Oscilloscope choice - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: SenSeS
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 06:14:13 pm
content: I'm looking into buying an analog oscilloscope dual channel 20Mhz, basically what Dave suggested in episode #86. I've emailed universities and stuff like that in the neighborhood to see if they could donate one (as suggested in the video) but to no success. I'm a total noob in this field so I have absolutely no idea what's good and more importantly, what is good value for money. I've been looking around for second hand ones around here and have come across the following two:Tektronix 564 for about $50Tektronix 466 for about $150 (this is a 100Mhz)Tektronix 465m for about $175My questions are 1) are these good value for money? 2) which one would be a better buy for me? and 3) Are there any particular models that are "noob-friendly" that I should be looking for? The thing that scares me is that the first one is about 50 years old!!! whaaaat? Maybe I should just save up a bit and buy a new Rigol DS1052E? Thanks!

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 06:24:31 pm
content: Please set your country in your profile, or state your country and you will get better regional help.

author: SenSeS
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 06:39:28 pm
content: Sorry. I live in Belgium but I often go to the US, so that would also be a possibility.

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 08:15:27 pm
content: Quote from: SenSeS on November 26, 2014, 06:14:13 pmThe 564 is vacuum tube based, introduced in 1962. They are beautifully constructed, but at this age, can be very troublesome.The 466 is a dual trace 2 channel scope, but has a analog storage CRT. If working properly, this can be useful. However, many times these storage CRTs were abused and don't work right anymore.The 465M is the military version of the very popular 465B - a 2 channel 100MHz scope. A nice scope if in working condition. $175 is probably a little on the high side (in the US), but it is a pretty solid scope. I have a 465B that I picked up more than 25 years ago, and still works great. You see it in many of my videos...

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 08:21:34 am
content: Might want to try looking at other brands that aren't quite as known as Tektronix or HP.Kikusui, Kenwood, Hitachi, Leader, and Goldstar for example. Sourcing them in the US is probably your best bet on price, before figuring for shipping/baggage fees to get it back home.Back home, perhaps Phillips, but you need to be cautious on the models IIRC (overheating?). I'm not familiar enough with them to know the details.Just trying to think of alternative brands that built quality gear that should be possible to get for a reasonable cost. Hamegg would be another brand to be on the lookout for as well IMHO.

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 07:00:13 pm
content: Quote from: w2aew on November 26, 2014, 08:15:27 pmI have a 465M. I have been told (and if you compare specifications) that it is a close relative to the 455, not the 465. It lacks a few of the features the 465 and 465B have, but generally still very usable. It's put together using modular construction, meaning you could replace a whole module at once. But this probably isn't much use anymore, unless you can find working replacement modules. Very good scope though. HP 174x series is also a good bet I think.

author: JoeO
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 03:37:47 am
content: Don't forget probes. If a scope comes with working probes, this adds value to the deal.Also get the model number of the probes. Tek probes are worth more than any ebay clone.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 08:07:43 am
content: Quote from: JoeO on November 28, 2014, 03:37:47 amProbes are no big deal. Sure if quality sets are included get them, but don't be talked up in price for them.You can get reasonable quality P6100 100 MHz probes off eBay or Aliexpress for ~ US$15 a pair shipped.Perfectly good for most use.

author: jancumps
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 08:18:05 am
content: Quote from: SenSeS on November 26, 2014, 06:39:28 pmHey, that's ok.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 10:00:43 am
content: I wouldn't get any of those.Look for a lesser brand 20MHz dual channel, and keep it under $50.Hitachi, Kikusui, National, Philips, Kenwood, Goldstar, and many others are all decent.BK Precision, Tenma and GW Instek are more modern ones.

author: SenSeS
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2014, 11:25:37 pm
content: Quote from: 3roomlab on November 28, 2014, 10:45:06 amUnfortunately it seems that we aren't allowed to pick up trash from a junkyard anymore but I'll look into this more.Quote from: EEVblog on November 28, 2014, 10:00:43 amThanks for listing more brands! Since I know nothing about scope's I have no idea what good and bad brand were so I was basically only looking at Tektronix, Hitachi, kikusui and Goldstar (from your oscilloscope rant).Thanks everyone for the replies! I'll keep searching for one but on our 2 main second hand websites there are all of about 10 scopes for sale, 1 being 20MHz =).

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2014, 06:32:47 am
content: I go shopping at my scrapyard, he is quite willing to sell stuff by the kilo.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 09:00:27 am
content: Quote from: w2aew on November 26, 2014, 08:15:27 pmAbout a year or two ago I saw 2 Pintek scopes like the one you had in the calibration video close on ebay for about $10.

author: SenSeS
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2014, 12:58:24 pm
content: Well unfortunately I haven't found an analogue 20MHz scope for under $50 yet. The closest I can get is 50EUR for a PM3232, PM3233 or PM3207 (I can chose). Is this a decent deal and should I just bite the bullet? However in the mean time I got a TDS1022 and a TDS3034B which I can borrow (for unspecified time). So I hope these will do for the time being. I suppose I should still look out for an old analogue scope and if so should i just get one of the Philips'? Thanks!

author: 3roomlab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2014, 10:07:17 am
content: Quote from: SenSeS on December 09, 2014, 12:58:24 pmfor 20Mhz scopes, i got myself a used kenwood, approx usd50. its more of a visual confirmation of things you expect/un-expected at that speed. beyond that, rigol is a good step up, but looking at their list of bugs, and the recent discovery that it isnt 2Gs/s but 1.8Gs/s (software interpolated? maybe? and badly done?) ... maybe a small DSO203 (also 8 bit) offer a more stable AD and actual more proper capture? (since it doesnt really need to dither and mess up the data just because of screen size?) i hear the DSO have a large-ish mod community (which i have not tried any mods) ... for an 8bit, i actually clip it next to my PC monitor like a mobile phone to use it LOL. but im not sure, im not pro at using scopes anyway lol. i got both to try out both the analog side and the DSO to try the digital side