For the Good Times. -Looking back on the DSP Series one year after the retirement of repair and calibration services.

The end of March marks one year since calibration and service was available for the DSP 4300, and an end of an era for technicians certifying cabling with the Series.  It was a long love affair. The DSP 100 was the first of the Series. It was introduced in 1995. That year the DVD was selected as the home video format, a gallon of gasoline cost $1.09, and we all had to undure the infamous OJ Simpson trial. DSP Testers became the workhorse of the cabling industry, known for their ruggedness and simple user interface built around a rotary dial.  The DSP 4300 was last of the series introduced in 2001, sold until 2006 and supported with service and calibration until last year.  The technology world has come a long way since 1995. The need for Category 6A  and Class FA certification is well known, and many DSP owners have long ago upgraded their cable testers to the DTX CableAnalyzer. But it is possible to slip through the cracks if you are not opted into Fluke Networks’ newsletters and had never registered your products.  The following is a letter I wrote to a DSP 4300 owner that hadn’t previously gotten the message:
Dear DSP Owner:
Fluke Networks replaced the DSP 4300 CableAnalyzer in 2004 with the DTX CableAnalyzer.  The new product’s efficiency and accuracy made it an immediate success and has driven sales of over 50,000 of this revolutionary product through 2011. Demand slowed for the old product and we subsequently discontinued the manufacturing and sales of the last of the DSP series cable testers in 2006. At that time, we announced our commitment to support and service these products for a period of four years after production ended.

In April of 2011 we reached the end of that four year period and simultaneous exhaustion of our supply of replacement parts and accessories.  The discontinuation of service, repair and calibration was retired because the components and assemblies to repair these older products can no longer be obtained.

Unfortunately, we cannot support legacy test equipment indefinitely. We must now focus our efforts on supporting the large installed base of DTX CableAnalyzers in the field. In addition to unparalleled service and support, we’re constantly working with standards organizations and cabling manufacturers to support the latest standards and cable library.  And we’re adding new accessories and options to increase the value of the tester. 

In 2011 we ran generous offers to help those still operating legacy testers to trade up to the DTX Series of testers. We are running similar programs in the first half of 2012.  Contact your local distributor, Fluke Networks Sales Representative or click on the following link to our website for details.  /content/2012-Trust-Your-Tester-DTX-1800-Trade-Up-Program

Sincerely, 
Harley Lang III
Marketing Manager
Fluke Networks  

If you find yourself  in possession of obsolete cable testers, whether they be DSPs or any other make or model Category 5 (100Mhz)  tester, this is the time to get some value for your old tester and trade it up.  Depending on where you are in the world, you may need to act fast.  Some of the trade in programs are scheduled to expire at the end of this month!