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Multimeter | Clamp meter | Insulation Resistance Tester | Panel Meter | Oscilloscopes | Test leads & Accessories | Software Updates => Bench-top multimeter => Topic started by: Kiriakos GR on March 07, 2020, 07:36:02 PM

Title: FLUKE 8846A does not respond to FETCH3? command (solved)
Post by: Kiriakos GR on March 07, 2020, 07:36:02 PM

SCPI software developing this is fun and you do feel excitement and even pulling of your own hairs this is part of the job. ;D

FETCH3? command this is FLUKE proprietary and special command this having the benefit of faster execution due 8846A DMM.
But does all 8846A units accept and respond to it?

The smoking gun when FETCH3? this is not executed this is the firmware version of 8845/8846 DMM it self.
Any multimeter loaded with 2008 firmware and older, this will not be capable to execute this command.
 
In the positive side of things, you are still able to use FETCH? or FETCH1? or FETCH2?,  but for FETCH3? you need to contact FLUKE and request a copy of 2011 developed Firmware.
Firmware installation requiring LAN connectivity. 

For the many out there I will recommend of you making an arrangement with your local FLUKE authorized reseller, so the upgrade to be performed from FLUKE, by this way they will get your money and the responsibility, about them delivering back your DMM undamaged.

The 8846A this is not equal to a cheap Pentium motherboard this requiring a minor BIOS firmware update.
                       

Title: Re: FLUKE 8846A does not respond to FETCH3? command (solved)
Post by: Kiriakos GR on March 09, 2020, 07:28:07 PM

Today I did receive an confirmation directly from Fluke Calibration USA.
Copy/Paste Their reply.


William (Bill) Spath (Fluke Calibration)
Mar 9, 07:23 PDT 2020

Hi Kiriakos,

The firmware updater for the 8846A is only available to Fluke Authorized Service Centers.
You will be required to send the 8846A into a Fluke Service Center to get it updated.

Title: Re: FLUKE 8846A does not respond to FETCH3? command (solved)
Post by: Kiriakos GR on March 17, 2020, 09:17:00 PM

More news and the entire truth directly from Fluke Calibration Japan at 14 march 2020

Unfortunately the batch of 8845A & 8846A  DMM them manufactured at 2006 up to 2008, they cannot accept any newer Firmware revision because of their old PCB revision.
In simple English the old 8846A motherboard (circuit board revision and parts in it) they are incompatible with the year 2009 and later Firmware.

And this is the reason that FLUKE calibration USA it did stop providing Firmware updates at user hands.

This unique information arrived to me due a good friend of my this be located in Japan.
I did get first hand answers by interrogating Fluke Calibration USA and their customer service was first class.  :)
But from FLUKE Japan we did receive an far clearer explanation regarding this issue. 

According latest news: ITTSB Blog advice for people think to seek in the market of used ( Pre-Owned )  8845A & 8846A,  They better demonstrate higher preference at 2009 and newer production dates.
Especially if they are after to use high speed data acquisition ( Windows PC Data logger software) this will be released in April.  ;)