Anyone own one of these? Reviews, please.
 

http://www.grove-ent.com/MS8209.html
Mastech 5-in-1 Multimeter

--
"I'm sick and tired of having to rearrange my life
because of what the STUPIDEST people *might* do or
how they *might* react."
-- Bill Maher

I found myself pretty nervous about the part where it says "/*NOTE:*
There is variance in accuracy among units. A detailed calibration
procedure is included for competent technicians who need improved
accuracy."

/A multimeter can live a fairly rough life. I'm sure there are many
manufacturers that make quality, rugged units, but from just the web
page below we have no way of telling if this is one of them. The NOTE
makes me think otherwise about this unit, both in electronic and
mechanical quality.

Lacking any specific unit recommendations, depending which of the listed
measurement modes you need, I recommend you get the real thing, such as
from Fluke. Here is a unit close to what you're looking at, the Fluke 110:

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fl...keUnitedStates
Amazon has it for $93; I'm sure you could find a better price if you
looked hard enough.

Here's the whole line:
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/categorydmm

I've had a model 77 for 20 years. It has survived a lot of mistreatment.

Steve


Larry Jaques wrote:

http://www.grove-ent.com/MS8209.html
Mastech 5-in-1 Multimeter

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 09:44:00 -0400, Steve Smith
wrote:

I found myself pretty nervous about the part where it says "/*NOTE:*
There is variance in accuracy among units. A detailed calibration
procedure is included for competent technicians who need improved
accuracy."

/A multimeter can live a fairly rough life. I'm sure there are many
manufacturers that make quality, rugged units, but from just the web
page below we have no way of telling if this is one of them. The NOTE
makes me think otherwise about this unit, both in electronic and
mechanical quality.

Lacking any specific unit recommendations, depending which of the listed
measurement modes you need, I recommend you get the real thing, such as
from Fluke. Here is a unit close to what you're looking at, the Fluke 110:

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fl...keUnitedStates
Amazon has it for $93; I'm sure you could find a better price if you
looked hard enough.

Here's the whole line:
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/categorydmm

I've had a model 77 for 20 years. It has survived a lot of mistreatment.

Steve


Larry Jaques wrote:

http://www.grove-ent.com/MS8209.html
Mastech 5-in-1 Multimeter




What he said. Get a Fluke.

Pete Keillor

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 09:44:00 -0400, the opaque Steve Smith
clearly wrote:

I found myself pretty nervous about the part where it says "/*NOTE:*
There is variance in accuracy among units. A detailed calibration
procedure is included for competent technicians who need improved
accuracy."

Ditto here. That's why I asked.


/A multimeter can live a fairly rough life. I'm sure there are many
manufacturers that make quality, rugged units, but from just the web
page below we have no way of telling if this is one of them. The NOTE
makes me think otherwise about this unit, both in electronic and
mechanical quality.

In balance, other reviews give Mastech two thumbs up.


Lacking any specific unit recommendations, depending which of the listed
measurement modes you need, I recommend you get the real thing, such as
from Fluke. Here is a unit close to what you're looking at, the Fluke 110:

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fl...keUnitedStates
Amazon has it for $93; I'm sure you could find a better price if you
looked hard enough.

Flukes are without peer, but they don't have the DB or lux meter
features included. I have occasional need for both.


Here's the whole line:
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/categorydmm

I've had a model 77 for 20 years. It has survived a lot of mistreatment.

Yeah, I worked with old Simpsons eons ago, Flukes in another era,
and now have an old $5 Chiwanese model from HF (which is, surprisingly
enough, very good.)

Thanks for the suggestions.

--
"I'm sick and tired of having to rearrange my life
because of what the STUPIDEST people *might* do or
how they *might* react."
-- Bill Maher

My suggestion is to Google "Mastech MS8209" and read the comments
people have about the product. My second suggestion is that if you
really have a use for any two of the unusual features (Sound level,
Luminance, Temperature, or Relative humidity) then buy it. You will
also notice in your search that the price range is 79.05 to 159.95
plus S&H so you're best advised to shop carefully and buy from a
reputable seller.

As for other comments about accuracy variation, I have little faith in
the accuracy of any measurement taken with any instrument, which has
not been calibrated within six month, so having the calibration
instructions is handy; you will not have to search for them.





"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...
| http://www.grove-ent.com/MS8209.html
| Mastech 5-in-1 Multimeter
|
| --
| "I'm sick and tired of having to rearrange my life
| because of what the STUPIDEST people *might* do or
| how they *might* react."
| -- Bill Maher

Don't forget to Google "groups", this will search the newsgroups, where
an opinion might be more likely than a web page.

Steve

Mungo Bulge wrote:

My suggestion is to Google "Mastech MS8209" and read the comments
people have about the product. My second suggestion is that if you
really have a use for any two of the unusual features (Sound level,
Luminance, Temperature, or Relative humidity) then buy it. You will
also notice in your search that the price range is 79.05 to 159.95
plus S&H so you're best advised to shop carefully and buy from a
reputable seller.

As for other comments about accuracy variation, I have little faith in
the accuracy of any measurement taken with any instrument, which has
not been calibrated within six month, so having the calibration
instructions is handy; you will not have to search for them.





"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
.. .
| http://www.grove-ent.com/MS8209.html
| Mastech 5-in-1 Multimeter
|
| --
| "I'm sick and tired of having to rearrange my life
| because of what the STUPIDEST people *might* do or
| how they *might* react."
| -- Bill Maher

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 10:36:42 -0400, Pete Keillor
wrote:

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 09:44:00 -0400, Steve Smith
wrote:

I found myself pretty nervous about the part where it says "/*NOTE:*
There is variance in accuracy among units. A detailed calibration
procedure is included for competent technicians who need improved
accuracy."

/A multimeter can live a fairly rough life. I'm sure there are many
manufacturers that make quality, rugged units, but from just the web
page below we have no way of telling if this is one of them. The NOTE
makes me think otherwise about this unit, both in electronic and
mechanical quality.

Lacking any specific unit recommendations, depending which of the listed
measurement modes you need, I recommend you get the real thing, such as
from Fluke. Here is a unit close to what you're looking at, the Fluke 110:

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fl...keUnitedStates
Amazon has it for $93; I'm sure you could find a better price if you
looked hard enough.

Here's the whole line:
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/categorydmm

I've had a model 77 for 20 years. It has survived a lot of mistreatment.

Steve


Larry Jaques wrote:

http://www.grove-ent.com/MS8209.html
Mastech 5-in-1 Multimeter




What he said. Get a Fluke.

Pete Keillor

Ayup.

Gunner

On Mon, 08 Aug 2005 09:15:26 GMT, the opaque Gunner
clearly wrote:

Larry Jaques wrote:

http://www.grove-ent.com/MS8209.html
Mastech 5-in-1 Multimeter

What he said. Get a Fluke.

Pete Keillor

Ayup.

Fluke has an $80 DVM + DB meter + Lux meter combo?
If so, I'm on it! They're the Haagen Dazs of meter makers.
;)

--
"I'm sick and tired of having to rearrange my life
because of what the STUPIDEST people *might* do or
how they *might* react."
-- Bill Maher