Upgrading Tektronix MDO3102 to MDO3104 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: AJ3G
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 12:17:10 am
content: All:I recently picked up a MDO3102 fully loaded, with less than 400hrs on it. The deal was too good to be true IMHO, but it arrived and I am absolutely shocked. Due to the excellent condition, and low hours, not to mention over 11K worth of options (NEW Price), I thought maybe it might be worth upgrading this scope to a MDO3104. I have looked at the teardown of the MDO3104 Dave did many years ago. If I am looking at this correctly, it would require a new front face plate, new keyboard/encoder board, and of course a new frontend board. I know Tektronix does upgrade B/W (front ends) for this scope, so I thought maybe they could go as far as adding the two additional channels.Has anyone done this or obtained information on doing this from Tektronix in the past?Thanks In Advance!Rich

author: rvalente
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 01:33:00 am
content: Just to satisfy my curiosity, how much did you pay on this 3012?

author: AJ3G
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 01:57:23 am
content: rvalenteI paid $2300.00 USD. The only option it does not have is the Security Option, which I would never use anyway. The probes (TTP1000's) have not even been unsealed from the bag. If I could convert to 4ch, I could learn to like this scope, I think. I was kind of leaning towards a LeCroy, R&S, or Keysight, but when this deal came along I simply thought it too good to pass up. I have been looking for months, as all I have for my home lab the Tek 2400 Series, and I am simply done repairing them. I have repaired them for years, and its time to move upward, and onward. I loved them, but they are getting a little long in the tooth.I just figured out how to look the hard start number, and it appears as though this scope has 110 starts for the 400 hours.Rich

author: Trader
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 02:03:47 am
content: Just to satisfy my curiosity, where did you find it?

author: AJ3G
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 02:06:33 am
content: Did you not read my post?? I stole it! - Kidding, I found it via word of mouth through a work colleague.

author: rvalente
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 02:08:43 am
content: I'd day this mod would be cost prohibitive to be made from Tek new spare parts, they are big coin.I once quoted LCD for THS 720P and their price was 3x the instrument market valueWhat bandwidth do you really use?

author: AJ3G
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 02:14:28 am
content: Hi rvalente:I was afraid that would might be true. I was not even sure if Tektronix would entertain it. I was really looking for a 500MHz 5GS/s scope. Before this find, a used Keysight was the leader. I will have to think hard on this. My need for more than two channels happens less than 20 percent of the time. This will be a hard decision, but I am leaning towards just keeping it.My thought was they might give me some credit for the Front End Board they remove, but probably still not worth it. I will give them a call and embarrass myself by asking if this is something that could be done. I figured someone on here may have been down this path before and could advise.Thanks!Rich

author: AJ3G
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2021, 09:52:31 pm
content: I just got a call from Tektronix, and they will not Modify a MDO3102 to a MDO3104. I thought it might be possible, since it seems they do upgrade the front end of these scopes to support analog bandwidth upgrades.Rich