When to Buy - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: PixieDust
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 06:02:58 am
content: Probably already know the answer but I'm guessing it's impossible to tell when the next greatest piece of test equipment is coming out is kept a closely guarded secret by manufacturers (not to eat into current sales)?EDIT: Or do oscilloscopes and other testing gear come out in predictable regular intervals?

author: LoneTech
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 07:44:24 am
content: it's like computers,,5 minutes after you buy a new computer they come out with a newer version lolI've had the same oscilloscope for well over 10 years or longer, purchased from ebay used and not-working. Leader LBO-518the unit's that have curser readouts are nice, I thought about getting one wit that feature until i realized i didn't have to.on the rear of my scope there's an external output, I ran this into the inputs of my Fluke 8000A , set the voltage selector to DC or AC..and now i have a PP readout at a glance.If i want to be able to read Frequency, then i jump the external output over to the inputs of my function generator(assuming it's not more than 2Mhz and now i can read freq at a glance..having the latest and greatest pieces of test equipment is nice no doubt but sometimes you can have just as good a setup with a little ingenuity

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 09:02:35 am
content: Its down to simple differentiation between whether you "need" it, which means you have to buy now or even yesterday, or its just you're "wanting" it, that you better wait ..and .. wait ... read/hear rumors/news that something great is coming ... wait again ... then bought it ... and later pissed off as you bought it, another better one pop out with the same price.Guess you're in the later part.

author: PixieDust
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 10:57:25 pm
content: Hmm that complicates things. At least with computers, some components come out regularly. Bummer.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 11:20:55 pm
content: IMHO it doesn't really matter, equipment like oscilloscopes don't improve at the same rate as computers and smartphones. My primary scope is around 25 years old, and with 1GHz bandwidth and 4GS/sec it can keep up with a lot of rather expensive current models. The only downside is it's about 6 times the size and weight of a comparable modern scope.Unless you have a need for cutting edge and have the funds to match, just buy a scope that meets your needs. Take good care of it and it will retain much of its value so you can sell it later on if you need to upgrade. It's not like a smartphone that is nearly worthless after a couple years.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 11:21:52 pm
content: The thing is, it just doesn't matter. Whatever you buy today will be your next tool, not your last tool. It will always be a function of price and disposable income. Everybody would like the $130k Keysight scope but most of us will settle for the $350 Rigol DS1054Z now available with most options free and firmware at an acceptable revision level.The next better scope is already out - the Siglent SDS1204X-E. It is a matter of picking the model: 100MHz vs 200 MHz, 2 channel vs 4 channel. Then place an order. I haven't been keeping up on any firmware issues, that is a subject of another thread.You can't time the market! It doesn't matter if you're talking oscilloscopes or the stock market. Drive a stake in the ground and move on.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2018, 12:23:52 am
content: Test equipment is not on the same churn cycle as consumer electronics like PCs or phones. I'd say most equipment is on a 3 yr cycle or longer. The Rigol DS1054Z is getting long in the tooth and is being discounted to not lose ground to the new Siglent models so it's safe to bet that a new and competitive Rigol 4 channel 100 to 200 Mhz scope is coming. 2 months? 6 months? 12 months? who knows.Here's a widely known fact - most hobbyists are hard pressed to use the majority of the features in the scopes they have. So if you are looking to save money, buy a used scope. Especially if you have never owned a scope. In the process of learning to use it, you will better understand what you want from a scope. If you decide to buy a newer, fuller featured one, you will probably be able to sell it for close to what you paid. And then you can leisurely time the market while using your used scope.

author: PixieDust
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 03:40:31 am
content: Fair enough guys, makes sense. Time to start looking into what I need exactly and just be done with it.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 06:00:33 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on February 04, 2018, 11:20:55 pmActually it is pretty much the same. Test equipment devaluates faster than a car. Ofcourse there are always people who pay crazy prices for some old junk because of the brand and sentiment but those are the exceptions. Try to sell a Rigol DS1054Z for 90% of what you paid for it (bought new) after a year.On topic: I have a feeling some interesting scopes will get on the market in the next few months.

author: georgd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 06:15:35 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 06, 2018, 06:00:33 pmI have the same feeling after I saw the dramatical price drop of DSOXLAN module.Keysight's scope month is coming probably with a new line of 2000/3000 scopes.Georg

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 07:18:56 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 06, 2018, 06:00:33 pmI would be a little surprised if you couldn't do that. How many of those Rigol scopes do you see for sale on the used market? I've never seen a bargain on a used one, they're so cheap brand new that they hold value very well. Higher end stuff tends to cost a large premium but then the value makes one big drop then stabilizes, holding steady for years and years.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 07:51:24 pm
content: I kind of see it the other way around - who would buy used at 90% of current retail? If you have one you want to sell, you won't get any buyers at 90% so you'd have to cut your price if you wanted it gone.

author: PixieDust
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 08:29:09 pm
content: The infinivisions came out in 2011 if I'm not mistaken? That's a long time ago, seems like we're well overdue for a new model. That's what I was using as reference, hence for the question.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2018, 01:24:26 am
content: 90% might be a bit high, but 70-80% is not unreasonable. On a few occasions I've paid roughly 75% of new price for something that was lightly used and in essentially new condition. Why? Well it was significant savings for very few downsides. If I bought a brand new one it would be used the moment I took it out of the box anyway.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2018, 01:53:54 am
content: The problem with used is you don't know what abuse has happened. I might pay 75% if it was pristine and can be shown it was bought very recently. However, in general, I see 50% as about the right price for used, maybe less.

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 07, 2018, 03:16:45 am
content: This question is asked a lot on the photography forums, too. Should I buy XXX now, or wait for the YYY model to come out (at some unknown point in the future)? What's often pointed out is that if the XXX model will do what you need it to do now, buy it. It will continue to do what it does when and IF the YYY model eventually is brought to market. The YYY may do things that the XXX can't, but it doesn't magically reduce the abilities of the XXX.-Pat

author: HalFET
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2018, 08:01:59 am
content: Quote from: phil from seattle on February 07, 2018, 01:53:54 amThings like an HP 3458A that was calibrated monthly with a full history don't really lose that much value. (Especially if it happens to be one of those rare ultra stable units.) A Rigol scope is possibly the worst possible example as far maintenance of value goes: a common very cheap unit of a not too reputable manufacturer.

author: PixieDust
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2018, 11:59:03 am
content: Quote from: Cubdriver on February 07, 2018, 03:16:45 amI never thought about it this way. And then going off the way computers get outdated, I bought mine to potentially upgrade it down the line. I now realise, that upgrading down the line just doesn't happen with computers, so I think you're right, get what you need and be done with it. Much more confident to pull the trigger now.

author: Muxr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2018, 05:47:01 pm
content: Quote from: HalFET on February 07, 2018, 08:01:59 amGetting used stuff is usually the best way to go if you care about re-selling it later. I could probably make money if I sold my HP3458A since I bought it "condition unknown" (got lucky and it doesn't have drift). I have a few "scores" like that I could probably profit on.However I don't plan on selling my lab gear. I have a few pieces of gear that got made redundant by various upgrades, which I will likely sell, not to make profit. But to make room.