WTB First Lab Equipment [UK] - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 09:21:48 pm
content: Hi guys first time posting here.I would be interested in purchasing a Mixed signal Oscilloscope (2 +8) my budget is £450 - £1350 (at a push, this is just for the DSO/MSO) I would like 100MHz but could live with a nice Agilent 70MHz as I can upgrade later.I would consider the Rigol DS1102D, Agilent MSOX2002A or of equal spec, I'm new to electronics (software engineer) but I would prefer a Agilent over rigol as I'd like to set up to MatLab and the ability to one day expand up to and perhaps 1Ghz etc and the training kit looks good to me.- a relatively cheap signal gen (if no Agilent MSO FS)- A starting spectrum analyser, to tinker and play, I'm a Kinesthetic theorist!- Bench top: power supply something practical and precise, looking for control over power.- Decent soldering station and bit and bobs.- a good second hand mono tone laser printer (not HP or Brother, as it's for PCB lith)- design kits, job lots, training, kits, SMT kit/job lots/ SMT hardware design... Axials, phts) nerd fud to play and learn.would be looking to make buy within the next two weeks so please inbox me with any potential sales you might have.Side not would also be looking for a good 3D printer/ Wacom Cintiq 24HD Touch / 3D SpacePilot pro / 6040 type CNC capable of cutting carbon fiber, FR4, Copper, Alum, wood, plastics etc.kind regards guys look forward to learning EE with you guys and Dave, learnt a lot already since Christmas, just watching Dave's videos and going out buying books on things etc, just need a good solid foundation to experiment with now which I can upgrade steadily. also interested in the new Siglents just seems to good to be true.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 12:52:17 am
content: Quote from: JTGrime on January 15, 2014, 09:21:48 pmWelcome to the forum.I don't think you are going to get a lot of response here. One or two people may have stock of some equipment they are looking to sell but mostly the chances of someone here having something to sell that you are looking for are slim. You can get opinions here and there is quite a lot of equipment information already.If you want used look at ebay and don't expect to find bargains in a hurry.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 03:11:15 am
content: I don't know where you are from, but here in the US, other sources include local hamfests, QRZ.com and QTH.com. These are ham radio related sites that have equipment for sale sections. QTH.com goes as far as to break out the classifieds into subsections including one for test equipment. As Rufus says, be patient and, in the case of eBay, look at whatever you want actually sold for, make offers even if there isn't a button option and bid realistically.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 06:28:14 am
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on January 16, 2014, 03:11:15 amIs itQTH.net? QTH.com brings up a domain for sale page.

author: djghost
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 09:06:19 am
content: Not sure if this what you think, but there's no easy upgrade path from say a DSOX2002A to a 1Ghz scope.if you have a 70Mhz 2000x, you can upgrade to a 200Mhz, the 3000x 350Mhz gets you to 500Mhz, the 1Ghz is alone with a slightly higher sample rate.Agilent says you could do it (for the 3000x), but this requires a change of the main board, which won't come cheap at all.

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:18:50 pm
content: Rufus: Yeah I've spent a few months reading this forum watching Dave's blogs etc looking for deals etc and learning don't forget I still don't fully know how to play with breadboard and resistors caps etc, I'm a software engineer and all books say you need an oscilloscope so been looking for weeks and come to the conclusion I need Agilent MSOX2 series.GreyWoolfe: I'm based in the UK and I have been desperately trying to find small UK based online stores that maybe will have a good deal like model shops, or electrician supplies etc, I hadn't thought of HAM radio communities but I think I need a good classifieds to scour through.djghost: I didn't mean to leap initially to a 1GHz model (however Agilent have a deal on atmhttp://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=GB&lc=eng&ckey=2384797&nid=-33575.0.08&id=2384797I was thinking more get the 70MHz with logic analyzers (arduino tinkering learning etc)then 4/6 months bump it up to 100/200MHz etc as I learn more stuff...but if I see the right deal (as I'm currently in con tact with various distributors etc I would consider jumping in at 200MHz etc if the price is right i.e. they sell a 200MHz 2+8 with logic probes and training kit and DMM and a rack mount etc for 2100 where the equiv would be 2800+ then I'd take the sting (budget is £5000 initially with an additional 4/5k coming in the next 4/5 months).cheers for the feedback guys, does Dave sell any of the demo/reviewed stuff? maybe a nice 60GHz Infinium 9000 series for £600 hahaha

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:20:31 pm
content: N.B. this looks pretty goodhttp://www.siglent.eu/oscilloscopes/sds-2000-series/mso-sds2202-200mhz-2-channel.html

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:29:20 pm
content: Quote from: JTGrime on January 16, 2014, 02:18:50 pmI'm also an software engineer experimenting in electronics (did start my education in electronics though in 1986, before switching to software), but since I program in windows, I found that I did not want the agilents, even if they probably are better than the rigol i bought, but, hey, I have had my share of windows ce devices..Anyway, i went for the rigol ds2202a-s, so at least i should have the bandwith I probably need.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:35:45 pm
content: Quote from: JTGrime on January 16, 2014, 02:18:50 pmA scope is hugely useful, so is a multimeter or two (which you didn't list). On the rest of your list a spectrum analyser won't be good value unless you intend to do a lot of rf stuff and I would question the laser printer and making your own PCBs idea. It is a lot of work for poor results compared to having them made by one of the pooling services.

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:36:42 pm
content: Cool neslekkim maybe I could use you for advice and help?

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:45:29 pm
content: Rufus: I don't intend to fully produce I just want to dabble and understand the methodologies by which they are developed to give me greater insight when having them produced for me, I should mention my Mrs is a graphics designer and does a lot of screen printing and airbrushing so she has Ideas on styling the solder mask and silk screening.I would like to do a lot of wireless stuff and maybe work on my own protocols for my own systems I build so I think and Spectrum analyser is on the cards within the next 18 months, plus how cool would it be to command JARVIS (open source AI) to begin a scan and process it in MatLab and then pipe them results into AutoCAD or Maya or zbrush and make 3D renderings or CnC things out of a ring.Side note, I got laid off at Christmas and I'm using my money to start up a home business which allows me to become and eccentric British nut job inventor-ish...

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:47:25 pm
content: But yeah, wanna play with Wifi and Bluetooth and IR and experiment with other forms of wireless so I guess I need a [spectrum analyser, but it can wait for now atm electronics and digital logic.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 03:54:18 pm
content: Is itQTH.net? QTH.com brings up a domain for sale page.Borg, I meant QTH.com. If you look across the top bar, the 4th button in is ham radio info. Hover over that and then click on classified ads.

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 02:59:29 am
content: Hi guys,Had an idea, what about:-http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LeCroy-DDA-125-4CH-1-GHz-8-GS-s-Oscilloscope-Disk-Drive-Analyzer-with-Printer/190821970939?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D286%26meid%3D4170818872207202982%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1048%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D191012174223%26Andhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/National-Instruments-PCMCIA-GPIB-Card-/281238279226on my Dell Inspiron 2330 16Gb ram and soak up all that raw data through GPIB and let MatLab or other software process it and visualize it for me, maybe batching some recorded data to JSON and a little service with a JS library to display it then throw together a little Windows Rt app for dossing about on my little win 8 tab?Maybe hack it and put it in a new enclosure with updated switches and a HD OLED Display or something, I'd rather have tones of power and learn to tweak myself. What about this (see below), this looks Fracking Flash Gordon cool! could I GPIB hook into it with my win 8.1 PC and play with it like a raw analogue measurement device hooked up to a little windows service I can play with on tablets and web ect?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tektronix-11801-Modular-Digital-Sampling-Oscilloscope-Mainframe-20GHz-8ch-/251375218425?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item3a87216ef9Regards,

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 03:29:08 am
content: Quote from: JTGrime on January 17, 2014, 02:59:29 amWellA. it says "For parts or not working"andB. If that is what you think you want to do with an oscilloscope maybe you didn't really want to change vocation.

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 12:01:51 pm
content: Spotted this hosted on eBay and the seller live 5 minutes away from me, Fate? What are your thought's?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331101938920

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 04:52:06 pm
content: Sorry I haven't been on due to a bereavement been feeling a bit low.Still interested in any equipment, have a few hundred to spend this week, I was thinking something like thishttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351003091142?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649^ I know it's ended, just sort showing I've seen 500Mhz-1Ghz scopes (analogue/old school digital) for around the £250-£300 mark.again sorta' looking for a mid-late 90's/00's DSO/MSO I've seen some leCroy's/HP/Tektronic's/Agilent 500Mhz-1Ghz scopes, I figured look alright or a PCIe card would be better and mount it in a rack on my workstation and let MatLab || some other GUI handle the visualisation or would the delay counter the sample rate?either way eager to start getting my hand's dirty with some electronics now.TIA.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 05:21:00 pm
content: Start getting your hands dirty instead of planning to pick up a 1GHz scope you won't know how to use, then.You really can't just pick up some cheap card and plug it into a PC.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 05:26:03 pm
content: I have a working Tektronix TDS754D, complete with probes, sitting in my lab gathering dust. Happy to consider reasonable offers.

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 06:32:00 pm
content: Monkeh: So what would you suggest then a 100/150/250Mhz scope?AndyC_772: well not sure what a reasonable offer is tbh, I mean I've seen thishttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tektronix-TDS754C-Digital-Storage-Oscilloscope-4CH-500MHz-2GSa-s-/221372527593?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item338ad4b3e9I would like to offer you an amount but I wouldn't want to insult you, I mean my budget would be around 350-400(at a big push) including PnP (i'm in the UK) not looking for sympathy here but I've just had to pay a lot of money out for a funeral so again please don't be offended by that offer, regards.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 07:01:14 pm
content: Quote from: JTGrime on March 05, 2014, 06:32:00 pmI would suggest you play with things until you need a scope. You said before:QuoteA scope will do you no good until you know basic electronics.

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 07:07:45 pm
content: Chances are you can get away with a DS1052e or something under £300 if you can't use a breadboard.Breadboards are too much hassle, though. Build it up on perfboard and fix it as you go

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 08:52:55 pm
content: I still don't fully know how to play with breadboard and resistors caps etc <--- this was a while back and yeah I mean I've done all that playing with Bbs just the books I've got keep saying get an oscilloscope so figured I should to follow along with the tutorials etc I mean I'd be happy with an analogue one I just want the option to play around with it in MatLab too, I mean I'd be happy to buy a cheap £20 old school 1950's type scope but I don't want to be bottle necked 6-18 months from know wishing I had something with a bit more humph and then saving for an additional 18 months for a £1/2,800 Agilent 2/3000x series.in short want a good solid tool that will really last me a good 4-5 years not hold me back and enable me to tinker and mod it as well.I've got a PCB etching setup6040 cncrapid etch kit3D Printer prusa i3silhouette cameo,compressor & airbrush,plasma cutter,dremels,wacom cintiq 13HD,EagleCAD,Autodesk Inventor,composite tools etcSo yeah an oscilloscope seems like a good solid investment for my tinkering and inventioning (<-- o_0 ) ermmm can be a few years out of date like I said mid-late 90's/00's scope that I can fab a case out of composite, guild new icons etc, and well just have fun and learn.TIA and appreciate the advice guys

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 09:03:46 pm
content: It sounds as though my Tek probably wouldn't be your best option. It's a good way to get 500 MHz on a budget (bearing in mind that, say, an Agilent 3000X with that bandwidth is £5k+), but for your purposes I think you'd be better off with a more modern 100 MHz scope.You don't need the bandwidth, but you will appreciate a scope that's smaller, quieter and less power hungry.

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 09:15:48 pm
content: I mean what figure you thinking roughly (inbox me) I could paypal you £250, then £100 each week after until the amount was met then you mail it me, once it's paid in full ofc?: yeah I was aware I wouldn't get that bandwidth off a modern Agilen (within' my budget), that's why I was interested in a bargain off ebay

author: JTGrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 09:21:42 pm
content: or I may follow you advice, wait another week or two and go for thishttp://www.siglent.eu/oscilloscopes/sds-2000-series/mso-sds2102-100mhz-2-channel.htmlI mean I'm no expert but it looks okorhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Siglent-SDS1102CNL-7-100M-1GSa-s-32Kpts-Digital-Storage-Oscilloscope-/330935258459?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item4d0d474d5bthis looks easier tbhbut this would be first choice if the 100Mhz hack workshttp://www.rigol-uk.co.uk/Rigol-Digital-Oscilloscopes-DS1052D-p/ds1052d.htm#.UxeVIfnV_Yg