About 10 years ago, I purchased my first piece of Keysight test equipment, a benchtop multimeter.
It was far more modern than the benchtop meters I had used as a student a few years earlier, and very user-friendly.
The best part was the free DMM software that came with it. The software allowed for shockingly easy visualization and measurement record-keeping on a PC. I was sold on Keysight equipment.
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Technically, I purchased an Agilent multimeter. Agilent was split into two companies in 2013, with Keysight being the new test and measurement company.
Keysight (then still Agilent) launched new software in 2014 – BenchVue – which was intended to replace the DMM software I had enjoyed using.
BenchVue was intended to be an all-in-one software package. That promise influenced additional purchasing decisions.
In all, I purchased two Keysight multimeters, an oscilloscope, and a power supply. These are not inexpensive purchases, and the promise of BenchVue as an all-in-one software package – at no added cost – helped me justify the considerable expenses.
In the early years, BenchVue was buggy.
Keysight’s engineers tried their best to help me troubleshoot problems, and I appreciated it. Their customer service was top-notch, despite my being an individual end user.
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And then Keysight’s business strategy changed.
Keysight had a version of the BenchVue software that was free, and a paid Pro version that unlocked additional capabilities I didn’t need.
I went to download BenchVue to a new PC and was surprised to find that they pulled the free version of the software.
Instead of charging top-dollar for premium equipment and supporting it with free software, they started charging top-dollar for the equipment and fees for the software on top of that.
BenchVue began operating on a subscription basis, where you would need a paid license for everything.
That part really soured me, and I felt that they pulled a bait and switch.
The older free versions would continue to work. But, the free version of the software I had been using was buggy – not all the time, but too often when it really mattered.
Too many times, BenchVue would start collecting data and then just stop until I performed an equipment reset and started over. This is also how I learned how responsive and helpful the BenchVue support team was.
The older versions are bloated, with license managers and what-not that force-installed themselves, but free was free.
Now, I recently built a new PC and am running Windows 11. Should I give BenchVue another try? Maybe the newest versions of BenchVue are better, and it’ll be worth it for me to pay for software licenses.
From Keysight’s website, apparently they’re changing things again. Their website says:
We wanted to inform you about an important update regarding the BenchVue Included License. We have transitioned the BV Included license fully to the BenchVue Basic App, making it easier for you to access and use the PathWave BenchVue software that comes with your instrument purchase.
At one point they started offering “BenchVue Included Licenses” with new equipment purchases. So for PathWave BenchVue software that comes with an equipment purchase, the Basic version is now free and doesn’t require license activation.
So does that mean it’s free again for all users or not?
There’s also a catch – the BenchVue Basic Apps don’t come with any technical support. And, the free software is one version older than the one that requires a license or paid subscription.
I came across an email today, from an equipment dealer advertising a “beat inflation” deal on a certain brand of equipment, and that’s what brought all of this to mind.
I clicked through and looked at one of the brand’s benchtop multimeters, and a screenshot of their PC software brought all of these sentiments to the surface.
I liked the look of the competing brand’s app, and wanted to see what Keysight was up to.
I am also in the market for new equipment, and realized that Keysight isn’t on my consideration list at all; I had automatically ruled out the brand based on what they did with BenchVue.
It has been 6-1/2 years since I felt soured by Keysight’s BenchVue strategy shift.
I can almost understand things from their point of view.
But I can also tell you that I have purchased other test and measurement equipment in the years since, but not anything else from Keysight.
Even for equipment I wouldn’t necessarily want to connect to a PC, I really don’t want to give them another penny, at least not as long as there are other options.
I’m not against software subscriptions. What bothers me is that I spent thousands of dollars on hardware, and my purchasing decisions were heavily influenced by the free version of the BenchVue software. And then Keysight backtracked, seemingly because they saw an opportunity to squeeze users for more money.
I never got over the feeling that what they did was akin to bait and switch. They convinced me to buy the equipment, and then put the software behind a paywall.
Part of me wants to give the new free BenchVue basic software a chance. However, a bigger part of me is hesitant due to the huge amount of bloat they force-install to manage licenses, even when I only used the now-very old free version on my other PC. I doubt this has improved in the past 7 years.
Honestly, the older Agilent DMM software worked better – I’ll see if I can find it – but it’d be nice to be able to have visualizations and data logging for my power supply and maybe oscilloscope when needed.
Truth be told, BenchVue could have been amazing.
I work with a couple of subscription-based multi-app software platforms. Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and Steam apps are the first to come to mind.
Keysight’s BenchVue is not built the same; it seems more built for equipment-dedicated PCs that won’t be used for anything except test and measurement purposes. This, I’d say, could be what makes it a bloated mess.
If the software were well-polished, or rather it was as well-polished beneath the surface as (usually) on the screen, maybe I’d be more forgiving for how greedy I felt Keysight had become.
Even if the new free version works on my new PC without the types of frustrations and issues I’ve experienced with BenchVue in the past, can I trust Keysight again?
I feel that the software never delivered the experience I had hoped for and expected – which was easily forgivable when the software was free.
Now that Keysight apparently seems to be giving the software away again, and is no longer interested in squeezing users for more money unless they want tech support, what does that say about its development?
Maybe they’re now factoring the cost of the software into the hardware, which I thought they had already been doing.
Even if I’m willing to give a chance to their renewed attempt at free BenchVue software, I don’t see myself spending money on new Keysight equipment.
Most companies have many chances to gain my trust as a customer and end user.
Objectively, Keysight reversing on their move to a paid subscription model should make me feel better. Realistically, it’s going to take a lot more for me to trust them again.
Hon Cho
Come on man, you know the answer is write your own software to capture what you need! Where’s the spirit of DIY?
Stuart
Can I do it? Potentially – I have looked into this once or twice. Can I learn and develop the skills to do it in a reasonable amount of time? No.
I can grow my own cucumbers to make pickles, and peppers for hot sauce. Can I raise cattle to independently source beef and cheese? Chickens for eggs and meat? Sometimes the level of commitment and effort to go the DIY route greatly exceeds the realistic limits of my will and capabilities.
harrison
Amen.
Randy
Ha! Their software is for DIYers. Every company I’ve worked for writes our own software for data collection.
Stuart
Sorry, I don’t have dedicated engineers I can assign such tasks to.
Doug McCarty
Are you saying an API is available for Keysight test equipment? Could you please post a link?
Doug McCarty
Tell you this much.. Just browsing Keysight after finding they do have APIs for EDA Workflows and was looking to see what they consist of. I clicked on a link to “Download Python Modules” only to get an error 404 (aka dead link). So, Keysight again? Well…
Kevin
It’s amazing how well this parallels the recent Unity kerfuffle. People don’t like it when the terms change after they’ve made a purchase.
S
Yeah, never cared to follow computer game engines, but that is one I’m keeping a close eye on. In this case, it’s serving as a barometer for what’s to come from most other publicly traded companies.
To bring this back to tools, Milwaukee has a free app as part of the one-key system. How long before the free app is part of a subscription model, because businesses are more likely to pay up for it’s use?
Champs
Talk about the long shadow of The New HP.
The world needs more Bill Hewletts. The economy demands more Carly Fiorinas.
Joe A
I laughed at that comment! Incidentally, you may or may not be showing your age. 😁
Hon Cho
It’s not ancient history and Fiorina’s leadership of HP was controversial in many ways, I’m not sure we want folks like her as our economic leaders.
1999 HP spins off Aligent
2001 Bill Hewlett died
2005 Carly Fiorini forced out of HP
2014 Agilent spins off Keysight
Robert
Stuart,
‘the Basic version is noq free and doesn’t require license activation’
I believe ‘now” is meant to be “not”.
But even so that seems a contradictory statement, unless the “doesn’t’ shouldn’t be there either.
Stuart
Sorry – thanks! *now free*
No – I checked Keysight’s website, and apparently there is now a free version again. Details are extremely confusing (I included the language above in a quote), but apparently it doesn’t require any license activations, which seems to imply the basic version is completely free.
Jarad O
There’s actually a word for this: “enshittification”: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/enshittification
Unfortunately, the practice is becoming more and more common as these companies can’t seem to help themselves and don’t seem to think angering their customers will have any consequences.
Patrick T
One of my favorite terms.
This reminds me of BMW announcing that they were going to charge a subscription for heated seats. I believe they tested it in a few markets and just announced that they are canceling that program. Apparently people didn’t like it. Who knew?
Kevin
I recently heard someone use this term to describe the situation with hue light bulbs, which will now require an account and agreeing to share your data with them. I bought the bulbs BECAUSE of the ability to work without the cloud.
OldDominionDIYer
Similar but only slightly different are these cordless power tool companies changing battery formats without backward compatibility. Urkes me to no end. Sure, they have plenty of great reasons but none of them are considerate of the end users or current customers. This is how companies lose their customer base, most of the time it is in the pursuit of profits. I’m all for them making a profit but when they do it at the expense of their buying public you eventually will fail as a company.
Stuart
Power tool brands have done this, but sometimes it’s inevitable in order to move forward. Some brands have better supported their existing customers and outgoing platforms than others.
Camera makers have done this too, with the transition from long-time dSLR camera mounts and lenses to new more compact mirrorless ones. There are often adapters.
Yes – it’s exactly how you lose a customer base. It’s why Ryobi maintains their old-fashioned style battery.
Wayne R.
Since there’s no mirror or mechanical shutter in the mirrorless cameras, the body can be a lot thinner with none of that mechanical stuff taking up space. That allows a lot of related things to be a lot different, too.
Old-lens-adapters use that space.
Robert
I don’t know if this fits into classical bait and switch. I wish it did because then I could have said it’s Exhibit A for need of truth in advertising.
I hate subscription mode. It’s the designed anthesis of
“‘But Once, Cry Once.” For that reason I stopped at an older, pre-subscription mode Photoshop. And at work, when we needed the work flow capabilities of Lightroom to do a project, we passed on the marginal project. I understand why sellers have immense envy of subscription and are rushing towards that model. If what I read was accurate that software companies run around 50% profit margins, totally see the financial attraction. But as a consumer, I don’t want to carry that on my back.
Nate
“Buy continually, cry continually?”
Stuart T
re dumping Photoshop: check out Affinity Photo from Serif Inc. in the UK. They offer very good alternatives to the Adobe suites, at a reasonable price and no subscriptions. My gf does image editing as a hobby and was using Photoshop until they went to a subscription, and switched to Affinity Photo. Took a little adjusting to the new menus but now she’s really happy with it.
Robert
Thanks Stuart T, I’ll check that out. Serif sounds familiar from long ago. There was some software I bought from them that I liked. Can’t remember the software, but the name stuck in my mind because it was unusual for a software company.
TonyT
If you can wait a bit, Serif will most likely have a good sale for Black Friday.
You pay once for each version, e.g. V2, which is already up to V2.2, but Serif provided reduced price upgrades for V1 users.
Tim B.
I hate to say it… but this is becoming VERY much par for the course (especially in the Electronics specialty equipment category). This, combined with what feels like even less standardization for interconnecting devices, etc, have soured me on a great many products… though in reality, it seems like a “necessary evil” which is nearly impossible to avoid. Sad indeed.
Amanda
If your hardware’s software follows the standard VISA (virtual instrument software architecture) API then there are plenty of open source software options for you to interact with your hardware remotely. Please search your model + VISA for options!
I like to dabble in Python, and the PyVISA library is very helpful for writing my own scripts to remotely control my Siglent power supply, but there are other open source GUI options that utilize the same API.
If they have software that can remotely control it, you can probably rest assured that someone else also wants to not use their software and has created an alternative 🙂
Amanda
Following up after searching “benchvue alternatives”: https://github.com/lxi-tools/lxi-tools is possibly an option and is still being actively updated
Stuart
Thanks! I have looked for different control and visualization software over the years, and know of one independent app that should work with my multimeters. I haven’t explored any yet, except for independent software that works with my Rigol oscilloscope.
Samuel VDot
I wouldn’t call it a bait and switch, but certainly a breach of trust. It would have been better to keep the initial features free and then charge for certain additional features. With operating system version changes, I could even see a nominal one-time charge to upgrade from the version built for an older operating system. With customer service, I could see changes based on which software version is used, such as having to leave a message or email for support on an older version while those with a current version may be prioritized. Terrible practice to not have any customer service.
Also: “Even for equipment I wouldn’t necessarily want to connect to a PC, I really don’t want to give them another penny, at least not as long as their are other options.” I believe there’s a typo here as it would appear to be “as long as there are….”
Stuart
Technically? No. But it still feels like that to me.
Yeah – the new basic version seems to be free, but is supplied “as-is” which makes me worry they’re abandoning the software entirely.
Thanks – whoops their vs there usage error – *fixed*!
Jamie
This article hits right at home for me. I’ve used benchview on and off throughout my career – never as an ultimate end solution, rather to (more) quickly develop SCPI software and/or commission thr equipment.
When they started included licenses with units, that was generally fine. You could register for one unit (one type of app), and use it for any other serial number (as long as it’s still within the scope of the app, ie DMM, SCOPE, etc).
The software is an absolute nightmare now, including installation. Requires admin for the apps, licenses/registration is all over the place, and devices appear/disappear randomly.
I can’t recommend it anymore to fellow engineers, in fact I advise they avoid it.
Such a shame.
Doc
Agilent started getting government contracts, and it was all downhill from there for individual users. Keysight/Agilent still has a great product, but their focus on customers has changed, and their pricing has changed because their main source of income has changed.
Anritsu has really nice options for test equipment, I’m very fond of them. I’ve actually got a brand new VNA/SA from them on my desk right now. Excellent products and support; worth every dollar. I don’t believe they make a multimeter though. For that you might want to look at Siglent; they also make some nice benchtop test equipment.
Stuart
Thanks! I went with Instek for my last purchase. My first scope was an Instek, and I bought an electronic load from them a few years back. What impressed me was the level of attention they gave me when I called in with pre-purchase questions. They knew I was an individual user, but I felt they treated me as if I were a business ready to buy a lab’s worth of new equipment.
TonyT
I went with GW Instek at work for a scope a couple years ago, and it’s worked well for us; I also considered Siglent & Rigol.
I have to say Rigol seems to be very aggressive with their new line of high resolution scopes, and there are times I wish my Instek had more resolution.
If I needed a high end scope, I’d look at R&S first.
MKY
Stuart-
So for PathWave BenchVue software that comes with an equipment purchase, the Basic version is ***noq*** free and doesn’t require license activation.
don’t want to give them another penny, at least not as long as ***their*** are other options.
MKY
Sorry. Missed the correction you and Robert already addressed.
Al
It’s all about monthly recurring revenue. Phones, software, hardware ‘support’, and even the operating system on computers.
Windows is in perpetutual dev/test-in-production. Since the subscription model will lead to cracked copies, they use _you_ as the revenue generator by selling advertising and metrics from within the OS and non-removable web browsers.
This is why the proposed activation firmware on ppwer tools makes consumers leery. At what point will the manufacturers start charging licensing/support fees….or disable the equipment?
Your distrust is well-founded. There is a high likelihood the new free version is just a path to charging the monthly for ‘premium’ by failing to fix bugs or overt Nerfing.
Sal Colon
I personally don’t care for subscriptions for software. If they make an update and charge for it, fine. But I never purchase anything that require’s a subscription.
Stuart
That’s what burned me – they created the subscription paywall after I purchased my equipment.
Al
Like every newspaper web site, but a handful.
Bonnie
While no less frustrating this is why I try to ignore any future promises when purchasing something. I can only trust the device/product will do what it currently does at time of purchase. Support promises are nice to have but as you discovered you can never trust it will continue unchanged.
BigTimeTommy
Yeah pretty much every company is getting worse this way. It’s why I stopped using Adobe and Autodesk products, but it’s getting harder to avoid giving money to anti-consumer companies. Late stage capitalism brings more enshittification, and DIY can be time consuming.
Charles
Arlo did something similar trying to get the users with free service into paid subscriptions saying they were no longer supporting the free service. That was the singular reason for me and alot of others to buy the expensive system upfront to not pay and endless service fee. It beware up in their face and we still have support. They are saying they will no longer update the software.
dandLyons
I just want to weigh in on automating test with your own code. I completely understand the cost benefit analysis of not wanting to learn the coding end.
That said, for the majority of measurements it is very straight forward. Most test instruments use “SCPI” commands. And the old interface was GPIB (HPIB). Now it is often USB or Ethernet.
At any rate, you simply code a string shooter and issue the command to the test equipment. If that command is a measurement query you record the returned data. The basic SCPI commands are universal. You can typically find these & special commands in the appropriate equipment manual.
It is amazing how powerful some very simple code can be for trouble shooting.
But I agree that when you are promised a software tool to capture all your measurements across a family of device, it is extraordinarily frustrating when they fail to deliver or abruptly halt support.
Stuart
It’s not so much the automation or programming aspect that’s daunting, but the real-time data visualization and quick analysis tools.
I tried to use a special version of LabView that came with my Keithley power supply, and it was an enormous pain, far slower and clunkier than Agilent’s DMM utility or Keysight BenchVue (when it worked).
Simultaneous real-time data visualization and synced collection was the selling point for me.
Ct451
How much productive life did you expect to get out of these? If you had them for 10 years; don’t you think you got your money’s worth? The depreciation rate on equipment and software is pretty high.
Stuart
So you’re saying I shouldn’t feel burnt that Keysight advertised the hardware with free software and then put the app behind a subscription paywall? Because of depreciation?
Not all of them are 10 years old. The same exact oscilloscope would cost me $5082 today. The same multimeter is now $1458. The power supply is $1681.
It would cost me $9902 to buy the same 4 pieces of equipment today for the same hardware. The equipment appreciated in value.
Ct451
I’m not defending them. I’m just curious to see how long you expected to get free software. Not to pass judgment. They deserve what they get. Every unhappy customer takes a bite out of their goodwill so they better take care of them. I think they tried to take the cost of software development out of the price of the hardware at some point. They knew there would be angry customers but then again if existing customers didn’t cover some costs then perhaps instead of $9902 your equipment would cost $19902 and that would hurt sales.
Stuart
They pulled the plug on the free version of the software less than 2-3 years after I purchased the equipment, putting it behind a subscription paywall.
https://toolguyd.com/keysight-benchvue-is-a-great-example-of-an-unfavorable-approach-to-hardware-supporting-software/
What I’m saying is that now, 6-1/2 years later, I still feel that Keysight is a greedy company that tried to squeeze end users just because they could.
JoeM
Purely personal opinion, based on software and operating system tech support experience of my past: Don’t give Keysight another chance.
Why? Platforms have changed now, and Windows dies quite easily. If the software is bloated or buggy, kiss your instrumentation goodbye. Same goes with Apple software. It’s pretty, but it doesn’t allow for device connections to come with ease.
Now… If there was a Mobile App for Android? You could get all you want out of a simple tablet. Which also means you could be using that setup to monitor something somewhere outside your home, and be able to use that data, in hand, to go locate the issues. This is very niche in nature, and this leads to one of your points that stands out. Customer Service and Troubleshooting. If they’ve started making you pay for that feature, then there are no use cases where you can pick up and troubleshoot the equipment. You can’t touch it, unless it’s in active, isolated use. It’s plenty easy to build a second, “Simply There To Connect To The Lab Equipment” PC, especially if you buy a double-tower case for the main computer. But if you’re doing all of that, simply to discover the software for managing the equipment is garbage, despite paying for it?
Yeah… Don’t give them another penny. I still have my old College ID kicking around here somewhere. I can always go back to my old College and get in on their yearly extremely-reduced-price class model equipment sale. If for no other reason than to check what the top equipment companies are these days. For no other reason, contacting your old school labs to see what they’re buying for the next year’s upgrades, will give you a better look at where you’re aiming at for home equipment.
eddie sky
Speaking about DMMs and Powersupplies…anyone care to recommend a decent and not overly costly, powersupply for doing electronic testing and repair (like household electronics, etc)? I’ve seen some DC power supplies on amazon and just need a good (better) benchtop. Something under $400…
Stuart
I’d say Instek or Rigol.
I’ve had good experiences with Extech, but feel that their equipment is now overpriced for what you get.
MPech
I have GW Instek GPP-4323. 4 channels, linear (not switching). I can highly recommend it.
Eddie
Use C or C++ or Python for getting the data via GPIB or VXI-11, then use Gnuplot for plotting. Simple and fun.
Caleb
As an engineer at Keysight, this story makes me frustrated and sad. For what it’s worth, I would be interested in hearing about your experience if you do give the new BenchVue a try.
If you are wondering why the walkback on the subscription stuff, rumor is a big reason is because of stories like your own. And for what it’s worth, us engineers have been pushing back against this sort of subscription stuff for a while – we don’t like perma-subscriptions either! So I am glad to see things trending back in the right direction.
Wolfgang
BenchVue, in my opinion, is just a tragedy. Its buggy, its unusable for environments that are not pure Keysight, and the license policy is erratic and a mess. Its also a huge bloatware, it has an intrusive license manager and only supports a subset of instrument functionalities. Why pay for crap like this ? With some Python scripting you get just what you need, its free and a lot more flexible.
If Keysight wants to make real money with this then the flexibility, openness, absence of bugs and price performance needs to take a quantum leap above todays poor product.
Kayla
I have a bunch of Keysight equipment at work. I remember when they switched to the subscription model. Business wise, I get it, because they want more money. But for customers who buy and use their products, it sucks. I find bugs all the time, but they won’t even listen/help me if I don’t have KeysightCare. So basically I’m paying them to debug their SW. I don’t understand why they can’t stand behind their products they build and sell. I would never pay for this, and feel sorry for my employer who does.