well yeah I agree there..I'm all for restoring and preserving rare hardware, but in the end this is just rare and obsolete, and has pretty much 0 usefulness anymore (even in retro circles). No need to go all out on premium parts.

rasz_pl wrote on 2026-08-03, 16:02:

TELVM wrote on 2026-07-30, 14:27:

On such a rare and expensive piece of lab equipment

Did you meant obsolete and unsupported? Its 25 years old and was build to help debug original 11Mbit 802.11b wifi, 2G GSM and DECT. Today you can do everything and more with a $500 KiwiSDR

50/50
If this specific measuring equipment is the de facto industry standard, then why not?
For example, the same Audio Precision System One (1985y).
Measurements taken with it inspire more trust than many others.

shevalier wrote on 2026-08-04, 06:07:

For example, the same Audio Precision System One (1985y).
Measurements taken with it inspire more trust than many others.

Audio bw didnt change, radio channel widths did. Cant use this for modern wifi, gsm, DOCSIS. What this can still be used for can be handled by student aimed tools like $200 https://www.analog.com/en/resources/evaluatio … dalm-pluto.html or $400 https://digilent.com/shop/analog-discovery-3/ (with additional frontend) using modern cheap/free software.

rasz_pl wrote on 2026-08-04, 12:35:

Audio bw didnt change, […]
Show full quote

shevalier wrote on 2026-08-04, 06:07:

For example, the same Audio Precision System One (1985y).
Measurements taken with it inspire more trust than many others.

Audio bw didnt change,

Yes, of course.
Not counting the 20dB (10-fold) reduction in noise and distortion of the Audio Precision APX5xx series 😀
(Setting aside the addition of HDMI and Bluetooth inputs, which allow for audio stream measurement via these interfaces),
the System One is more than enough for hobbies and even medium-scale production
As I said, it’s a 50/50.
Some industrial test gear ages gracefully, and some just doesn't.