. We view our involvement in the institutions of science and engineering not only as a business, but also as a kind of community commitment.

PRICE CHALLENGE

Used test equipment auction

We are challenging our dealers to offer special discounted pricing for scientists and researchers in academic institutions, be it for anything from logic analyzers and microscopes, to Bunsen Burners and osmometers, breadboards, or etchers.

THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2016/2017 IS HERE

Used lab equipment auctions THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2016/2017 IS HERE
The new academic year is upon us, and university labs and research centers all over the globe have started to make their equipment selections for upcoming research and development programs.

Academic_fact

As shown by the U.S. National Science Foundation, academic institutions performed 53 percent of the U.S. total basic research, and 36 percent of all U.S. research (basic + applied), as far back as 2009. This increasing trend in research conducted by academia is now reflected in the numbers for 2015.

Visit Used-Line and find all the equipment you require from thousands of new special listings for academic laboratories in the many fields of science and engineering.

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Handheld Spectrum Analyzer Competes with Benchtops

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Frequency coverage from the Anritsu MS2720T gets as good as 9 kHz to 43 GHz in model MS2720T-0743, the high end of this series of spectrum analyzers, which starts at its lower end (in terms of frequency) with a model that boasts a continuous frequency range of 9 kHz to 9 GHz. Not too shabby. Launched in December, 2012, this almost two-years-on-the-market handheld could well compete with today’s benchtop analyzers (without external mixers) in the frequency specification department.

Let’s take a look at just a few of the other specs associated with this instrument:

Resolution Bandwidth from 1 Hz to 10 MHz
Sweep mode speeds: Allow a resolution bandwidth of 30 kHz to 10 MHz with almost no impact on sweep speed
Dynamic range is >106 dB in 1 Hz bandwidth at 2.4 GHz
DANL is -160 dBm in 1 Hz bandwidth at 1 GHz (preamp on)
Phase noise is -104 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset at 1 GHz
Option of tracking generators from 100 kHz to 20 GHz (full-band)

Read more in the Used-Line T&M Specs pages as well as in the Related Articles below. Do check out the many capabilities available as options for the MS2720T. Not only all the signal analysis packages that a wireless engineer may need for the various data rates of carriers, but a vast selection of analyzers, such as power meter, channel scanner, GPS Receiver, and Interference Analyzer are available as options.

Used Anritsu MS2720T | used-line.comThe Spectrum Master™ MS2720T series provides field technicians and engineers with performance that rivals a benchtop spectrum analyzer. The MS2720T features a touchscreen, full-band tracking generators to 20 GHz, and best-in-class performance for dynamic range, DANL, phase noise, and sweep speed, providing unprecedented levels of spectrum monitoring, hidden signal detection, RF/microwave measurements, and testing of microwave backhauls and cellular signals.

via Used-line

Anritsu suggests that this spectrum analyzer, at 8 pounds “fully loaded” is light enough to take up a tower. Well, you’re not going to get me up any tower, thank you very much, with or without a handheld spectrum analyzer.

CN Tower, Toronto, Canada (Photo credit: P.Naumann)

I do have quite a bit of trouble picturing an RF engineer making his way up the CN Tower, for example, with a benchtop instrument, so there must be some brave engineers who scale the heights – with their handhelds!

If it was I who had the responsibility of handling this instrument, I would be very much inclined to avail myself of the Anritsu Remote Access Tool, which lets the user sit in the comfort of his lab or office while controlling the spectrum analyzer over a LAN connection, and analyze data with the Anritsu Master Software Tools – in-between his sips of coffee.

But then some folks are made for reaching for the sky, and others are not.

Anritsu webpage for Spectrum Master MS2720T

Anritsu Company Introduces Handheld Spectrum Analyzers Unprecedented Performance up to 43 GHz

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Chickens and the Unbroken Chain of Calibration

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A recent discussion in the LinkedIn group, Metrology & Test Measurement, on the “unbroken chain of calibration” has driven me to hone in on my personal understanding of measurement uncertainty. I am ashamed to say that I know virtually nothing (0 ±0.0031415929) about calibration despite having worked as an electronics technician in the ’90’s. My excuse is that ISO 9xxx only hit the repair floor in the ’90’s. (Well, that’s why it was called ISO 9000.) But the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), which predates the National Institute of Standards and Technology (N.I.S.T.) by 87 years, has been around since 1901.

Logo of National Institute of Standards and Technology (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And the NBS was predated by the International Bureau of Weight and Measures (BIPM in French). In any case, I’m not quite sure how to connect ISO 9xxx with calibration. It must come into it somewhere. All I remember was what kind of shoes to wear and grounding rules. I guess you could say that my uncertainty around these topics is not measurable or traceable!

How do we arrive at an unbroken chain when it comes to metrology? Let’s go to the start of the chain. We will use N.I.S.T. for discussion purposes but really it applies to any of the international organizations that set standards for metrology.

We start with a reference point. This is a universally known measurement value of a particular measurable event. For example, the melting point of ice. (N.I.S.T uses a thermometer as an example on their website.)
This reference is used as a standard by N.I.S.T. I assume that means that a correctly calibrated thermometer will measure – well, I’m not sure exactly what it will measure. It is close to 0 degrees Centigrade. There are various factors that can determine the temperature, such as atmospheric pressure and the purity of the actual water that the ice is composed of. The point is – a standard is set that will be used to begin the chain. This standard is the reference that all other measurements down the chain are going to be traced back to.
Going down the chain, we compare the measurements of the next instrument to be checked against the N.I.S.T. measurement , then document the differences in the results. Depending on the conditions of the measurement, we can make the necessary adjustments needed to arrive at the most accurate measurement but can never be absolutely certain of a true value. Like much of life, we do our best. The “best” is a range of values that approximates the value of the N.I.S.T standard. This range of values is the range of uncertainty. You know that somewhere in this range, lies the true value and if you calibrate an instrument to show results within this range, you should be able to certify your instrument as calibrated according to the standard. If along the way, you lose the reference, your instrument cannot be considered to be calibrated according to the N.I.S.T. standard.

I know! This is a rather crude, simplistic explanation of the process. I “did my best”!

I got further confused after my visit to the supermarket today. They had fresh whole chickens on sale with a limit of 6 Kg per customer. For the customer’s convenience, a scale was placed near the chickens, allowing the customer to verify the total weight of his selection. The trick was to see whether you could get four chickens for 6 Kg, despite the average weight of 1.55 Kg per chicken. You do the math now. It seemed a shame to buy only three chickens and thus not take full advantage of this special sale. Four chickens were over 6 Kg and three were under by quite a bit.

Photo credit: P. Naumann

Well, I came pretty close. I managed to find two smaller looking birds and my total weight on the scale (when last was it calibrated, I wonder?) was 6.14 Kg. I went over to the poultry supervisor and told him that I was a little over the maximum weight allowed, and with a smile on his face, he said, “That’s fine.”

<!–Here’s the moral of my little story–>: The more accurate our measurements are, the more honest we can be in our relationships with customers, clients, and other businesses. However, sometimes in life a little uncertainty goes a long way when it comes to give-and-take with others. <!–End of moralizing–>

Of interest:

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Used-Line Tip: Searching for a Specific Model

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Do you ever find that because some equipment model numbers are so ubiquitous, when you search for them on your favorite search-engine or on Used-Line, they will return way too many results, most of them will not be connected to what you had in mind, and the model you were trying to find will only show up on page 7 of the results?

Of course, if you search for model Z3RA29-56L3 (not a real model number as far as I know), you are very likely to find what you are searching for on page 1 of 1. However if you search for model 123 (this is a real model number) on Used-Line, 300+ results could be returned, with a very low relevancy in terms of your personal search. The reason: Many manufacturers name their equipment models using numbers that include 123 in this exact sequence. Examples: 123, 12338, 1232A, 1230T, 123R, SPS-1230, 102-123, and so on.

As you must realize, searching for a model number made up of numbers exclusively – no letters – makes matters worse. The descriptions and synopses that accompany your results may contain your model number in a price tag or even in a specification. Take a look at this Used-Line listing for a Tektronix 492 spectrum analyzer, which showed up in the results of my search for a 123 Fluke ScopeMeter.

Search result based on specs in listing description.

Do you see why my search pulled in this listing? The amplitude range is –123 dBm to +40 dBm.

So, what to do about this?

Well, you can code some new search algorithms and send them along with your resume to the recruiting department of your favorite search-engine.

Or, you can fiddle with various settings in your search engine to train it to guess what you are looking for. And, of course, in some search engines, you can use an advanced search function to search for an exact term. But this all takes a few steps.

So, take a look at what our developers at Used-Line have done to make searching a cinch.

Used-Line has reduced the number of steps typically required to narrow down a search – to a single click. Here is how it works. We will use model 123 as an example.

Drop-down list for model #123 search

In the menu bar near the top of any page on Used-Line, start typing 123 in the text box that is prefilled with the words, Find Category or Model#.
Wait for a second or less to view a drop-down list of all the models on Used-Line that contain the number 123, such as SEM123D, 1123A, 212359, and 011-0123-00.
Select model number 123 from the list.

What we have actually done here is to select a specific model. When we previously searched for a 123 and simply waited for the results to come in, the system returned the 300+ models on Used-Line that contain the number, 123. Now, after picking the specific model number, 123, from a selection of suggested model numbers, the system returned 20 models – all exactly what we were searching for. Not only has our search been narrowed down – it has zoomed right into what we were looking for.

No more clicking back and forth between pages and pages of irrelevant search results.

Now you give it a try!

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Agilent 5975 Gas Chromatograph Analyzes Vegemite Yeast Extract

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I know this is a cliche, but either you love it or you hate it. We’re talking about Vegemite. Actually, I’ve never tasted Vegemite, but I love to eat Marmite, a British and South African almost-clone of the Australian Vegemite. The rest of my family hates it. How can you kill a piece of toast with that extremely salty, hard-to-smear, strong smelling stuff, they ask?! In answer, I tell them that the trick is to spread a generous helping of butter on your toast, followed by a thin layer of Marmite. (If you’re avoiding either fat or salt, forget about it.)

But there is no need to convert the converted and I doubt I’ll be able to sway those diehard Marmite/Vegemite objectors.

I have to “import” Marmite from South Africa, where it is kosher. I hope my cousin does not have to pay for the extra weight of her luggage when she brings me my little jars of Marmite, but the good news is that it lasts FOREVER, so she does not have to satisfy my yeast extract fix too often.

Here are two of my current jars of Marmite.

Marmite in my kitchen.

So where does Agilent come into this culinary discussion? Well, I don’t know if the recipe for Vegemite has been as closely guarded a secret as the recipe for Coca Cola, but Renée Webster, an Australian pursuing her doctorate, has analyzed the contents of Vegemite to find the distinct chemical compounds that produce the unique odor of the much-loved (or much-rejected) yeast extract. The Agilent 5975 gas chromatograph played a major role in the Vegemite analysis by breaking up this smelly (but delicious) mass that smells distinctly of – well – Vegemite – into more than 35 compounds that smell of everyday items such as flowers, wine, and leather, and which seem to have no connection to the smell of the yeast extract itself. I’m not sure if I really needed to know what Vegemite (and possibly Marmite) is composed of. You would not normally catch me spreading anything that smells of wax – or rancid fat (yes, rancid fat really is one of the detected odors) – or sweat – on my toast!

Renée Webster conducted her analysis in three stages:

Sampling: Using a kitchen knife, a Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) sampler, and a lab oven. I wonder if she regrets sacrificing to science the sample of Vegemite she needed for her experiment – never to be spread on a piece of toast!
Separation: Using an Agilent 5975 GC/MSD (gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer) to separate the Vegemite compound into its multiple chemical components for individual analysis. The 5975 is built with 7890 GC technology. The gas chromatograph is responsible for the separation part of the process.
Analysis: Using the mass spectrometer that, together with the included software, analyzes the detected chemicals. Hmm, couldn’t she simply use her olfactory system, that is, her nose, instead of the mass spec? Well, that might not be ideal if you want exact measurements, percentages, and specific odor descriptions.

According to the article, Agilent Helps Uncover Vegemite Mystique, on the Agilent News Hub, the GC performs the separation, and the mass spec does all the detection work. I’m guessing that with over 35 compounds and odors to detect, the 5975 GC/MSD is ideal because it allows for quick column changing; thus speeding up the detection and analysis process.

Here are a few of the top chemicals that were found in Vegemite, including their accompanying odors.

Vegemite Compound Analysis (Top three by percentage)

Percentage of Total	Chemical Compound	Associated Odor
43.8	ethyl decanoate	fruit, oil, sweet, wax
16.6	ethyl trans-4-decenoate	wax, leather, pear
12.5	octanoic acid, ethyl ester	fruity, fatty, floral, green, menthol, anise

To see the complete results of the separations and each component’s odor, you can read the Guardian’s Australia FoodBlog on the Vegemite analysis. As well, for details on the process Renée used to conduct her analysis, view her own blog.

If you are now inspired by the 5975’s work on Vegemite, take a look at the list of 5975’s currently available on Used-Line.

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Opting for an Optical Tme Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)

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Choosing an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is very similar to the process used in selecting a new vehicle. The more options that are included – or added – the more it will cost. Some OTDRs are built with rugged utilities for heavy field use, others are delicate precision instruments suitable for laboratory use. Any high-quality OTDR is a significant expense; most cost as much – or more – than the majority of new motor vehicles. The same amount of thoughtful consideration used to buy a car should be used in selecting and buying an OTDR.

An OTDR is a complex instrument incorporating optical frequency pulse generators, a spectrum analyzer, and supporting user interface to determine the location of faults, relative impedance, signal degradation due to attenuation or deformity in the fiber, and often has a computer interface or plug-in modules to allow a separate computer access to the test and measurement device and data for more sophisticated online or offline analysis than may be available from the instrument alone.

Operating Environment

The first and most important consideration is where and how the OTDR is deployed when it is in use. Exposure to extreme weather, limited availability of electric power, and the required degree of portability eliminate any OTDR that isn’t ruggedized, battery powered, and reasonably sized, such as a hand-held. A rigid bench, wheeled carriage or rack mount unit used in a power- and climate-controlled clean room or engineering laboratory environment dictates a completely different set of options. It may be required that the OTDR is dual use, and trade-offs must be considered to determine the best value balanced against the risk of potential damage when in transport or in active use.

Operational Capabilities

Acquiring an OTDR should not be solely based on financial or budgetary considerations. Cost does not necessarily translate to effectiveness; a very expensive unit can be totally unsuited to measure the cable under test. If a unit is simply to be used to determine the location of a break in the cable and not more esoteric measurements, such as impedance mismatch, kinks or sharp bends, attenuation or signal losses, then it can be much less expensive than a full-feature instrument of otherwise similar size and utility.

New, Discontinued, Factory Refurbished or Used: Which is the best choice?

The only reasons to buy a new, bleeding side of the cutting edge technology are that the company is a manufacturer or the application is mission-critical. Often, a discontinued instrument offers substantial savings and superior value – often 30% or more – especially if it is a brand-new unit, simply no longer manufactured. A factory refurbished instrument meets or possibly exceeds the original specifications. These units are typically factory warranty returns, leased instruments, trade-ins for upgrade to newer models and similar light-use applications reconditioned by the OEM for resale. Savings of 30% to 50% are not unreasonable expectations. Used instruments can offer very high value, however, due diligence is required to ensure ample time – typically 30-90 days – for inspection and return privileges if the unit fails to perform. Cosmetic exterior wear and tear consistent with its operating environment are not uncommon. Used units that perform to specification can realize values from 60% to 90% below the original MSRP.

Brand name or OEM?

Some people are comforted by particular makes and models of test equipment. In many cases, the difference between a name-brand device and its OEM equivalent are cosmetic – the internal circuitry is identical. The wise buyer will consider the specifications before the name brand, the reliability and integrity of the source of the equipment and the particular requirements of the technician or engineer that will use the equipment. The length and scope of any warranty or guarantee must also be considered, especially with used instruments. Is the warranty a factory warranty or outsourced to an unspecified third-party?

Relative value

An OTDR can easily cost 20 to 50 thousand dollars or more. Used OTDRs can also cost 40 thousand dollars or more. A capital expense item of the magnitude of an OTDR can have significant tax implications. The ROI of a used unit often is much faster than a similar new instrument and it can have a steeper depreciation. Before purchasing an OTDR, it is suggested that the engineering staff that will be using the device, the accounting staff that will handle the budgeting and payments, and the executive officers that will have to justify the expense, be in agreement. This can be difficult; however, the use of an independent third-party systems consultant can often provide assistance in coordinating the various aspects of an acquisition with minimal impact on limited corporate resources. Before opting for a low-cost solution, consider the functionality, specifications, and usability requirements of the tasks that the instrument will be used for.

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Six Top Reasons for Listing your Inventory on Used-Line.com

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Here’s the windup...

Baseball Windup (Microsoft Office Image)

You mean you need a reason? Ok, so fine, we’ll give you six reasons. All six reasons are based on points that Used-Line customers have already made about Used-Line’s portal for used test, lab, and semiconductor equipment.

Used-Line appreciates customer feedback, both positive and negative. Well, mostly positive! But we are always ready to learn from our customers.

Let’s make one thing clear. There aren’t only six reasons for listing your equipment on Used-Line.com. We’re simply listing the TOP six reasons here. Our blog post would become a lengthy dissertation if we were to list them all. And you would probably get the point by the time you read Reason #73.

The six reasons we chose are those that we garnered from our customers’ feedback. You can read what our customers have said in their own words in our customer testimonials. Thank you, Used-Line customers!

…And here’s the pitch.

Baseball Pitch (Microsoft Office Image)

1. EXPOSURE

Used-Line exposes you to a large potential customer base. Used-Line visitors, whether dealers in the market for buying or selling equipment, or private buyers and sellers, learn to trust those users they conduct transactions with on Used-Line. It is easy on Used-Line to build your own network of long-term trustworthy dealers and customers because of the solid framework for conducting your business and because of the vast selection of equipment listings.

2. ADVERTISING RESOURCES

Billboards. Banners. Listings. Your own promotions.

Plane Banner (Edited Microsoft Office Image)

The advertising packages available on Used-Line are both numerous and flexible. You can be up and running in a few minutes. A first-time visitor to the site can advertise his equipment in a listing right away, simply by completing an online form. For our more sophisticated brand boosting options or for a custom-designed strategy, you can contact a Used-Line Sales Rep directly. Used-Line understands that its users have many different requirements and budgets and, as a result, Used-Line offers many flexible options.

3. EXPANDING BORDERS
There is no need to restrict your customer base to a couple of city blocks.
Of course, borders in our world have fallen away with the globalization of markets via the Internet. However, Used-Line’s international Dealer Directory provides instant contact with a vast listing of registered dealers from all over the world. This both broadens your customer base, and gives you access to hard-to-find equipment that may be available in locales at a distance from your physical location.

4. TRIAL PERIOD
The one-month free trial of Used-Line advertising lets you test the system and examine your results. You should be able to gauge the potential ROI during this first month, as well as view your results with the Used-Line Statistics feature.

5. PRICE
Price means different things to different people. Price can mean the cost of your expenses for selling equipment via Used-Line. Price can mean the selling price of your equipment. Whatever it means to you, on Used-Line, you can find the price that works for you. If your equipment is on the lower end of the pricing scale, you will be able to find a pricing scheme for selling your equipment that may cost you nothing or next-to-nothing, but which will get you top dollar for your equipment. On the other hand, you can choose a budget-friendly package with the best results for selling your high-end equipment.

6. CUSTOMER SERVICE
A smile. A fast response time. Friendly advice. Flexibility. Full attention to your specific requirements. Professional. Goes the “extra mile”.

Need we say more?

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Three Test & Measurement Instruments You Can Create with a Smartphone

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Should I be embarrassed to even admit that I don’t own any kind of smartphone? I own a Kindle. Does that count? Somehow, I don’t think so.

But despite not being able to try this out for myself unless I borrow my brother-in-law’s iPhone or my niece’s Android phone, this is the first thing that has really tickled my fancy about smartphones (aside from Waze).
3 Test & Measurement Instruments You Can Create with a Smartphone Signal Generator, mixed signal… Click To Tweet

Test & Measurement Instruments

Anyway, back to the topic. I’m talking about turning your smartphone into a test & measurement instrument. Not a surprising development. And not that new, either. For some time now, we’ve been watching T&M instruments approach the size of smartphones. Handheld T&M instruments, while not necessarily offering the type of specs you’d find on a benchtop, have been finding their niche in the market as engineers are called upon more and more to leave their benches and go out into the field without the inconvenience of a heavy bag.

I don’t think smartphones are ruggedized enough yet to withstand the conditions that handheld T&M instruments are built for, although according to an article in the National Instruments Developer Zone, smartphones do have the potential to at the very least take over handheld meters in the field.

Anyway, let’s take a look at just a few sample products (there are many more out there), and see what we can measure with a smartphone.

The ‘Scope on a Phone

This should be a cinch, right? Simply show voltage over time? Yes, but what scope leads do you use? Do you need some sort of external hardware module? If you short two pins on your Device Under Test – will you fry your smartphone? What happens if your phone rings while you’re checking the output on pin 3 of your 7400? (I did not invent this question!)

In 2010, Onyx Apps introduced Oscilloscope 1.0 for iOS. The write-up on DailyAppShow describes the features and capabilities of this app, which can also generate sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth waveforms up to 22 kHz. Instead of using the audio input, which is somewhat limiting in terms of sampling and frequency, the Onyx scope app uses the microphone or a device plugged into the microphone input. Today, Version 1.9 is available. This app offers many of the typical features you would find on a desktop oscilloscope, such as triggering modes (Normal, Single, and Auto), screen capturing ability, reference signal calibration, and more.

The Mixed Signal ‘Scope on a Phone

Believe it or not!

How did they do that? We can thank Oscium for its Model iMSO-104 mixed signal oscilloscope (MSO) for iPad and iPhone, which consists of a module that includes one 8-bit analog channel and a four-input digital harness.
3 Test & Measurement Instruments You Can Create with a Smartphone Signal Generator, mixed signal… Click To Tweet
You might need something a little more serious for devices in the GHz range, but with a 5 MHz analog bandwidth, a sample rate of 12 MS, and the ability to instantly probe a circuit from a tiny device powered by an iPhone or iPad, who’s complaining? The software app is super user-friendly, replacing knobs and buttons easily with those adept key strokes and finger swipes.

Here are some interesting pointers I learned from the FAQ on the Oscium site:

The analog channel can be used for measuring AC or DC. Maximum voltage range is -40 V to +40 V (10x mode).
Digital threshold is 1.7 V (fixed).
Triggering is available up to 100 ms. What’s really cool is that if your timescale goes higher, the triggering menu disappears. Although this can be scary when you first encounter this phenomenon, it’s a user-friendly tip once you’ve learned why or when this occurs.
The IMSO-104 is supported by iOS version 5.0 or higher.

A Do-It-Yourself Signal Generator

Test & Measurement Instruments

An article that appeared this month in an EDN Network newsletter does not consider the 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range of a smartphone’s audio plug to be a limitation. There’s a lot you can do in this range. The article suggests that many of the components in medical devices fit into the lower end of the range. Here are some examples found on the National Instruments site:

ECG (or EKG): 0.01 – 300 Hz
EEG (electroencephalogram): 0.1 – 100 Hz
EOG (electrooculograph): 0.1 – 10 Hz
EMG (electromyograph): 50 Hz – 3 kHz

With the availability of hardware and software for less than $20 (not counting the cost of the smartphone!), and some light labor (get out your soldering iron) you can be up and running in no time with two channels (your left and right stereo connections) generating sine, square, and sawtooth signals.

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On Views, ClickThroughs, and RFQs: Tracking your Listings on Used-Line

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If you’re wondering why your listings on Used-Line.com generate many VIEWS, but a very low CTR (Clickthrough Rate) with a decided lack in RFQs, then you are asking the right questions.

How do you check if your ad (listing) is getting the views but not the clickthroughs?

Used-Line now offers a Statistics service that can show you all the activity taking place on your listings – both individual and overall listings. We previously discussed how to write a good sell ad for Used-Line. Now let’s find out if you really do need to work on your ads – or if, in fact, you are doing OK.

The new Used-Line Statistics service can tell you how your listings are doing by providing you with:

Instant views of the effectiveness of your listings overall
The ability to drill down into the specific statistics of individual ads

Okay. So how do we retrieve all this important information?

To view overall Statistics of all your Used-Line listings for each month

Log in to your Used-Line account.
To view overall statistics of all your listings, click Statistics under My Used-Line on the left side of the page. View statistics for your total listings for each month in the following four graphs:
- RFQs received: Indicates how many Used-Line buyers sent you a Request for Quote (RFQ) for items you advertised.
  
  RFQs received
- Views – product pages: Indicates how many potential buyers saw your postings.
  
  How many users viewed your postings
- Click-throughs to site: Indicates how many Used-Line visitors visited your company website.
  
  Click-throughs to your site
- Click – view phone: Indicates how many Used-Line visitors clicked the Seller phone number button in your ads.
  
  Number of users that clicked the Phone button.

To view statistics for your individual listings

If you have not already done so, log in to your Used-Line account.
To view individual listing statistics, click My Ads under My Used-Line on the left side of the page. Each ad is in the ItemID column in the My Ads tab. You can view the specific statistics for each of your ads in the four columns to the right of the ItemId column:
- Views: The number of potential buyers that viewed the ad since it was first posted
- Site: The number of Used-Line visitors that visited your company website by clicking the Visit Website button in the ad
- RFQ: The number of RFQs that have been sent for the item you described in the ad
- Phone: The number of Used-Line visitors that have clicked the Seller phone number button in the ad

Note: At times, you may want to update a listing because of new or changed information. This is fine, as long as you realize that your listing will be reset. When a listing is reset, the statistics for that listing are reset. As a result, only the statistics for the most recent version of your ad will be shown.

So, let’s get tracking!

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Why not rent? (Part two of two)

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In the last blog, I introduced a February 2013 Scope Junction article that delivers the results of a survey on scope rentals. Readers were asked how often they had rented an oscilloscope. Of the 152 users who responded, more than 53% answered in the negative – they had never rented a scope.

Part One of this blog discussed a couple of points to consider if you are thinking about renting or leasing equipment instead of purchasing. Affordability was weighed against cost-effectiveness and the number of variables that can impact the ultimate cost of an instrument . As well, predicting the future of the industry was considered a factor in rental decisions.

Here are a couple more considerations.

Flexibility. You can rent state-of-the-art equipment that your budget does not allow you to purchase. For specific projects with stringent high-end specification requirements, a short-term rental lets you perform specialized tasks that you normally would not be able to run without the unique instrumentation features or specifications required for them. And – without breaking the bank. Although the flexibility of this type of short-term rental is attractive, it does demand more than a comfort level with the specs in order to match those required by the project with the capabilities of the instrument you intend to rent.

Test-drive an instrument. While renting, you can gauge an instrument’s performance strengths and weaknesses in your lab. Many instrument dealerships offer both rental and leasing terms. After leasing for a particular time period, you may be offered purchasing options at reduced terms. At this point, you should be able to clearly assess the suitability of the instrument as a permanent fixture in your lab.

And now for a little bonus tidbit. Or should I call that tipbit?

How to Find Dealers that Rent Out Equipment on Used-Line.com

The Used-Line Dealer Directory lists more than 900 dealers. How do you locate those that do offer rental equipment as one of their services?

On the Used-Line.com home page, click DEALER DIRECTORY in the column on the right side of the page.
In the Dealer Directory, use the filter on the left side of the page to choose the type of equipment you need: T&M, Lab, or Semi.
Narrow your search further by Location and by product Specialization.
Open the Services list, then select Rentals to view all the companies that offer rentals in the type of equipment you need.

DD services with rentals

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Used-Line.com Blog

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Tag Archives: test equipment

Special lab equipment update for the 2016/2017 academic year

Used-Line has been serving its colleagues in the world of academia since 1999. We view our involvement in the institutions of science and engineering not only as a business, but also as a kind of community commitment.

PRICE CHALLENGE

THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2016/2017 IS HERE

Visit Used-Line and find all the equipment you require from thousands of new special listings for academic laboratories in the many fields of science and engineering.

Handheld Spectrum Analyzer Competes with Benchtops