Whats a good price for a Tektronix 2465B 400Mhz Oscilloscope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: junggwok
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 10:23:11 pm
content: HeyJust want to know what you guys think is good or fair price for a fully functional Tektronix 2465B (the unit is in really condition, besides a slight colouring on the case). Comes with 4 Tektronix 200mhz Passive probes. The unit was last calibrated in 2010 December.Any ideas?Thanks

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 11:24:36 pm
content: Does it have any options?What is the serial Number? > or < than 50000

author: junggwok
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 01:44:35 am
content: Silly me, forgot to mention the options 05(which I believe is TV) and options 09 (WR) and options 10(GPIB) and yes the serial number is great than 50000.

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 01:46:31 am
content: Best starting point is to do a search with ebay for sold listings:http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=2465B+oscilloscope&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&_okw=&_oexkw=&_adv=1&LH_Sold=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=200&_fpos=&LH_SubLocation=1&_fsradio2=%26LH_PrefLoc%3D1&_sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&_salic=15&_saact=15&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&LH_Complete=1So it looks like one sold for about $530AUD, and another took an offer below this (doesn't tell you what offer was accepted.) You would have to add $130 postage to those prices.

author: junggwok
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 02:26:50 am
content: Thanks for the advise, I have done a bit f research on eBay for a while. It's long story, basically it was the main scope I was using back when I was in Uni (had some fun with it). I I already bought the Tek 2465B scope 3 days ago, I thought it was good deal. But I am just trying to justify it to myself because I really have no need for it (it just would be sitting somewhere) as I already have a DPO5000 series Tek scope and Agilent DSO2000 series scope.If anybody got it for a good price and would like to share how much they got it for.Thanks

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 03:29:38 am
content: I once got a 2465ACT in trade for a 15 year old Honda Civic with 275,000 miles on it.

author: H.O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 07:59:43 am
content: I payed $385USD for my 2465B, 15 months ago.It seams to work properly but I don't have the equipment to fully test it to its limits.So how much did you pay for yours?

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 09:39:55 am
content: 2 years ago bought my 2465B with front cover + 1 Tek P6136 350Mhz probe for approx. $280.Edit : Later on, bought a pair Tek P6137 400 Mhz probes that cost me almost half of the scope price.

author: junggwok
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 10:55:55 am
content: It was long story, so stay with me.I paid $343 (converted) AUS dollars for the scope with 4 x 200mhz Tektronix P6063B probes. It was not from eBay but from Korean second hand government recycler online. Funny thing the guy also had a pair of 500mhz Tektronix P6139B probe for sale, (yes for $50 AUS dollars), I thought hell yeah. So bought them too. Here comes shipping, I had choice of either shipping the unit by sea freight which would cost $60 and wait for 2 months or EMS for $145. I chose the EMS (takes 1 week to Australia), wasn't prepared to wait for 2 months for my old toy to arrive. So in total $538 AUS or about $500 US, and it does come with the original rubber pouch and instruction manual in English of cause. Last calibrated by Tektronix Korea in 2010 (I believe). Oh yes 6 phone calls and 4 days of emailing back and forth (don't know how much that costs. ZERO)!It is extremely hard to find in Australia

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 12:03:57 pm
content: Beautiful scope (of course I have one, but no TV signal line by line option thingy).I wouldn't place too much value on the probes.If you have the gear to calibrate it yourself that might also influence your decision.Imho, I think anything in the $300-$500 USD range is reasonable; I don't think the TV option is super useful unless TV is your domain.I don't *know* (and someone correct please if I'm wrong), but I'd imagine it wouldn't be too hard to jig up a separate trigger source that would give you the same functionality.Aside, I'd go for a 2467b if you you're just gonna buy one 400Mhz analog Tek scope.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 05:38:39 pm
content: A few months ago I was able to get a good condition 2467 (same as 2465 but with MCP CRT) -no probes -for $272 on eBay.Some place higher value on the 2465s with serial number < 5000 since I believe they have all through-hole PCBs for easier repair and the non-volatile RAM is not the Dallas type with built in Lithium battery - making battery replacement less problematic. I think there is also concern about some later serial numbers with more failure prone non-Tek (Maxim) U800s - but I'm not sure it that is really a valid concern or not.

author: juani_c
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2013, 05:46:30 pm
content: Just for fun I searched for that scope locally (Argentina):http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-473980571-osciloscopio-tektronix-2465b-400-mhz-_JMthat is 2.235,23U$S

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2013, 02:37:56 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on September 27, 2013, 05:38:39 pmThe newer "B" version as in 2465B and 2467B use SMD components at the A5 digital board, hence the pesky Dallas BBSRAM is included.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2013, 05:01:33 am
content: Quote from: w2aew on September 27, 2013, 03:29:38 am*slow clap*

author: junggwok
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 03:28:44 am
content: A little updateJust received an email from the seller, the scope actually came with 4 Tek P6137A probes (400mhz). Cool! The seller was ok about me cancelling the 500mhz probe purchase. Last minute, I decided to change the shipping method from EMS to sea freight (save abouts $ 80 dollars). I can wait for 6 or 7 weeks, its not like I needed the scope urgently (not gonna actually use). Tracking no. says the unit has just been accepted by the post office, now the wait begins......So in total, the scope (with 4 Tek probes) $341.5 + $65 dollars in shipping. Total = $409 Aus or about $370 US

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 05:16:15 am
content: Quote from: junggwok on September 29, 2013, 03:28:44 amSweet, honestly, if you're getting 4 x Tektronix P6137As, the scope works and your total cost with shipping is $370 US, you can be very very happy.Much much better than getting cheap 100-200Mhz chinese crapoprobes without compensation.

author: junggwok
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 10:15:48 am
content: Yeah I think I should. Anyway I will update in 2 months, assume the scope arrives in 7 weeks plus 1 week of testing. If everything works fine, I am going to recap the entire scope and add a little heatsink on the little hot Tek main IC (u800 I believe). It is gonna look really pretty on a bench or a shelf

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 03:12:24 pm
content: Quote from: junggwok on September 29, 2013, 10:15:48 amI believe your 1st priority is to backup the notorious Dallas BBSRAM rather than re-cap, unless you can calibrate or send it to calibration cheaply.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 03:51:47 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on September 29, 2013, 03:12:24 pmAlso known as a "Dallas RAM-in-a-box"

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 06:39:40 pm
content: Great price for the scope with the 4 probes. I need a probe tip for the P5050 (uses the same tip as the 6137) and it costs at least $35. The hook caps are at least $10.I would take a look at the A5 board first and make sure that there is no corrosion caused by the SMD electrolytic capacitors. My pcb was in worst shape than I thought once I removed those and also the corrosion tend to propagate to other components as well. If the scope works I wouldn't be concerned about the other boards. The easiest repairs are the LV and HV boards. There is extensive information on the Tekscopes yahoo group and very knowledgeable people. Good luck with your new old toy

author: junggwok
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2013, 03:04:21 am
content: Quote from: BravoV on September 29, 2013, 03:12:24 pmGood advice, thanks for that. I actually have few new ones (ds1225y-170ind or 200ind) handy, nothing a cheap universal programmer wouldn't do. Worst case scenario, I can have calibration done for free at work (might cost me a beer or two). Thanks casinada for the advise as well, I believe corrosions are common place with scopes of the era, especially the nuts holding down the PCBs.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2013, 10:05:47 am
content: Quote from: junggwok on September 30, 2013, 03:04:21 am+1, here example like my 2465B when it was torn down while ago when it was brought home for the 1st time. Now all rusted parts are replaced or cleaned and coated with thin grease.Compared to above, this one below is more dangerous, once the nut is disintegrated by rust and no longer biting at the nut, worry the hybrid chip will not getting a even pressure, potential for intermittent and hard to find problem because of weak contact at the chip pins.Worst case scenario, at the rust weaken nut once reaching it's threshold point of breaking, it will burst into many small pieces because of the springy pressure from the chip below, and spread across those small metal chips/flakes at the PCB, if this really happened, it will be bad news, really bad one.

author: junggwok
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2013, 10:51:32 am
content: Update!Received the scope in the post. No damage, beside CRT blue filter was cracked. I just took it off. It was missing two screws holding the back panel. Inside seemed to be in excellent condition, no corrosion I can see, but it was a bit dusty. Probably been in storage for years. 4 probes are almost new. I might sell the probes, easily get over $200 for them in Australia.I am going it clean it up over the weekend, of course backup the Dallas chip, then start ordering caps (oh yeah vintage fan needs to be replace as well)Anyone knows where I can buy a filter for the unit, (it's fine without it)

author: AMR Labs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 06:01:36 pm
content: I am aware this is an old post and might no longer be maintained. But wanted to ask if someone could explain how to backup the Dallas BBSRAM unit inside these scopes that holds the calibration values. I am thinking of getting one of these, probably a late serial B version, and the worry of one day suddenly loosing the calibration values has so far kind of kept me away from going forward. In my situation it would not be easy to send off the scope to have it recalibrated, so that is an issue. I presume that in order to backup the calibration data I would have to unsolder the Dallas BBSRAM unit, and then read it with some sort of programmer? Not sure of the procedure of which programmer to use.Also curious of how the scope that was purchased by the thread owner is doing after 5 years.Thanks for any info & replies.

author: med6753
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 06:41:23 pm
content: Quote from: AMR Labs on August 01, 2018, 06:01:36 pmYour first question can be answered in this thread.....https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-2465b-oscilloscope-teardown/

author: AMR Labs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2018, 07:29:58 pm
content: Thanks very much, great tip!