Refurb Test Equipment

[Test Equipment Dude]

The refurbished test equipment market is very dynamic, with
significant opportunity for B2B savings over the price of new test
equipment. However, anywhere there is great opportunity there is also
areas of risk. Many 'refurbishers' are basement operations
cannabilizing multiple broken units in hope of making one good one.
The 'pedigree' of the unit is lost, firmware revisions don't
necessarily work across the mix of board revisions, and many hidden
problems surface during measurement and operation, whereas the unit
may appear to be working fine initially.

There are good operators which provide solid equipment, for good
prices, with warranties and all accessories. The best refurbishers
have arrangements with OEM's to get parts, engineering documentation,
and technical support. It is also best for the refurbisher to be ISO
certified, and have an onsite laboratory, preferably ISO-17025
calibration accredited.

From a business process perspective, the best refurbisher(s) will
adhere to most or all of these characteristics:


Your equipiment is sourced from known owners (such as a customers of
that refurbisher) or an OEM technology refresh arrangement.
The unit will be evaluated per a documented process - not simply a
'checkover'. The unit is opened, main chassis and subassemblies are
cleaned and inspected, the firmware and operating system software is
evaluated and updated if appropriate. The options are evaluated and
tested.
The refurbisher has the capability to perform component level repair
and/or has repair arrangements with the OEM for parts, documentation,
and support.
The unit is calibrated to FULL OEM specifications, again - not simply
a 'sample inspection'.
The refurbisher supplies, or adds, all relevant accessories, OEM
documentation, and ancillary equipment as you would have received the
unit new.
The unit is warrantied by the refurbisher, with a 'right of refusal'
if the unit not delivered or operating as described, to full OEM
spec.
These key elements remove the risk from the purchaser, and ensure that
the refurbished unit is truly 'like new', from an operational
standpoint, with a greater cost advantage.

One refurbisher that we highly recommend is NSCA Technologies. In
business for 20 years, and have their own ISO-17025 laboratory (Tra-
Cal). This organization delivers excellent quality and stands behind
their work. http://nscainc.com/ Phone +1.301.527.9200 NSCA carries
most major OEM equipment from Agilent, Anritsu, Fluke, Frederick
Engineering, HP, Rohde & Schwarz, Tektronix, and many others. The
units come warranted, calibrated, and in excellent shape.

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