Is paying CHF 50.00 for a Hameg 20Mhz HM 203-5 worth it ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: PCBaby
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2016, 05:09:53 pm
content: Hello to all.I'm a certified newbie in hobby electronics ... and I cannot afford to pay CHF 400.00 (=Swiss francs) for an oscilloscope yet (...and Conrad.ch doesn't even sell their Rigols to "non professionals" anyway - mpfff).I saw the above oscillo for CHF 50.00 from a vendor on the equivalent of ebay here. In working condition, no postage fee (...as I have to take delivery directly from the vendor) etc.Any suggestion ?Thanks in advancePCBb------------EDITWhat's bizarre is that it doesn't really look like the same model mentionned by Dave here :Here is the photo of the one I'm talking about :

author: picandmix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2016, 08:59:02 pm
content: They are two totally different models and probably Dave is the only person in the world to be lucky enough to buy a s/h scope like that for $19 !Your Scope, the Hameg 203 is probably over 30 years old, but they are good quality and they can last much longer, my Hameg is only 27 !If its local collection and for just SF50 its probably the ideal beginner scope, though I would want to see both traces showing the inbuilt test signal before buying, hopefully 2 or 3 test lead and probe are included , if you are lucky.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2016, 09:07:28 pm
content: At a glance the trace does not cover the full screen so it seems some adjustments might be necessary.If you choose to buy be sure you can get a Service manual for it, maybe from one of the links provided here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/repair-documents-and-links-sticky-me-please-mods/

author: TinkerFan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2016, 09:11:46 pm
content: That is not the cheapest offer, but I've seen them for a much higher prize on ebay. I bought my first scope this summer of eBay, and I looked for one quite a long time (also because I wanted 100Mhz bamdwith).Hameg scopes are generally a good quality (made in Germany, they were bought by Rhode and schwarz ).You probably won't find a scope as cheap as David found, because you probably do not want it shipped halfway across the world, because the shipping cost for a heavy scope would be extremely high (20$+) and there are many risks when doing so. If you don't mind that, you can probably find one that cheap. The most scopes (which were similar) in Germany I've looked at last year were about the same prize plus postage (germany) and Switzerland might be even more expensive. But just take a few looks at scopes on ebay.ch and ebay.comBetter any scope than no scopeIf you do not want to spend so much money, you can always ask the local university or in a local forum, if someone wants to give one away. Dave did although drive time rant although that topic ("Buy a real analog scope" or like that).GreetingsPS: I would ask for a picture with the test Signal hooked up, so that you can be pretty sure it works. It would be even better, if you can get a warranty...

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 10:22:33 am
content: If it is close enough for "pickup only",maybe you should have a look at it in person before committing yourself.CHF 50.00 is equivalent to about $A72.00,which seems a bit high for a 'scope of that class,but I can only go by what I would pay,in a different country.If "pickup" entails a fairly long "road trip" perhaps you might consider looking in surrounding countries which may have a better selection,with "pickup" not being that much farther away.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 11:44:10 am
content: If it's local, and you can check it works then it's not a bad deal. That assumes that it will measure what you need it to measure.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 12:25:52 pm
content: QuoteScopes like that are worth very little. At work I recently salvaged three scopes from a trip to the skip along with a load of other test gear. Nobody else at work wanted the scopes and that's a large UK EE company with hundreds of employees. There were two 100MHz Hameg analog/combi scopes and a really old HP 54540C 500MHz DSO scope.I'm not sure why I bothered with the Hameg scopes but I have them here at home. They both work as new, one even looks new although it is probably 5 years old. I think the Hameg models are HM1007 and HM1004-3?Like I said, NOBODY wanted them at work even as a freebie to take home. That includes all the engineering staff and the test staff and customer support/repair staff.

author: TinkerFan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 01:18:38 pm
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on January 10, 2016, 10:22:33 amBut on ebay, they often sell for a much higher prize:http://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_odkw=Oszilloskop+Hameg+203-5&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=Oszilloskop+Hameg+203-5%23&_sacat=0Especially in Germany (I assume it is similar in Switzerland), scopes seem to be quite expensive on ebay (please correct me if I'm wrong).

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 01:51:30 pm
content: Big difference between what they are offered at and what they actually sell at. Google translate didn't want to do its job so I couldn't tell if those were sold prices or not. Sold prices are the true value.

author: TinkerFan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 01:56:57 pm
content: I'm sorry, I have to get used to post english links...The price for the auctions, is what the highest current bid is.The prize shown for 'Buy now' is the prize, at what they are offered at.

author: dom0
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 02:13:43 pm
content: I'd never pay more than 1 EUR per MHz bandwidth for an  scope. Especially for the usually very basic HAMEG units. They are good quality, no doubt, but only very few of them have a second time base or delays, for example.That doesn't necessarily reflect the market, though. HAMEG is extremely popular in central Europe (Germany + France + Switzerland + Austria + ...) and the prices are usually very high, typically around 3-5 EUR/MHz.

author: PCBaby
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2016, 07:22:37 pm
content: Thanks to all for your help. Given your comments, and although the Hameg 203-5 may not be the most exciting option, I elected to go ahead and to buy it.I have to start somewhere anyway, so this model will do. I'll take delivery next week-end.Cheers and thanks again.

author: AndreasF
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2016, 07:44:43 pm
content: Quote from: PCBaby on January 13, 2016, 07:22:37 pmTime to review Dave's "how not to kill your oscilloscope" video

author: PCBaby
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2016, 07:49:47 pm
content: @AndreasF : Done it already. Even downloaded it.Thanks for the advice anyway.

author: PCBaby
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2016, 12:34:00 pm
content: I was able to pick up my Hameg, at last! The previous owner had the machine running some fonction when I arrived, so I had the confirmation it was in good working condition.Once back home, I connected it to my Arduino and ran the "blink" sketch - looked ok (see pic attached).Question : I'll have to buy two 10:1 scopes as he one I got is definitely too old. Given the old age and limitations of this scope, am I right in thinking that any "Chinese no name" will do, like this one :https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10002874/1214400-100mhz-oscilloscope-probe-100cmor even this one :https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10004121/1302200-p6060-oscilloscope-probes-pair?What are the criteria when one buys probes for below-entry-level scopes, in fact, apart avoiding the ones combining 10:1 with 1:1 because of problems with the switch ?Many thanks again for your help.PCBb

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2016, 05:16:51 pm
content: Either probes would be fine, I'd get the one with the accessories.Don't worry about the switch, only the Rigol ones seem to give trouble.Any of the P6*** probe range will be fine for your usage.