October 2, 2006

Dear Valued Stinger Customer,

This letter is to notify you that as of October 2006, Teradyne has discontinued production of the Stinger 2281a and 2287a test systems. The Stinger test systems were first introduced in 1995 as a lower cost, analog only, test alternative compatible with the popular GR228X and TS8X series in-circuit testers.

Teradyne plans to make no further software or hardware enhancements for the Stinger products. Future software support will be limited to critical bug fixes of TestStation software version 5.9.0 (the last software version that supports Stinger test systems).

Teradyne's global support and service organizations will continue to offer hardware, application, and maintenance services to support these testers, and factory re-conditioned Stinger systems may occasionally be available through Teradyne’s Broker Services.

To take advantage of new features and future software enhancements, Teradyne recommends that older Stinger test systems be replaced with the latest TestStation models. The benefits of moving to the TestStation platform include:

• Scalable test configurations that can grow from analog only all the way to high performance digital test. You can add digital test, boundary scan, and PLD programming capabilities to your system if they are required.
• Maximum price and performance flexibility provided by the ability to mix UltraPin II 121 digital/analog and 121a analog only pin boards in the same system.
• Industry best eight-wire analog test capabilities with a unique non-blocking relay matrix to ensure non-multiplexed four-wire analog operation.
• Fast Throughput using Teradyne’s latest PC Controller and enhanced integrated controller.
• Compatible software, hardware, fixture layout, and multiplexing design preserve previous investments made in Stinger, 228X, and TS12X programs and fixtures.

Teradyne offers attractive trade-in programs to help our customers upgrade to the latest technology. Refer to Teradyne’s ATD in-circuit website (www.teradyne.com/atd/) for support status information and replacement recommendations.

We want to thank you for being among the many manufacturers that selected the Stinger in-circuit tester products. We trust that it has been one of your most valuable test and measurement tools and we hope that you continue to choose Teradyne products for your future test and inspection manufacturing requirements.

Sincerely yours,

Alan Albee
In-Circuit Test Product Manager