Green to electronics OP wanted on forst scope purchase  /InstekGDS-806S - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: radiogeek97
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2013, 06:00:46 pm
content: Hi folksI have always been a handy guy and am into commercial 2-way and ham radios I found dave on youtoube and have gotten the electronics bugI have been slowly outfitting my "lab" and ran across a dso on my local craigslist here is a link to the unit:http://www.tequipment.net/InstekGDS-806S.htmlThe unit is Monocrome and is about 3 years old according to the owner, it comes with manual and one probe he bought it new $450ish and was asking 250$ i got him down to $175.00 usd he is about a 3 hour round trip for me but NOT knowing anything about this type of equipment i am not sure to buy or not.the only other problem is that I have no test equipment to speak of (function gen) to test this thing we will be meeting just off the highway for the purchase I have an inverter to power the unit up with but not much else.any info on the Brand Good or bad, the price, and if it is a good brand/price How to test it on the fly would be appreciated.thanks in advancejohn

author: Anquietas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2013, 06:12:26 pm
content: I found this guide quite useful,http://reviews.ebay.com/Buying-an-Oscilloscope-on-ebay?ugid=10000000001568756

author: radiogeek97
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2013, 06:24:39 pm
content: thanks for the reply! there is some good info there, I am looking for something more specific to this exact unit/price ect. thanks soo much for the link.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2013, 09:06:53 pm
content: I don't buy that it is only three years old. I think it is more like three, four generations behind the current Instek oscilloscopes and out of production since years. I.e it is likely more than 6 years old.

author: iamnothim
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2013, 09:49:03 pm
content: Hello,I am very new to electronics as well.I chose the Rigol 1052E and have been happy with it.I paid $350 including shippinghttp://www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000e/ds1052e/http://www.tequipment.net/RigolDS1052E.html

author: radiogeek97
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2013, 10:37:14 pm
content: boareddo you think 175 is too much? would you stay away at any price? i would love a rigol or better but i am a complete novice and this scope will be a learning tool. but i still dont want to buy crap even at a good price.thanks

author: iamnothim
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2013, 10:46:46 pm
content: I don't have enough experience to make a comment about other scopes and their value. Old or new.The Rigol is my first scope and I've only had it for a few months. It's easy to use and I'm watching more tutorials today.It does a lot. It's fast and has good storage. It is 50MHz but that's all I'll really need.A year or so back this scope could be hacked and tricked into thinking it was the 100 MHz model.I don't think that is still the case. I have not tried it.That said, if you watch Dave's youtube videos on scopes, he raves about the DS1052E on several oscilloscope related episodes.It's a heck of a bang for the buck.That had a large impact of my purchase decision.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2013, 04:25:51 am
content: Black & white LCD. Strange age claim. Quick test at the roadside only. I would pass on that deal.

author: radiogeek97
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2013, 04:45:20 pm
content: thanks all i think I will passnot that all is lost I had a neighbor sell be a tektronix t935a for $50 its an oldie but what the hell if i do something stupid and let the smoke out its only 50 bucks and I can learn with it. off to home depot this weekend to build my workbenchthanksjohn

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2013, 05:37:14 pm
content: IMHO this scope Instek GDS-806S (monochrome) / GDS-806C (color) can be quite long lasting and durable. We have them at school... Its buttons and encoders are still in perfect condition. But i do not like this scope... Its performance is crap. It was introduced in 2004. It even has no USB port for flash disc. On the contrary, I like the old Agilent /HP scopes of the 54600 or 54620 series. They are even older, but they are pleasant to use.QuoteHaha, check this table from user manual below...Table.The memory is not always 125kpoints.You can buy a GW Instek, but a newer one! This is 9 years old design... But it was obsolete even when it was new in 2004...

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2013, 05:46:54 pm
content: I used this scope today at school. Check these photos.https://plus.google.com/photos/106264218831814439783/albums/5852286961657081569It seems that GDS-806C has no alternate trigger option...