eBay Tek boat anchor - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 05:10:07 pm
content: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tektronix-7704-A-Oscilloscope-Spares-Or-Repair-/162242121774A quality old tektronix oscilloscope in a used condition whichfor some reasonwon't turn on.No shit!

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 05:20:08 pm
content: Working version of the link.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tektronix-7704-A-Oscilloscope-Spares-Or-Repair-/162242121774

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 05:25:27 pm
content: Quote from: MK14 on October 18, 2016, 05:20:08 pmThanks, original modified. Not sure if the  feature is working.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 05:41:40 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on October 18, 2016, 05:25:27 pmSome websites make it quite hard, to extract a generic (use by anyone), URL. Without having tons of junk numbers and letters added to it, which only work for the OP.Ironically (my theory), the seller may actually get more money for it, if he was honest about the unit. Because (depending on how the damage at the top occurred), may have working/usable plug-ins, which might have a degree of value.(I've NOT tried to see which plug ins it has, or tried to find their value, so they may not be worth much, either).If it is just dirt on the top, it is not necessarily too bad (but a quick look, seems that it is BAD). But if it has got wet inside especially while powered up (electrolysis etc), it could be a write off.The screen surround looks damaged as well, so maybe it has been VERY badly treated.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 05:45:56 pm
content: Quote from: MK14 on October 18, 2016, 05:41:40 pmIf you look at all of the photos the plug-ins are in pretty bad shape as well.I suspect that it has sat somewhere like a garden shed, for quite some time.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 05:58:14 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on October 18, 2016, 05:45:56 pmAfter making that post, I had a closer look at the pictures, and came to exactly the same conclusions.It is probably too big/heavy to be put in the shed *ONLY* while performing the electronics hobby, then moving it back to a safe/dry place, inside where they live, between electronics hobby/repair sessions.With the right plug-ins, 200MHz (or even 250 MHz) bandwidth is not bad, for the 1970's. 200 MHz (250 MHz) is still perfectly usable/useful, even today.The seller, might end up being lucky, if they even get someone to take it away for free (guess on my part, I'm NOT familiar with what that should fetch at auction).Since it is broken, big/heavy, showing obvious signs of damage, and probably NOT worth that much, even if working and in good condition. I don't think it will go for much (if it even sells).

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 06:01:15 pm
content: No shit Sherlock really, I think the only correct words in the description were Tektronix and oscilloscope and judging by the condition, looks like it's been left in someones garage or out in the rain, I'm not even sure if the plugins are worth £10 in that case. If you scrapped it for spares you would get your £10 back but it's a lot of work. Noticed a D83 for £30, they've got nice big CRTs, hmm... nope don't need another boat anchor

author: cvanc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 06:23:04 pm
content: "Stored in a barn, until the barn collapsed. Then it was stored in a pile of lumber."

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 07:44:18 pm
content: Not worth £10 except maybe for the CRT as that's probably the only reliable part in the whole scope assuming it still works. You could maybe scrap it for spares, lift a few ICs out of their sockets or maybe remove a few frangible plastic knobs and sell them. A lot of what TEK put into their scopes back then wasn't designed to last 30 or 40 years, springy contacts on PCBs driven by plastic cams, back plane connectors or a zillion socketed TTL chips and then there there are the unobtainable ICs. Maybe you could sell the spares to a small market of enthusiasts who still use and maintain 7000 series scopes. The price of scrap Aluminium in the UK at the moment might get you a profit but custom TEK extrusions are worth more than scrap to enthusiasts.The plug in concept was nice but has long been abandoned by TEK and HP who didn't have the foresight. These days you could couple energy and signals magnetically or optically, Tektronix missed optical for different reasons but it's still there in the 7000 series, thanks Barry Gilbert. I've got two 7000 series boat anchors and I wouldn't recommend them.

author: guido
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 09:38:49 pm
content: if it was near me i would get it for 10 pounds. Just for the unobtainable ICs and maybe some other parts that survived. But then i already have a 7704A which i would like to keep running.By the way, it's not really a boat anchor when compared to my latest Tek 7k adventure. A 7612D digitizer is way bigger and heavier

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 02:08:37 am
content: Pros:The CRT looks pretty good in regards to the lack of obvious burn-in.Cons:<insufficient memory>

author: Fisher77
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 03:59:57 am
content: It looks to have been shit on by pigeons for 20 years!

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 09:18:55 am
content: if it was local i would probably take it and give it a good final hurrah!it's been a while since i blew something up

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 09:28:35 am
content: I've bought stuff that was as bad as this and fixed it. This is my current daily driver scope that cost £10 as a non working untested unit, buyer collects from some dodgy dude who was doing a house clearance after the owner had died years previously.Before!After!Required:* Cleaning as it was disgusting. Took about 5 hours including removing rust.* Two switches repairing.* New mains lead* Some shitty Chinese probes purchasing.* RecalibrationSo 50MHz nice DTB analogue scope for £22 in total including fuel, cleaning materials and the scope! Now looks like it just fell out of the factory internally and externally. Does everything I need at the moment.Shame I'm nowhere near Cardigan!

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 09:57:13 am
content: Quote from: chris_leyson on October 18, 2016, 07:44:18 pmwhere can you get a decent boat anchor for £10? this one you can use as fish dwelling or small animal kingdom as well.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 04:21:27 pm
content: Quote from: Fisher77 on October 19, 2016, 03:59:57 amI was trying to read the date on the safety certificate on the back - but it is too faint even fiddling with the contrast and levels in Photoshop. It has to be pre 1995 though because it has a pre "phoneday" STD code on the label.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 05:15:39 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on October 19, 2016, 04:21:27 pmAnd it would have to be pre-1995 becausehttp://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/7704A

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 06:42:18 pm
content: Has "Option 9": Extended bandwidth (250 MHz, trades pulse response)I'd still buy that for a tenner. Probably about £100 in spares in there even if it's completely irreparable.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 05:29:37 am
content: TBH - if I were able to drive there, I'd be willing to buy it and see what happens.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 06:51:20 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on October 20, 2016, 05:29:37 amI'm not disputing its worth a tenner - If I didn't have a garage full of stuff that "just needs a quick repair and listing on ebay" myself I would quite possibly consider it at that price.It was the fact that anyone would be mystified as to why it does not work, given its present state

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 07:04:08 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on October 20, 2016, 05:29:37 amIt's an easy drive, if you have the right "car".Just head straight up to the US, then turn right for another 3,000 miles, and your almost there.E.g. (If you do go, test/repair it before you leave. If it still does not work, use it as a boat anchor on the way back!)

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 07:25:48 am
content: Here's a real boat anchor, which has just appeared on ebay, for 99p initially.All 65 pounds weight of her.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Oscilloscope-TEKTRONIX-Type-545A-with-Manuals-/252593723588

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 07:54:15 am
content: Why is it all these things are at the other end of the country to me?

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 12:56:09 pm
content: Quote from: setq on October 20, 2016, 07:54:15 amThe Type-545A is just down the road from me if anyone is desperate for it,I'm not sure I need a boat anchor.the manuals are probably worth 99p