Tekronix 2225 or Tektronix TDS 320? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Mandelbrot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 07:18:53 am
content: Sorry for another "what oscilloscope should I get" thread, but I really have no idea what I should do. I have the opportunity to bid on a Tektronix 2225 or TDS 320 at a resource recovery silent auction. I'm still a student in EE and have been using a single channel Leader LBO-501 that doesn't seem to be functioning correctly. The TDS 320 seems appealing to me because it's digital and I've grown accustomed to being able to measure amplitude, frequency, rise time, fall time and phase quickly with the digital scopes in the school labs. Besides that I really have no idea. I can't guarantee I'll win either one, but I only want to make a bid on one of them because I don't want to be stuck with paying for both. Which one would be better for a beginner like me?There is also a Keithley 2400 SourceMeter and a Tektronix AFG3102 function generator (probably won't win this one) that I'm thinking of bidding on unless anyone knows something bad about those that I don't.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 02:38:25 pm
content: Both could be good. Might depend on how much value you place on the memory in the TDS-320.If you haven't seen this it might help with your decision:Another consideration is of course the price. eBay would indicate the 320 perhaps has a higher market value - it will be interesting to see if that is reflected in the prices at your auction.Yet another consideration (if you have time to research it) is the availability of parts and the serviceability of the two designs - some scopes are easier to fix than others if they ever need to be fixed (older components vs. SMDs, other special parts, etc.)Still one more consideration is your longer term plan. One strategy might be to eventually own one of each. If that is the case you might start with the 2225 and then go for a nice new Rigol when your needs and budget develop further. If on the other hand this is going to be your only scope forever or a long time, you might enjoy having the digital capabilities of the 320.FWIW, I happen to have a Tek 2247A which I really like but I'm increasingly of the opinion that DSOs offer some advantages (driven by the memory, the ability to capture and record and review, etc.) that can be significant and I'm sure I'd like a digital scope, hopefully pretty soon.Let us know what you decide.PS, if you get a Tektronix AFG3102 for anywhere near the price of either of the scopes either the AFG will be a bargain or you paid too much for the scopePSS, same with the Keithley 2400- You might want to layout your long term lab equipment game plan, make a budget for the whole enchilada and then review to see how much on a $ or % basis is targeted toward each item. Then when you find something that fits really well in that plan it will be easier to know if the time is right to make the move, or if you want to hold off for something with still more functionality and performance, or just wait for something comparable at a better price/better value.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 02:44:25 pm
content: Good question. Personally, I'd really go for the 2225 and maybe grab a cheap USB logic analyzer so you can do digital systems too, that doesn't leave too much that you can't do. The TDS-300 series is a real pain to use - painfully slow, lots of stuff hidden away in unintuitive menus, not much memory at all...

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 02:58:29 pm
content: C4757p always gives good advice - the 320 might be tad early in DSO technology.Given that a bunch of 2225s recently sold on eBay for about $250 and a few were under $200, you might bid up to $200 if the scope is in good condition or maybe more of it's pristine and has probes or anything else useful. On eBay you generally have to pay for shipping, at the auction you can presumably take it home with you. If you get it for $200 or $175 or less you probably got a pretty good deal, but over that maybe nothing super special - but it's cool scope if it fits your budget. They will probably hold their own or maybe go up a bit as the population eventually thins out - this is true for analog Tek's in general but the 2225 is special now that Dave has blessed it with his "not a review"

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 03:01:19 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on October 05, 2013, 02:58:29 pmHmm... I wouldn't pay anywhere near $200 for a 50 MHz analog scope no matter whose name was on the front of it.....

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 03:16:30 pm
content: Ok, I stand corrected - pay less for the 2225, let us know how much less you can get it for ....

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 03:22:21 pm
content: I agree. Anything over $200 would be too much. For a little more you can buy a brand new Rigol or Siglent entry level scope.

author: Mandelbrot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 03:18:50 am
content: Thanks a bunch for the input! I've tentatively decided to bid $105 for the 2225, $205 for the AFG3102, and $75 for the Keithley 2400. I suppose these bids are a bit low, especially for the function generator and the Keithley, but, like I said, I'm in school so I don't have too much money to spare. I won't be crushed if I win nothing, but it'll be awesome if I win something! I'll let you all know if I win anything.

author: madsci
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 05:36:36 am
content: The earlier Tek TDS anything can be painfully slow with menus. The worst delay is on the 7xx series when switching in or out of InstaVu.Yes, even my big 744A from 1996 is glacial with menus and I have no clue why. It has the same CPU, a full MC68020 at 16MHz, as a Macintosh II....the first computer to run Photoshop! I grew up on 68k Macs; they were anything but glacial with the UI. (crippled models like the LC and LCII aside...32 bit CPU on a 16 bit bus = FAIL!)The UI on the TDS scopes pales in comparison to the HP/Agilent offerings. The HPs, even ones nearly a decade older, are much faster in terms of menu responsiveness and they do it with nothing more than an 8MHz 68000, in a DIP package no less!

author: azi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 12:20:54 am
content: I encourage you to go for the 2225.I have a relative, the 2232, which I think is just amazing. It's both analog and digital scope, and was designed at the time when manufacturers were going through the transition from analog to digital.I use it mostly in digital, but sometimes falling back to analog is very nice.At the time I was shopping for it on eBay, I decided on this model range over the other Tek models because it's not too old and not too complicated, and there were many listings at affordable prices. Just make sure the scope works when you buy it and hasn't been abused. Good luck!

author: mahwe
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 12:30:51 am
content: lock at the 2445 you will have mor fun with this modell or try hameg

author: psykok
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 08:41:18 am
content: Quote from: mahwe on October 07, 2013, 12:30:51 amHi,The 24xx are very good but still expensive.I think for the price of a 2448 you can by a brand new RigolAlex

author: mahwe
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 12:52:16 pm
content: i have payed under 500€ for my 2445B i bought it from an old tek worker from münchen who repair them end sell them calibrated and cleaned.that was 5 jears ago and it still works fantastic.i don t think that the new ones will work so long.Have you an UNI or so near by?My first scope was an Iwatsu 4 Cannel 100MHZ with an defekt trigger. i got it from an Prof. and repaired it.

author: TMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 01:40:39 pm
content: I use Tek AFG3102s at uni. More than once i've had one stop responding and require a hard reboot, granted they probably haven't had the easiest life but it does make me think bad caps... Could still be a good buy.

author: mcleod
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 04:20:48 pm
content: The Tek 2225 is a good solid scope. Just for a reference, I picked one up on ebay about 1.5 years ago for $160 shipped to my door (within the states).On a side note, I have been watching ebay for a few test equipment related items and it sure seems like prices have been creeping up on test equipment lately. I am not sure if it is "seasonal" or what.

author: Mandelbrot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 08:04:45 pm
content: I ended up winning the Tek 2225 for $105 USD including a model 3 lab cart. Thanks all for helping me make my decision. It didn't come with any probes though. Any suggestions for some reasonably priced probes?

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 08:21:43 pm
content: Nicely done, should have grabbed that sourcemeter too ;-)

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 08:24:25 pm
content: Quote from: Mandelbrot on October 14, 2013, 08:04:45 pmThesearen't terrible.

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 08:55:12 pm
content: I think I got a set of those. I seem to remember I got them on an offer of $14. Can't beat that price.They're perfectly adequate probes. I do prefer Tektronix probes though. There's an amazing amount of engineering that goes into a wire with a point on the end.

author: duckduck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2020, 03:51:20 pm
content: Quote from: PaulAm on October 14, 2013, 08:55:12 pmThat's hilarious. That seller is the guy that sells refurb Tek scopes on Craigslist here in Seattle:https://seattle.craigslist.org/search/sss?userid=95183860Never bought anything from him, can't vouch for him.