T4D#42 Fluke TL175

[iloveelectronics]

Good stuff! Finally a response from Fluke, although they still incorrectly referred to the 289 instead of your 287

Resonance from Fluke:

 FlukeCorporation 7 hours ago

Thanks, Martin. We have dug in to the question w/our product team. The only TL175s licensed for sale have bright yellow on the logo. Sounds like you may have a pre-production unit, but we can’t know for sure unless we see them. If they haven't already, a product specialist will be in touch to exchange the probes you bought. Re: the 289-We are aware that the product has a light-sensitive IR port. We’re committed to fixing the issue and have verified w/engineering that a fix is in the works.

[MJLorton]

My response to Fluke:

While your response is rather late it is still appreciated. I have one small but important request. Can you please post a bulletin on your website regarding the light-sensitive IR port on the Fluke 287 /289 so that your customers are formally informed and aware of the status to fix the problem. Thanks , Martin.

[MJLorton]

This email just received from Fluke:
--------------------------------------------

Hello Martin,
 
My name is Duane Smith. Im a product specialist with the multimeter group at Fluke. I’ve been meaning to get back with you much sooner than this but things never work out quite as planned. I wanted to address two issues you brought up in your videos a month ago or so.
 
1. TL175 test leads—Are they real or are they knockoff’s?
 
From your video it appears that these leads may be pre-production versions of the TL175 test leads but I cannot confirm without physically seeing these leads. I would appreciate it if we could arrange for return of those leads to me so I can see them? I would gladly replace with a new set.
 
The reason I say Pre Production is the fact that that there is no yellow coloration over the Fluke logo on the probe body. Since these leads were introduced, we have only shipped leads with our customary yellow over the Fluke logo. We did produce some amount of test leads without the yellow coloration prior to our introduction but these leads were not sold with new product to my knowledge. How our distributor came about them I cant say at the moment as I don’t know but I would really like to see if these in fact were our probes.
 
2. 28X IR port issues
 
We have finally developed a fix for the 28X IR port communication problem which is in its final phases of testing before we get it out to our site for customer release. Its been a long time in coming but we finally have it in hand. I neglected to respond to you much earlier, as months ago we did not have a solution in hand to talk about but we do now. As I said testing is still wrapping up but if you are interested I can arrange for you to update your firmware and test for yourself? Please let me know if you might be interested?
 
We really do appreciate your feedback and your support of the test and measurement community.
 
Regards, Duane Smith
 
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Duane Smith                                    Fluke Corp.
DMM Marketing Support              Everett, WA

[ProBang]

Hello.

1. Nothing new now. But nice to have a confirm.

2. I bet, you be interested. I´m wrong?

But how? Sure you need the IR-Connection to update. But if you haven´t the cable and software? Send the meter to Fluke?

Greetings from Germany,

Hartmut

[SeanB]

With no 2 I would guess they would need to have the meter if you do not have an IR cable, and I guess part of the fix is a IR filter as well to place in the window. Thus it will be both a software update and a physical addon to place inside the meter. I would guess a lot of customers will use the agents to do so ( as they most likely bought from the same agent), and will otherwise issue the necessary parts on a per serial number basis if you have the cable and are prepared to DIY, at your own risk of bricking the meter.

[MJLorton]

Interesting thoughts on point 2....I'm keen to see what implications that has for Fluke.

I've been told I'll get the new firmware to test in about one week...no mention about an IR window...perhaps it's in the firmware...