Here’s the challenges facing legacy test and measurement users, and the five signs it’s time to replace…
In the broadcast and production world, accuracy and reliability are mission-critical. Yet even the most trusted test and measurement (T&M) tools eventually reach the end of their usable life. Many customers today are relying on ageing products that have entered end of production, end of support, and end of repair phases. That means comparable products are no longer available, no longer supported, and in many cases no longer repairable – creating significant risk when critical instruments fail.
This is where Leader can help.
Before these legacy products reach the point of failure, Leader Europe offers a clear and reliable migration path – providing compatible, future-ready replacements that maintain operational continuity and user familiarity.
Three challenges facing legacy T&M users
- Legacy units are no longer available, supported, or repairable
As units reach the end of their lifecycle, parts, servicing, and calibration options are vanishing. Once these products fail, there is no like-for-like replacement from the original manufacturers, leaving a dangerous gap in your workflow.
Leader’s ZEN Series, Rx Series and Qx SDI solutions offer robust, modern alternatives that are fully supported, serviceable, and backed by long-term manufacturer commitment.
- The familiar 1U half-rack form factor has disappeared
Many engineers and system integrators built their workflows around compact 1U half-rack T&M instruments. Unfortunately, this format has largely disappeared from legacy suppliers’ current portfolios.
Leader continues to support customers who depend on this configuration, providing space-efficient 1U and half-rack options that integrate easily into existing racks and setups – without forcing a redesign of your infrastructure.
- Engineers still need the assurance of button operation
For many professionals, physical buttons provide tactile confirmation and operational confidence – especially in live or time-critical environments. As legacy manufacturers have moved toward touchscreen-only interfaces, that level of surety has been lost.
Leader continues to support button-based operation, offering intuitive physical controls that maintain the trusted “feel” engineers rely on, while still providing modern touchscreen functionality where desired.
5 signs it’s time to upgrade
If you’re unsure whether it’s time to move on from your legacy T&M gear, here are five indicators that an upgrade should be on your roadmap:
- Repairs are no longer possible or worthwhile – When replacement parts, repair options, and calibration services dry up, every fault becomes a potential show-stopper. Leader’s current solutions are fully supported with service, calibration, and spares availability, ensuring long-term reliability.
- Your equipment is becoming unreliable – Intermittent faults, drift, or inconsistent readings can compromise confidence in your signal integrity. If you’re seeing more downtime or questionable accuracy, it’s a clear sign your legacy unit is nearing the end of its useful life.
- Your team spends time keeping old equipment alive – Engineers are valuable resources – their time shouldn’t be spent coaxing legacy units to keep working. Upgrading to Leader products reduces maintenance effort and improves operational efficiency from day one.
- Your setup requires physical reliability – Many facilities still depend on the 1U half-rack form factor for space, familiarity, and consistency. Leader continues to support this reliable design – allowing customers to refresh equipment without changing established rack layouts.
- You Need the Confidence of Real Buttons – In live and critical environments, button operation gives operators instant tactile feedback and certainty of action. If your current or replacement options have moved to touch-only controls, a Leader unit can restore the reliability and assurance your workflow demands.
As legacy systems reach end of life, now is the time to plan your replacement strategy – before failure impacts production.
Leader offers a trusted, supported upgrade path for facilities that value reliability, form factor compatibility, and tactile control. From the ZEN Series (LV5300A, LV5350, LV7300) to the PHABRIX Qx and Rx Series, our products combine modern functionality with the familiar feel engineers prefer, ensuring a smooth and confident transition.
Talk to us today about replacing your ageing T&M instruments with supported, dependable, and operator-friendly solutions.