First scope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: wf789
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2022, 12:57:58 pm
content: Hello guys, I'm a beginner/hobbyist and just looking for some quick advice. I may be able to get one of these cheap, which do you think is the better option?Tektronix 2465BHP 54542A(P.S. I know a DSO would be the better option but $$$)

author: med6753
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2022, 02:30:44 pm
content: Avoid the 2465B unless you have a guarantee that the battery embedded Dallas chip has been changed/upgraded and the known leaky SMT tantalum capacitors on the A5 board have been changed. Also preferably that the PSU has been re-capped. If that work has been done and you can get it a reasonable price the 2465B is one of the best portable analog scopes ever made.I have no experience with thehp54542A.

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2022, 02:55:27 pm
content: Never cared for any of the old HP analog scopes we tried long ago, Tektronix was always the analog scope of choice. The 2465 series might be considered as some of the best analog scopes ever.We've used just about every Tek analog scope available since late 1960s and when the 2465 arrived that became our goto scope for most needs, it just does everything one normally required back then well, very well indeed! We have a couple now that have been refurbished.However, this is coming from someone who used analog Tek scopes for ~50 years, almost everyday. Later in my career my value was leaning more in the advanced R&D realm, mostly on the R side, so didn't get into the labs much. Retiring a few years ago offered the opportunity to get back in the lab for some real "hands on" stuff, so we purchased the mentioned 2465 scopes. Having used a few of the older digital scopes during my career, wasn't impressed by them other than the ability to "capture" a waveform without a hooded camera and film!! The new DSOs seem to have lots of features and such, so we decided to take the plunge and purchased a DSO almost 2 years ago. Long story short, the two 2465 became relics in short order, the modern DSOs are so capable even swaying an old analog type to forgo the beloved Tek 2465s!! Honestly, I can't think of a single measurement that an analog scope performs better than a modern low/mid-level DSO, they have evolved quickly to that level of competence.Anyway, if an old analog scope type like myself can be quickly swayed to the digital "dark side", one might consider just skipping the analog scope learning curve and jump on the digital bandwagon from the start!!YMMY tho!!Best,

author: modoran
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2022, 03:17:37 pm
content: How much money do you want to spend ? Maybe there is a DSO on your budget.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2022, 05:44:00 pm
content: Quote from: wf789 on March 12, 2022, 12:57:58 pmI notice you didn't mention any prices.They'd have to be*really*cheap for you to think about buying one these days.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2022, 08:07:05 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on March 12, 2022, 05:44:00 pmYes. And a Tektronix 2465B in good condition will have a hefty 'collectors item & brand name' tax on top of it.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2022, 10:13:18 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 12, 2022, 08:07:05 pmYep. Don't be fooled by the fact that Tektronix 2465B go for high prices on eBay.There's a lot of Tek-until-death fanboys out there and the prices don't represent their true value as a measuring instrument.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2022, 07:40:51 am
content: Quote from: wf789 on March 12, 2022, 12:57:58 pmEither are aging scopes now and one must ask do you believe you have the ability to keep either running ?Without that ability and despite there are full service manuals for these old scopes one must ask if it's wise spend even if they're cheap.For some years I hankered for a 2465 but the more I researched them (and there's a large thread for them here) I chose not to go down this road although I had started out fixing CRO's for a hobby.Doing that I soon found you must always have a working and trustworthy scope just to fix your daily driver and who wants to have 2 scopes just so they can have one on hand to fix the other ?By chance I ended up with a scope agency and nearly a decade of selling scopes to my knowledge every one is still working, such is modern gear reliability.In contrast CRO's that passed through my hands had all manner of faults and you sure learn a thing or 2 about their common weak points, the most common being the EHT supply for the CRT that ranges between 1 and 3KV.Are you comfortable working with such HV and have the tools to safely do so.My best advice is to save your pennies and get a modern DSO, 2 channels are generally adequate but if you intend to venture into control systems or uP's 4 channels are more desirable.I remember my early days not understanding waveforms seen on a CRO and the frustration of not being able to capture them and put them in front of a mentor for advice and just this one feature DSO's excel at and shouldn't be overlooked by the beginner/novice.

author: Andrew_Debbie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2022, 08:05:28 am
content: Quote from: wf789 on March 12, 2022, 12:57:58 pmHantek DS02D10, 2D15, 2C10 or 2C15, whichever is cheapest. OR save up for a Siglent, which is far better.If you can live with 10MHz bandwidth - Picoscope 2204A -- I've seen them at Amazon UK for as little as £80. Occasionally there are bargains on the 25MHz 2205 as well.I'd only take the Tek 2465 if it was free or close to free. You may not be able to fix it when it fails. I would not invest too much money in one.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2022, 11:35:03 am
content: I agree with others' opinions regarding the 2465B - although excellent scopes in their time, unfortunately nowadays they have become a time ticking bomb. Once I bought a 2445A really cheap and it worked well, but the rarity of their ICs and the amount of effort to clean and restore it was a very high risk proposition. I sold it to an enthusiast at work that was well aware of its status but was committed to fully invest money on it.Since you are starting, some folks reviewed the Fnirsi 1014D which is incredibly cheap and it gives you a better feel for a regular oscilloscope than the entry level USB-only oscilloscopes. Of course it has some kinks but a review is shown at:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-bench-scope-fnirsi-1014d-7-1gsas/25/The Hantek DSO2D10 is also a reasonable option as well. A thread is:https://eevblog.com/forum/testgear/what-is-a-hantek-dso2d10/

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2022, 12:21:43 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on March 13, 2022, 11:35:03 amSeconded.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2022, 05:07:24 pm
content: Still IMHO an entry level model from GW Instek, Micsig, Rigol or Siglent will be a better buy. Depending on location and model the difference starts from about US $200. I'd only consider the Fnirsi, Hantek or Owon when really strapped for cash or for sporadic use.

author: kcbrown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2022, 10:35:49 pm
content: Quote from: wf789 on March 12, 2022, 12:57:58 pmWhat's your budget here? Without that, it's not really possible to give sound advice.

author: wf789
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2022, 06:03:07 pm
content: Well, I didn't expect to get this many replies...The Tektronix & HP scopes are at an auction and I would have grabbed them if they went for a low price. Even still, a DSO seems much more reliable.In the end, and after doing more research, I've indeed decided to spend the cash and go with with the Rigol DS1054Z.Thanks to everyone who made a post.