When it comes to test equipment obsolescence, the best approach is a proactive one. As an NI Suggested Supplier, Apex Waves has the experience and resources to equip and prepare you to deal with test equipment obsolescence without having to replace your entire legacy system. In this post, we will take a look at the common cause and effects of obsolescence, as well as identify specific models that will be going obsolete throughout 2025.
The term “test equipment” encompasses a wide range of tools that are essential for research, optimization, diagnostic, and quality control applications. There are a few reasons why any given piece of test equipment is deemed “obsolete” by the manufacturer, including changing industry standards and the cost of maintenance. However, the most common reason that test equipment is declared obsolete is that advancements in technology result in changing application and compatibility needs.
In 2025, technology is continuing to improve at unprecedented rates. When compared to previous decades, the capabilities of existing testing hardware can be rendered obsolete relatively quickly. For some industries, such as the military and other government entities, specific hardware is relied on for as long as possible. When not adequately addressed, outdated and obsolete test equipment that is incompatible with existing test systems may provide health and safety risks. At worst, it may cause disruptions in the global supply chain.
The majority of test equipment manufacturers will phase older equipment of production in favor of new and improved models, leading to a growing need for companies to have a plan to address obsolescence as it occurs.
The impact of test equipment obsolescence extends beyond hardware. Software, the accessibility of replacement parts, the ability to get certain parts calibrated, and general support services can all be impacted. These impacts can be felt across a wide range of industries, as test and measurement is critical to the designing, manufacturing, and maintaining of their systems and products. These industries include but are not limited to defense, aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing, telecommunications, medical, automation, research, and transportation.
NI operates with a “Product Lifecycle” for all of its hardware. This lifecycle is comprised of six phases; Active, Mature, Last Time Buy, Standard Support, Limited Support, and Discontinued. After a product moves out of the “Last Time Buy” phase of the lifecycle, it will no longer be offered for sale by NI. The “Standard Support” phase lasts for a brief time, and is followed by “Limited Support”- during which time NI only offers “reasonable effort” for support services. The final phase, “Discontinued”, is when NI no longer provides support or purchasing of any kind for the product and only offers “reasonable effort” for calibration services.
The tables below outlines NI hardware modules that are approaching obsolescence throughout 2025. Following these “Last Time Buy Dates”, the availability of services from NI continue to decline as time goes on. However, the following modules will remain available for both purchase and support services in perpetuity with Apex Waves.
This list might be incomplete and may be added to in the future.
| Model Name | January 2025 Last Time Buy Date |
|---|---|
 PXIe-5652 | 1/30/2025 |
| Model Name | April 2025 Last Time Buy Date |
|---|---|
 roboRIO | 4/30/2025 |
| Stratom CAN Adapter for myRIO | 4/30/2025 |
| Model Name | May 2025 Last Time Buy Date |
|---|---|
| Digilent Digital Electronics Board for NI Elvis III | 5/1/2025 |
| Digilent myPROTO | 5/1/2025 |
| Emona DATEx Telecommunications Board for NI ELVIS II | 5/1/2025 |
| NI ELVIS III | 5/1/2025 |
| Model Name | June 2025 Last Time Buy Date |
|---|---|
| PXIe-PCIe8363 | 6/30/2025 |
| Model Name | July 2025 Last Time Buy Date |
|---|---|
 PXIe-8360 | 7/1/2025 |
As a trusted value added reseller of NI Hardware, Apex Waves is not subject to any “Last Time Buy” dates. No matter what stage of the “NI Product Lifecycle” a product is listed under, it can be found in our diverse and fully tested inventory. We offer much faster lead times than the manufacturer can achieve, providing comprehensive 2 year warranty guarantees for any purchase of refurbished hardware.
Apex Waves goes above and beyond for our customers, offering repair services and both basic in-house and third-party calibration services. Need a specific driver to help integrate hardware with your existing system? Look no further than our Drivers Download page. We are also a one-stop shop for all of your official NI documentation needs with our archive of NI Manuals.
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