Model 308 and 309 owners with serial numbers in the first list below are strongly encouraged to take advantage of a free upgrade to current hardware and software standards. This upgrade will dramatically improve the performance of your instrument. For Model 308 owners, your instruments will additionally be upgraded to Model 309s free (unless requested otherwise).


31 August 2005: Upgrades are available now, with a service time of two weeks or less. Email or voice call if desired to verify service time.


Upgrade benefits include:

° Dramatically higher accuracy and resolution, especially in low ranges (down to 30 mA).
° For Model 308 owners, the enhanced functionality of the Model 309.
° Improved internal hardware functionality, including four decade auto-ranging and 16 bit A/D conversion on both voltage and current channels*.
° Improved software functionality, ergonomics and many bug corrections.
° Improved measurement speed and readout and control responsiveness.
° Networking upgrade to multi-mode serial and current network card design standards (internal flat cables replaced with edge card connector).
° Specified lower limit for the test current range improved from 2.5 Amps to 30 mA.
° Elimination of occasional system crashes suffered by some instruments.
° Substantial hardware clean-ups.
° Fresh NIST / MIL-STD-45662A calibration certificate with test data and instrument date sticker provided.
° Renewal of two year full service warranty.
° Free FedEx Ground return freight.

* Early instruments with serial numbers in the first list below utilize only two current ranges and only one voltage range, and a 10 bit A/D conversion.


The upgrade package consists of the following work:

The entire "µC CB" circuit board containing the microcontroller, RAM, Flash memory, linear auto-ranging signal amplifiers, precision reference, and audio circuits, and the "Power Management CB" are replaced with new and elegant current design circuit boards. New flat interconnect cables are installed. A new internal current sense resistor assembly is installed on some early instruments. For Model 308 instruments, the lexan front panel is replaced with a new Model 309 lexan panel, and Model 309 components are installed on the "Controls and Readouts CB" circuit board. The network card is replaced with a new edge card connector style multi-mode serial network card of current design. An internal fan guard is installed on some early instruments. The latest version of the Operating Software is installed. Dielectric withstand and ground integrity tests are performed. The software calibration procedure is performed. Support documents are generated, including a new NIST / MIL-STD-45662A calibration certificate with test data and instrument date sticker. The original two year warranty is renewed.


Free: The upgrade is free for customers with the following serial numbers, including FedEx Ground return freight. For other carriers or classes, you'll be billed for the freight, or, for most carriers, you can provide your account number so as to eliminate our billing for premium freight and thus eliminate the need for a purchase order. Those in red are Model 308s which will be upgraded as described above and upgraded to Model 309s unless requested otherwise. Those in blue are already Model 309s, but will still be upgraded as described above:

17 January 2008: The following serial numbers have not yet been upgraded (leading zeros removed): 291, 296, 297, 302, 303, 304, 305, 308, 312, 313, 326, 331, 336, 389.


The upgrade is available for the following instruments for $300 FOB Hillsboro, OR. While these instruments benefit from the upgrade, the performance improvement is less dramatic - their original hardware design is clean and competent, and their performance is much higher than the early instruments listed above. (These instruments already incorporate four decade auto-ranging amplifiers and edge card connection type multi-mode serial network cards.) Hypatia does not recommend the upgrade for these instruments unless you have a specific requirement for a very high level of precision for your ground integrity measurements:

24 July 2002 (leading zeros removed): 294, 295, 299, 300, 307, 308.5, 315, 318, 322, 332, 333, 335, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 440.


Transit packing instructions

Please do not include probes unless they require repair or inspection (charged separately). Please do not include the power cord.


Hypatia Inc. Contact Information ucecage@Hypatia.com. Report mail misconduct to uce@ftc.gov.