An ebay item... if you were me, would you buy this? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 06:27:26 pm
content: Here's the item:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluke-PM3082-100MHz-Oscilloscope-4-Channels-/330958657897All opinions welcome, I can afford it but would rather not make an expensive mistake!

author: SArepairman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 06:29:32 pm
content: Well I am in the USA and I don't think thats the best deal.

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 06:37:11 pm
content: Have a look at probes. Do you need specific probes for this model?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 06:38:38 pm
content: Quote from: markce on July 30, 2013, 06:37:11 pmThe seller does have another listing for the same item (but £50 more) which includes 4 probes. I could also order probes through work if I needed to make sure I got a specific type, lots of mad scientists in R&D who let me pick their brains

author: Short Circuit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 06:46:21 pm
content: Quite a while ago, I had to use one of these (or very similar) at a customer.Hated the thing, very counterintuitive to use

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 06:56:16 pm
content: Quote from: BulletMagnet83 on July 30, 2013, 06:27:26 pmHere it shows that a couple units went for about half that price:http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=Fluke+PM3082+&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&_okw=&_oexkw=&_adv=1&LH_Complete=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_ftrt=901&_ftrv=1&_sabdlo=&_sabdhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=200&_fpos=&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50Not sure about the condition of the unit you are looking at or these other units that previously sold. My first reaction would be "how bad could a Fluke scope be?" For 100-200 BP you would think it could be a good value, but Short Circuit's experience with the model didn't sound real good. Plus you still need probes. If I was looking for a budget scope I'd find the best deal possible on either a used Tektronix analog scope or a Rigol digital scope.Let us know what you do. Good luck!

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 07:09:48 pm
content: The postage on those units would negate any savings! The UK market always seems to be a lot more expensiveBased on many months of market research it's what I'd consider a fair price, IF it works. It does at least show a power-on screen! A dual-channel scope of similar bandwidth, WITHOUT digital readout, can often bid up to the same price on ebay UK. Ridiculous, I know, but true.I am currently considering the listing for the same model inc. probes, and indeed my first reaction was also "how bad can it be?"I'm kinda spoiled in work (by hobbyist standards), and I use the Tek TDS2024 for most jobs. Can't afford one of those though, unless I want to be paying it off the credit card for 6 months (which I don't, the Fluke could be bought out of pocket).It's not so much about having a "budget" scope, but more about having one to grow into rather than out of, without racking up debt. Anything about the seller or the listing in general that makes you guys wary?

author: Spunky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 07:22:59 pm
content: I'd want it calibrated and with a warranty for that money. It's a good unit but it's also another old oscilloscope.

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 07:28:20 pm
content: QuoteIf I remember correctly, it's self-calibrating.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 07:30:02 pm
content: Quote from: Spunky on July 30, 2013, 07:22:59 pmYeah expired cal is a shameAlthough, I MAY be able to bribe my work to have that done next time they're doing the rest of their test gear. I won't know for sure til I ask, but when hundreds of items of kit are going back and forth, who's going to notice one more?I'm lucky enough to be off the Naughty List so perhaps I can pull a string or two. As long as the probe test output displays correctly on the screen I think it'd be close enough for rock'n'roll.Also, thanks for indirectly informing me that Wales was a selectable country on the forum. Finally got the correct flag on this bitch.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 07:50:52 pm
content: I wouldn't be worried about calibration, as long as it works properly. A scope is not designed for precision measurements, maybe 2% on a good day. Do you really care if it's off by 3%? Unless it had a really hard life or had important parts replaced, it's very likely still quote close to factory specs.The one thing you might be worried about is a memory backup battery (I'm not sure if this scope has one) that might be empty. This could cause the scope to lose its cal constants. That can be a pain, since calibration often requires special equipment.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 08:05:32 pm
content: That's expensive - I only got a little more than that for my Tek 2465A.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 08:13:23 pm
content: I think they are good scopes, but a bit expensive for 100MHz.The first step is to download the user manual and see if you can live with the interface.Then, since they have 3 of them, you might want to make a lower offer.Don't worry about probes, at 100MHz the cheap ones from China are OK.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 09:01:43 pm
content: I had one of those scopes. I liked it a lot, nice piece of kit.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 11:11:33 pm
content: The Fluke combiscopes are nice, but not worth that much.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 11:32:15 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 30, 2013, 11:11:33 pmThis is not a combiscope, just an analog scope...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 12:35:15 am
content: Quote from: edavid on July 30, 2013, 11:32:15 pmAh yes, I stand corrected. Either way, it's too pricey.I'd rather have one with real knobs...