where to buy low cost begginer oscilloscope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: amtpdb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 01:21:02 am
content: Hi:I have read several articles here and elsewhere about purchasing a low cost scope for a person that wants to get into electronics. I just want to get started with one and am not sure of all that can be done with one. I have tried ebay many times. The prices seem to go out of site quickly! I have tried Craigs list and that has not worked. Any suggestions out there? I tried going to Ham's sales to find junk that they have opened up and could not get to work! Are there any other suggestions out there? I can't be the only person that is in this predicament! I was looking for a 20-100mhz in the 100.00 range. My wife even purchased one for me as a surprise on ebay only to find out it did not work. The seller even offered to send me another and not have me send the junk back! When I said I wanted a refund, he forced me to pay 50.00 to ship it back!I have been watching for one for several years with no luck. I even was going to go to 200.00 as I did not want someones junk as I won't know until it is too late.Any suggestions and or advise where you may have picked one up would be appreciated.I live in the USA in San Bernardino, California.Thanks for any suggestions.Don

author: JoeO
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 01:59:28 am
content: What scopes do you have?What is wrong with them?Have you tried to fix them?

author: MrJones
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 02:00:52 am
content: Keep checking on ebay, it can be done! I just scored my first scope for $50 shipped!It's a 20mhz Goldstar OS-7020a which is more than enough for me.I'm sure you've seen Dave's video. It was super helpful.

author: amtpdb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 02:11:02 am
content: Joeo- I have not been able to get one that worked and have been watching for a couple of years on and off!MrJones- Glad it has worked for you. I did watch his video when it came out, has not helped as of yet. Most of the ebay finds I have seen that would be a good buy are bid up by the listers using shill accounts (watch for the bidders that have 0 feedback and a new account that are bidding)!Nothing has worked for me yet. Have spent alot of time and gas money driving to all the suggested venues to find nothing. Considering how things have gone, It would have been cheaper to have bought a new owon or rigol (cheapest models) and been done with it. Just don't want to waste alot of money on an item that I am not sure I will learn how to use properly. Wanted to start off cheap first, then move up if things work out.ThanksDon

author: MrJones
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 02:37:55 am
content: Look for promising auctions with "Buy it Now or Best Offer" and send low-ball offers. Eventually someone will send you a fair counter offer. You may have some luck sorting the listings by "Newly Listed"Just keep looking diligently and one will come up.Make sure that they have photos of the scope operating with a signal and you should be good.It may be worth your while to send this guy a low offer (like $25)http://www.ebay.com/itm/PHILIPS-PM3216-35-MHZ-OSCILLOSCOPE-/111448654445?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item19f2db826d#viTabs_0It's pretty beat up and looks like it might need to be calibrated. But I know very little about the details of these things. I am a newbie

author: amtpdb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 06:26:08 am
content: MrJones:Thanks for your help. I will keep looking.Don

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 09:17:27 am
content: The first one is most difficult to find.Once you have 3 working scopes, it will get much easier and they come to you.Sometimes there are unbelievable good deals on ebayAlso look for Fluke / Philips PM3370B (Entry level of this series), I picked one up for $80 in perfect working conditionAnd they are amazing scopes, even on todays standard.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 09:31:43 am
content: If the budget is in the $200 range I'd stretch it a bit more and get a cheap Rigol or Siglent oscilloscope. They start to turn up used as well.

author: Terabyte2007
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 03:12:43 pm
content: Just keep looking. In the picture, the 2246 I scored off eBay for $50 5-6 years ago and it works great! I also got a box full of Tek probes also. And the 2235A, I got for free! Someone in management was clearing a space and was going to throw it in the dumpster. Well I quickly adopted the scope and all the probes before that could happen.

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 05:08:53 pm
content: Watch your local craigslist. Sometimes something will turn up. I found a Tek 422 for $35 the other year.The trick to buying something on ebay is to look closely at the seller. Go with a highly rated seller or known dealer. I picked up a really cute Tek 335 for $75. That's actually a little high for that scope, but I couldn't resist.The big problem is anything in your price range is going to be 25+ years old and even top quality gear is going to be showing some problems at that age. Generally nothing that isn't fixable, but it really helps to have a working scope to fix a scope ...Sometimes you will get lucky and get something that's 100% functional. I have about a 60% hit rate buying equipment marked for parts only and having it work just fine.Don't get involved in bidding wars. Use a snipe service and eventually you'll get something working for what you want to pay.

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 10:39:46 pm
content: Why low cost? If you're a beginner, a dependable accurate scope is what you need I think.My experience with 2nd hand low cost is that they mostly need quite some work and knowledge torestore to an acceptable level. Buy from a trusted source (with guarantee) and pay what it costs.You do not need very much spec-wise. If you're choose wisely, it'll keep most of its value if you resell it.In US I'd buy an entry level Tek (2225) from a shop that refurbishes and resells these. In EU, Hameg or Philipsis more common.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 11:14:15 pm
content: Unless the budget is really tight I'd stay away from the old analog oscilloscopes. Remember most are over 30 years old and pretty much past their lifespan.

author: testarea
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 02, 2014, 09:14:47 am
content: If you are in USA, I recommendwww.saelig.com. this company sell many brands such as Rigol or OWON etc. note that buy from your local distributor to have local service. If buy from Ebay or Amazon, they often don't supply local service.