Oscope options

[brethin]

I find from time to time I could use a Oscope for troubleshooting but its so rare I cant see buying a nice one for just hobby work. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should look for to use as a hobby (like once a month)?

I often see used Ocsopes at Estate sales but getting them calibrated and buying the probes etc often cost more than they are worth unless you use them alot.

[Krankshaft]

Re: Oscope options

Calibration isn't really necessary for hobby use.

You've got Tektronix, Agilent (HP), and Hitachi. Three analog brands off the top of my head.

You can pick up a used Tek 465 (100 MHZ) or even better the 475 (200 MHZ) for around $150-200 bucks if you really hunt. You may be able to find a Tek 455 (50 MHZ) in the 120 area.

The bandwidth of course depends on your needs since these scopes are used sometimes the price differentials aren't that great and you mine as well get a higher bandwidth scope than you need for not much more cash.

Any price point below those mentioned above and you're just buying a toy, a broken scope, or a scope with bad caps and vacuum tubes in it .

Try to stick with name brands in case you need parts later. There is a very healthy market of used Tek parts for example (the analog Teks the 4xx series). If you get some obscure brand should you ever kill a special part or a proprietary IC you may be out of luck.

Scopes are a niche market and as such you'll need to pay up a bit if you want a decent one.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Oscope options

I agree.

As you don't expect to use it often there are also USB scopes that are enough.
Probably should go with at least a 100MHz bandwidth with those because the numbers don't really imply the same functionality they do with 'real' scopes.

A USB scope would fit nicely in a desk drawer when you aren't using it vice taking up a bunch of space.
Also gives an easy way to record your results in your PC.

I have an old TEK 7000 series mainframe that's overkill for me. [I just like it!]

.

[Spacedye69]

Re: Oscope options

If you were driving up through Ohio and had some cool stuff to trade, I might be tempted to get rid of mine. It's a Tektronix 2465. 4 channel 300mhz. I only have 1 150mhz probe and it is missing the alligator clip off the end of the ground wire. I haven't gotten rid of it because I'm sure I can't afford to replace it right now, but it just sits here collecting dust.

[Jack Crow]

Re: Oscope options

B,
I have to agree with the other posters.
Mostly I use mine to sniff out RF in radios.

Have an elderly Leader 20mhz but I use a 'detector probe' that converts RF to a DC. The more DC the more RF you have. Handy for tuning peaks and I don't have any bandwidth limits worth mentioning.

As for Calibration, for hobby use we don't need much.
In Industry these things are on ten hours at a time for years, so yeah it makes sense to send the scope to a lab for a check. Our stuff is not so precise.

Be well there
Jack Crow in the less than free world.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Oscope options

Might be worth knowing that many USB scopes are oftenly limited to around 40Mhz but more importantly 20v
So no poking around at mains voltage which kind of kills the deal for me...

I was thinking of buying such a scope but USB scopes that can handle high voltages and a decent frequency range are just as expensive as a good used Tektronix