Scope probe recommendations? (10x, 150 MHz) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2021, 01:06:45 pm
content: Two of the RP-2200 probes that came with my DS1054Z have started to act up -- very unreliable contact, apparently due to flaky coax cables. (Which is disappointing, since I treated them well.) I am looking for replacements with the same bandwidth, and hopefully improved handling:Bandwidth 150 MHz (or a tad more).Fixed 1:10 would be preferred, but I'll go with switchable 1x/10x too if those are more easily available.Softplastic covers on the ground leads' alligator clips would be nice. The hard shells around the Rigol alligator clips make them unnecessarily hard to squeeze and position, which has been driving me nuts at times. (But apparently not enough to make me replace them...)Retractable hooks made from spring steel wire would be great. The punched sheet metal hooks on the Rigols have been sturdy enough, but they are more difficult to get into tight spots and don't stay in place as well.I have found a few older threads on probes here, but no hints regarding the usability preferences mentioned above. Thanks for any recommendation you might have!

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2021, 01:39:06 pm
content: Testec probes are readily available (Reichelt, Conrad, etc). The alligator clip insulation is much softer than the Rigol’s. (However, I think most of the force is from the clip itself, not the insulation.) They have the bent-wire-style hook. The wire is also a bit softer than the Rigol’s (but not as soft as on, say, vintage Tek probes).They’re not particularly expensive,supposedlymade in Germany, and have lots of available accessories.The LF 212 is the 150MHz fixed x10, probe, MF 212 is the same in 250MHz.(LF = 150MHz, MF = 250MHz, HF = 300 MHz; 112 = fixed x1, 212 = fixed x10, 312 = x1/x10 switchable, 412 = 350MHz fixed x10)Edit: Right on the probe it says "made in Germany".

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2021, 04:48:41 pm
content: I second the recommendation for the Testec probes. I have been using probes from this brand for several decades already.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2021, 05:33:28 pm
content: Thank you both, tooki and nctnico. (Special thanks to tooki for the "decoder" for Testec's model numbers!)I had not realized that Testec have such a wide range of entry-level and midrange probes, including fixed 10x versions. And I have a Reichelt order ready to place anyway, so that's a convenient and low-cost source.The probes seem to come without the short ground springs one can clip on for short ground connections with better HF performance. Do you happen to know whether the Rigol springs fit, or whether Testec-compatible springs are available separately?

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2021, 08:19:04 pm
content: Interesting, they also got auto-sense probes, even with x100..Here a list of a big amount of accessories for their standard probes:https://www.testec.en/products/product-categories/standard-probes/

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2021, 06:18:15 pm
content: There is a good chance that Rigol's RP-2200 probe is made by Texas, but I would still recommend some other Texas probe.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2021, 08:16:39 pm
content: Thanks, David. The Texas probe range looks good, but they don't seem to be easily available in Europe. I can only find them with shipping from the US or South Korea (?!), with unattractive shipping costs.I think I will give Testec a try. Looking at the 250 MHz probes -- more bandwidth than I need, but they come with an HF compensation trimmer, and only cost a few Euros more than the 150 MHz variant.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2021, 08:42:14 pm
content: Another recommendation are the probes from staeubli/MC contact.https://www.conrad.de/de/p/staeubli-isoprobe-iii-10-1-eco-tastkopf-beruehrungssicher-500-mhz-10-1-600-v-122956.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3Y-ABhCnARIsAKYDH7uZ_U-RhGGOf0NF25NQkRMT4GmRoJ5Sxn5iBWanPZYeNJCFR3AY32gaAlenEALw_wcB&hk=SEM&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=google_pla&s_kwcid=AL%21222%213%21481025427348%21%21%21g%21%21&ef_id=Cj0KCQiA3Y-ABhCnARIsAKYDH7uZ_U-RhGGOf0NF25NQkRMT4GmRoJ5Sxn5iBWanPZYeNJCFR3AY32gaAlenEALw_wcB%3AG%3AsPros : Bandwith, fully isolated, accessoires.Con: Huge probe, too often connect/disconnecting the groundcable will cause contact problems (2mm banana jack)But all in they´re priceworthy - If you leave the groundcable connected...

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2021, 11:13:19 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on January 16, 2021, 05:33:28 pmGlad to be of help!As Martin72 said, they do sell them as accessories. But indeed, the Rigol ground springs fit, but are a smidgen on the short side. They work fine, though!

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2021, 11:25:27 pm
content: And using this is such a difference in signal form...Demonstrate this to young colleagues, it seems to them, I´m a wizard

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2021, 01:54:25 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on January 17, 2021, 08:16:39 pmI get Texas probes off of Ebay but Testec is likely a better choice if you are in Europe where they are more readily available.Taking advantage of the HF compensation requires a reference level pulse generator of sufficient speed; Tektronix used to use tunnel diode pulses for this. It is very likely that a lower bandwidth oscilloscope will not require adjustment of the HF compensation because it simply will not be fast enough to show minor misadjustment of the HF compensation.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2021, 02:15:15 pm
content: I really like the probes I got from probemaster.com. They seem like a nice company too. I bought a kit with two 10x 250Mhz probes, an 1 1x/g/10x 250Mhz probe.Previously I was using Pico TA131 probes I got pretty cheap on ebay. They were better than any lower end stock probes, but not nearly as nice as the probe master stuff.This comparison is why I originally bought the TA131 probes:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds1104x-e-in-depth-review/msg1434665/#msg1434665

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2021, 09:58:49 pm
content: Pomona make some decent quality probes.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2021, 10:09:14 pm
content: While the title picture of Pomona's web page clearly shows a scope probe, all I can find in the actual product list are probes for DMMs. The "oscilloscope products" section seems empty. What am I overlooking? Or did they just discontinue these?https://www.pomonaelectronics.com/products/dmm-test-leads-and-probeshttps://www.pomonaelectronics.com/products/oscilloscope-products

author: Dwaine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2021, 02:09:33 pm
content: I bought a TT-HV 250 and two TT-HF 412 probes. Once you use them, you will never go back to the cheap ones.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2021, 08:37:06 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on January 20, 2021, 10:09:14 pmTheir website is... well, it has potential for improvement.They do, luckily, have a full catalog PDF you can download:https://www.pomonaelectronics.com/download-catalog

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2021, 08:39:56 am
content: Quote from: Dwaine on January 21, 2021, 02:09:33 pmThey look great. But at nearly 5x the price of Testec, they’d better be!!!

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2021, 02:12:13 pm
content: I received the Testec MF-212 probes yesterday (250 MHz, 1:10 fixed). A few initial observations:Build quality seems fine (although nothing mouth-watering). The cable is a bit thicker than that of my Rigol probes or the old Hitachis I have, but just as flexible. The insulation looks like silicone, but I hope I won't test it with my soldering iron anytime soon... The ground clips are now longer insulated by the soft rubber shown in the product pictures, but by a harder plastic shell. Need to squeeze them nearly as hard as the Rigols; I much prefer the old Hitachi ground clips.The probes themselves are just a little longer than the Rigols; nice, given the fact that they have a coax plug/socket at the back to connect the cables to the probes. But attaching the spring-loaded hook makes them uncomfortably and, in my view, unnecessarily long. The hook itself is nice, made from slender spring wire.The HF adjustment option of the Testec "MF" probes is certainly noticeable with my 100 MHz scope. The first screenshot shows the full adjustment range of the Testec probes. The second compares a well-adjusted Testec probe with the (non-adjustable) Rigol. In most use cases the slight overshoot of the Rigol won't matter, but I am happy that I can now do better if I want to.Edit -- forgot to mention the accessories: Nice! It's reassuring to know that I have spare tips around now in case I break one, and the coax plugs are neat as well. I wish they would include ground springs, especially with the MF series and up, but can use the Rigol ones for now.