Oscilloscope reccomendation? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tobor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2011, 07:34:21 pm
content: I'm just starting to really get into electronics as a hobby, mostly to do repairs and learn. I'd like to work on a variety of projects including audio equipment, PCs, monitors and related power supplies. I'm currently considering 3 used scopes and I'd like some feedback / suggestions from some folks with actual experience working with scopes.In case it makes any difference, I'm located in the US.The items I'm considering from lowest cost are:GW Instep GOS-6112 100MHz 2-Channel $203.00Fluke Philips Alliance PM 3375 100MHz 250Ms/s 2-Ch $291.00TEKTRONIX TAS465 100MHz $348.00My budget leans toward the low end, my tastes toward the high endof course.Any suggestions?Thanks in advance!

author: tinhead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2011, 07:58:04 pm
content: Quote from: tobor on December 02, 2011, 07:34:21 pmthis is a old gear, it does have really nice hybrids - but when they die you can throw the scope in trash.The price is not good, 350$ for old 100MHz analog scope is too muchQuote from: tobor on December 02, 2011, 07:34:21 pmthis is not analog scope, if Philips/Fluke then PM3285(A) or PM3295(A), so forget this oneQuote from: tobor on December 02, 2011, 07:34:21 pmi would chose this one, it is youngest device here and cheapest as well.It does have read-out (only on CRT, so no export possible), not that bad at all.The bigest advantage - you can take the 150$ diff to TAS465 and (almost) buy a DSO or what so ever you need for your hobby.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2011, 08:01:53 pm
content: please consider another : a mixed analog-digital scopebrand hameg, or fluke-philipsbuy a only digital scope only if you plan to do only microcontrolers work...and even there if you want to do rs232-spi-i2c work, only high end digital scope will analyze them...$1500 min !you will have to get a logic analyzer to do thishttp://www.ebay.com/dsc/i.html?_nkw=combiscope

author: tobor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2011, 08:17:42 pm
content: Thank you tinhead! Thank you kripton2035! I do like the idea of the CombiScope (that's what the 3375 was advertised as, but I'm thinking tinhead has a good point. Get the Instek for now, and save up for a good DSO if I find Ineedon in the future.I gather there aren't a lot of horror stories surrounding the Instek GOS-6112?While I'm pestering you, I've always heard that Weller was about the best solding iron you could get, but I see a lot of people liking Hakko and others like Saitek (sp?). Any thoughts one way or the other between a WES51 and the Hakko's etc? Obviously I can get more 'bang' for the buck, is Weller quality still that much higher?Thanks again!

author: Electronic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2011, 10:07:21 am
content: Have you looked in the threads here? The most discussed one is the Rigol DS1052E. I think you should at least check it out. Its a digital scope, 1GSa/s and 50 MHz but upgradeble to 150-170 MHz. Most common is to upgrade it to 100MHz.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 03, 2011, 10:40:07 am
content: You are pushing the price boundaries of brand new 100MHz Rigol ($399), or $350 50MHz one that can be hacked to 100MHz.Used analog scopes are fine, but only if you get them cheap.$300 is too much to pay, might as well get the Rigol or similar DSO.Huge choice of used analogs on eBay in the US, you can do better than what you are looking at.Don't touch a DSO or combiscope with under say 250 or 500MS/s, not really worth it.Out of that lot the Philips wins though.120MHz $95 delivered:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philips-PM-3260E-Dual-Trace-Oscilloscope-w-Blue-Screen-/190608119799?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item2c612117f7#ht_1370wt_1037Another one, tested:http://www.ebay.com/itm/PHILLIPS-PM-3260E-DUAL-TRACE-OSCILLOSCOPE-BOTH-CHANNELS-TESTED-OK-/380390746425?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item58910e2939#ht_4743wt_1037A fine 60MHz Kikusui tested for $150 delivered:http://www.ebay.com/itm/KIKUSUI-60MHZ-2-Channel-Oscilloscope-COS5060-/310362426483?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item48430acc73#ht_2399wt_1270Don't get caught up on bandwidth, 50MHz would be just fine for most stuff. Even 20MHz is very handy.Dave.

author: tobor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2011, 02:28:41 am
content: Thank you Electronic. I've looked through some of the posts, there is alotof good info here, I've got a lot of research to do on this site! I've seen some of the posts on the Rigol, and if I could afford to drop that much coin I'd jump on it. I was originally trying to stay below $200.00 but I got infatuated with the Fluke and Techtronix names. Thanks to all who help bring me back to my senses!Thank you Dave, this is a great site and I expect I'll be learning a lot from it.One thing that caught my eye with some of the other scopes was the cursors for taking measurements. I'm gathering you don't feel it's worth the extra $100.00 or so to have them though?Think I'm going to pull the trigger on that $95.00 3260E.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 05, 2011, 02:49:03 am
content: I wouldn't spend $100 just for some extras like cursors. Sure, they're convenient and allow you to make more accurate measurements, but the most important function of a scope is to show you what the signal looks like. Is it just +5 V DC or is there switching noise superimposed on it, not so much if it's +5 V DC or +5.1 V DC. The extra $100 is better spend towards some other equipment, or even to save it for a future DSO.

author: CaptainF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 05, 2011, 04:58:09 am
content: How about this one?http://www.bkprecision.com/products/model/2530B/25-mhz-500-msa-s-digital-storage-oscilloscope.htmlI found it cheaper than most other brands here in Brazil.

author: M84AB1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2011, 12:42:30 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on December 03, 2011, 10:40:07 amWhich brings me to the question, why is there such a huge lack of cheap and affordable second hand analog oscilloscopes in Australia. I have been scanning ebay for a good six months and no more than two listings popped up during that time. Searching for analog oscilloscopes on ebay australia produced two results and whilst both are only 20Mhz, one is going for $367.. INSANE!!!