Post by thread:[EE] Time to buy a new scope

I've got an old Leader single-trace scope that has bit the dust, and I figure that it would cost more to it get repaired than the thing is worth. It is at least 15 years old, perhaps more, and has served well. But the time has come. Plus I made some extra money from doing something for someone, and it is burning a hole in my pocket. :-) So anyway, I want to buy a new general-purpose scope for the shop. I am strictly a hobbyist -- not a professional. I kind of know what I want, though. I want a dual-trace scope, around 20 or 30 MHz, and the budget is around $600, plus or minus a few bucks. I don't want to buy a pig-in-a-poke on eBay, and I don't want a digital scope that displays on my computer -- I just want an old-fashioned analog scope with a couple of probes that I can use out in the workshop and be happy with. Mouser has some (Protek), Digikey has some (B&K) and if I look around I feel sure I will find more brands. But I have a lot of respect for piclist opinions on stuff like this, and wondered if anyone has any advice for me? (This is not controversial, like asking someone to recommend a language to program in, I hope!).

Enrico Schuerrer wrote: > As a fan (and owner) of a Tektronix Scope I want to say that Tek has > "reconditioned products" - which means that you will get a second hand > scope, refurbished and recalibrated up to 70% down the (former) listprice. > Hmmmm . . . hadn't thought about a reconditioned one. The CE's that worked on the mainframes in the computer center that I used to work for always wheeled in a Tektronix scope when they had to do diagnosis of a problem, and so I just kind of assumed that a Tektronix was out of my price range. Who sells the reconditioned scopes? I went to the Tektronix website, but it didn't say anything about reconditioned products.

John, Although it's a little bit higher than your budget, you won't go wrong. I'm talking about the Tektronix TDS-210 unit. It's a digital scope, but you don't need a computer to use it. It has a small form factor so it sits on a bench or desk and doesn't take up much room. It's perfect for working with PIC's and related circuits. It has the capability of storing waveforms from each of it's two channels to use as a reference waveform, or for taking a longer look at a signal after it has been captured. You can also connect a printer so you can print the waveforms to paper if you have the printer I/F cartridge in place. The cost for all of this utility is around $900.00 new. $500.00 to $700.00 used. I don't regret getting one. I use it all the time. Just a suggestion on my part, but I know you'll like it if you get one. Good Luck and Regards, Jim {Quote hidden}> I've got an old Leader single-trace scope that has bit the dust, and I > figure that it would cost more to it get repaired than the thing is > worth. It is at least 15 years old, perhaps more, and has served well. > But the time has come. Plus I made some extra money from doing >something for someone, and it is burning a hole in my pocket. :-) > > So anyway, I want to buy a new general-purpose scope for the shop. I > am strictly a hobbyist -- not a professional. I kind of know what I > want, though. I want a dual-trace scope, around 20 or 30 MHz, and the > budget is around $600, plus or minus a few bucks. I don't want to buy > a pig-in-a-poke on eBay, and I don't want a digital scope that > displays on my computer -- I just want an old-fashioned analog scope > with a couple of probes that I can use out in the workshop and be > happy with. > > Mouser has some (Protek), Digikey has some (B&K) and if I look around I > feel sure I will find more brands. But I have a lot of respect for > piclist opinions on stuff like this, and wondered if anyone has any > advice for me? (This is not controversial, like asking someone to > recommend a language to program in, I hope!). > > --

I went through this process not long ago and I risked the pig-in-a-poke ebay method. I bought a tektronix 465M (dual trace, 100MHz, "almost the same" as the proven 465B but militarized) for $75 bucks, it was damaged. Spent $175 to fix it plus $80 on two 1/10 probes. According to the guy who fixed it, this unit was barely used (according to the state of internal components) and it's like new now. Total price $340 plus the hassle of sending it to repair, which was not a such a big problem since the guy gave me a loaner while he was working on my oscope. I'm very happy with its quality and overall ruggedness. But... it's a shot in the dark. I was lucky. Padu {Original Message removed}

On 11/22/05, Paul James E. <spam_OUTjamespTakeThisOuTintertex.net> wrote: {Quote hidden}> > John, > > Although it's a little bit higher than your budget, you won't go wrong. > I'm talking about the Tektronix TDS-210 unit. It's a digital scope, but > you don't need a computer to use it. It has a small form factor so it > sits on a bench or desk and doesn't take up much room. It's perfect for > working with PIC's and related circuits. It has the capability of storing > waveforms from each of it's two channels to use as a reference waveform, > or for taking a longer look at a signal after it has been captured. > You can also connect a printer so you can print the waveforms to paper if > you have the printer I/F cartridge in place. > The cost for all of this utility is around $900.00 new. $500.00 to $700.00 > used. I don't regret getting one. I use it all the time. > Just a suggestion on my part, but I know you'll like it if you get one. > > Good Luck and Regards, > > Jim > I was just going to suggest a TDS-210. Lightweight, handy. If you buy a used one, check with Tek about a recall they had a few years ago, some grounding safety issues IIRC. Regards, Mark markrages@gmail -- You think that it is a secret, but it never has been one. - fortune cookie

John, I've had great luck on eBay. Take a look at some of the Tek 2235s or other 223X scopes (search on: tek* 223* -manual ). Look for a couple of traces in the pictures, check knobs and switches, sellers rating in the high 90s (I get very careful if the seller is at 97% or less) and some volume (100+) and you should be fine. A good working 2235 shouldn't run more than $200 plus shipping. You'll wind up with a low end but professional (100MHz) scope that'll give you a great many years of service. I snagged a pair of 2235s for $100 each a month ago. One knob on one of the two needs help but otherwise, both scopes are fine. Regards, Dave John Nall wrote: {Quote hidden}> I've got an old Leader single-trace scope that has bit the dust, and I > figure that it would cost more to it get repaired than the thing is > worth. It is at least 15 years old, perhaps more, and has served > well. But the time has come. Plus I made some extra money from doing > something for someone, and it is burning a hole in my pocket. :-) > > So anyway, I want to buy a new general-purpose scope for the shop. I > am strictly a hobbyist -- not a professional. I kind of know what I > want, though. I want a dual-trace scope, around 20 or 30 MHz, and the > budget is around $600, plus or minus a few bucks. I don't want to buy > a pig-in-a-poke on eBay, and I don't want a digital scope that > displays on my computer -- I just want an old-fashioned analog scope > with a couple of probes that I can use out in the workshop and be > happy with. > > Mouser has some (Protek), Digikey has some (B&K) and if I look around > I feel sure I will find more brands. But I have a lot of respect for > piclist opinions on stuff like this, and wondered if anyone has any > advice for me? (This is not controversial, like asking someone to > recommend a language to program in, I hope!). >

Paul James E. wrote: > Although it's a little bit higher than your budget, you won't go wrong. > I'm talking about the Tektronix TDS-210 unit. It's a digital scope, but > you don't need a computer to use it. It has a small form factor so it > sits on a bench or desk and doesn't take up much room. It's perfect for > working with PIC's and related circuits. It has the capability of > storing waveforms from each of it's two channels to use as a reference > waveform, or for taking a longer look at a signal after it has been > captured. > You can also connect a printer so you can print the waveforms to paper > if you have the printer I/F cartridge in place. > The cost for all of this utility is around $900.00 new. $500.00 to > $700.00 used. I don't regret getting one. I use it all the time. > Just a suggestion on my part, but I know you'll like it if you get one. Definitely an adequate scope for general microcontroller work. There is one thing that really bugs me about these though, especially since it could have been fixed with just a firmware change. The horizontal position of the trigger stays fixed in *time* relative to the center of the screen, not fixed in screen position. This is really annoying when you put the trigger point near the left end as you often would, then change time scales. If you go to a larger time scale, then then trigger point moves in towards the center and you have to put it back. That's annoying enough, but if you change to a smaller time scale the trigger point goes off screen. If you magnified the time a lot, then the trigger point ends up waaay off screen. Of course now the adjustment knob is on the new time scale, so you can turn it and turn it and still not get the trigger point back. You have to turn the time scale back until you can see the trigger, put the trigger in the middle of the screen, expand the time scale, hope you parked the trigger close enough to the middle that it didn't go off screen, then put the trigger point back near the left edge where you had it in the first place. This may not sound like that big a deal, but it gets really annoying after a while. ****************************************************************** Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, (978) 742-9014. #1 PIC consultant in 2004 program year. http://www.embedinc.com/products

I agree 100%. But the unit is inexpensive enough and handy enough that I overlook the small inconveniences like that one and go on about my work. But I do agree it's annoying. Jim {Quote hidden}> Paul James E. wrote: >> Although it's a little bit higher than your budget, you won't go >> wrong. I'm talking about the Tektronix TDS-210 unit. It's a digital >> scope, but you don't need a computer to use it. It has a small form >> factor so it sits on a bench or desk and doesn't take up much room. >> It's perfect for working with PIC's and related circuits. It has the >> capability of storing waveforms from each of it's two channels to use >> as a reference waveform, or for taking a longer look at a signal after >> it has been captured. >> You can also connect a printer so you can print the waveforms to paper >> if you have the printer I/F cartridge in place. >> The cost for all of this utility is around $900.00 new. $500.00 to >> $700.00 used. I don't regret getting one. I use it all the time. >> Just a suggestion on my part, but I know you'll like it if you get >> one. > > Definitely an adequate scope for general microcontroller work. There > is one thing that really bugs me about these though, especially since > it could have been fixed with just a firmware change. The horizontal > position of the trigger stays fixed in *time* relative to the center of > the screen, not fixed in screen position. This is really annoying when > you put the trigger point near the left end as you often would, then > change time scales. If you go to a larger time scale, then then > trigger point moves in towards the center and you have to put it back. > That's annoying enough, but if you change to a smaller time scale the > trigger point goes off screen. If you magnified the time a lot, then > the trigger point ends up waaay off screen. Of course now the > adjustment knob is on the new time scale, so you can turn it and turn > it and still not get the trigger point back. You have to turn the time > scale back until you can see the trigger, put the trigger in the middle > of the screen, expand the time scale, hope you parked the trigger close > enough to the middle that it didn't go off screen, then put the trigger > point back near the left edge where you had it in the first place. This > may not sound like that big a deal, but it gets really annoying after a > while. > > > ****************************************************************** > Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, (978) 742-9014. #1 PIC > consultant in 2004 program year. http://www.embedinc.com/products --

Paul James E. wrote: > I agree 100%. But the unit is inexpensive enough and handy enough > that I overlook the small inconveniences like that one and go on > about my work. But I do agree it's annoying. I vaguely heard that Agilent came out with a similar small digital scope for under $1000 a few months ago. Also 60MHz supposedly. Before buying a scope like that I'd certainly want to check out the Agilent offering. Since I'm not looking for scope right now, I haven't. Has anyone else looked into this? ****************************************************************** Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, (978) 742-9014. #1 PIC consultant in 2004 program year. http://www.embedinc.com/products

{Quote hidden}> > Although it's a little bit higher than your budget, you won't go wrong. > > I'm talking about the Tektronix TDS-210 unit. > Definitely an adequate scope for general microcontroller work. There is one > thing that really bugs me about these though, especially since it could have > been fixed with just a firmware change. The horizontal position of the > trigger stays fixed in *time* relative to the center of the screen, not > fixed in screen position. This is really annoying when you put the trigger > point near the left end as you often would, then change time scales. If you > go to a larger time scale, then then trigger point moves in towards the > center and you have to put it back. That's annoying enough, but if you > change to a smaller time scale the trigger point goes off screen. If you > magnified the time a lot, then the trigger point ends up waaay off screen. > Of course now the adjustment knob is on the new time scale, so you can turn > it and turn it and still not get the trigger point back. You have to turn > the time scale back until you can see the trigger, put the trigger in the > middle of the screen, expand the time scale, hope you parked the trigger > close enough to the middle that it didn't go off screen, then put the > trigger point back near the left edge where you had it in the first place. > This may not sound like that big a deal, but it gets really annoying after a > while. For those who can afford it, look at the 2014. It's basically identical to the 210, but it adds FFT (which I think comes with the interface unit for the 210) AND a handy "Set to zero" button which brings the trigger back to the Y-axis. It also has a color display. Price is higher, but not ridiculously so. Mike H.

Yes, I just looked. I believe it's the DSO3062A. 60 Mhz Dual Trace, Dual Timebase, Color, 2 Channels, somewhat larger footprint, but still nice, and around $995.00 USD. Has built in math functions, FFT, etc. 20 measurements available. Nice looking unit. Go to http://www.agilent.com and go to the 3000 page. There will be a listing of the units available, and a short demo movie. Watch the movie for most of the functionality it offers. If you get one, let us know how you like it. Regards, Jim {Quote hidden}> Paul James E. wrote: >> I agree 100%. But the unit is inexpensive enough and handy enough >> that I overlook the small inconveniences like that one and go on >> about my work. But I do agree it's annoying. > > I vaguely heard that Agilent came out with a similar small digital > scope for under $1000 a few months ago. Also 60MHz supposedly. Before > buying a scope like that I'd certainly want to check out the Agilent > offering. Since I'm not looking for scope right now, I haven't. Has > anyone else looked into this? > > > ****************************************************************** > Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, (978) 742-9014. #1 PIC > consultant in 2004 program year. http://www.embedinc.com/products --

I have been a Tektronix scope fan all my life. I have used HP, TEK, Leader, B&K, Iwatsu, and many other brands over the years, but always like the Tek's best. When our lab was in the market for a new digital scope I of course started looking at Tek 3000 series (VGA resolution) models. Thanks to comments from this list I also looked at Agilent's offerings (6000 series MSOs), and I was hooked. 800 times the memory (1-8Ms vs 10k), 4 times the resolution (SVGA vs VGA or QVGA), 10 times the screen update rate (makes if 'look' more like analog scope, and since I do need to use it as a waveform monitor, it is important to me, and for nearly the same cost. And for a small increment (18%) the MSO series will also do 16 channel logic analyzer. If there is an under $1k scope by Agilent I would love to know about it for my home lab. They did just introduce the 100Mhz BW MSO 601x series (mixed signal oscilloscope) as their lowest end, but there may be something in the 53xxx series that is cheaper yet since its a few years older now. I am sure that with the popularity of digital scopes, there will be lots of inexpensive analog scopes to be had and places like Tuckers and Test Equity (and others). By spending the extra bucks to buy from a dealer, you know you won't be getting a clunker. What is your time REALLY worth? Robert Olin Lathrop wrote: {Quote hidden}> Paul James E. wrote: > >> I agree 100%. But the unit is inexpensive enough and handy enough >> that I overlook the small inconveniences like that one and go on >> about my work. But I do agree it's annoying. > > > I vaguely heard that Agilent came out with a similar small digital scope for > under $1000 a few months ago. Also 60MHz supposedly. Before buying a scope > like that I'd certainly want to check out the Agilent offering. Since I'm > not looking for scope right now, I haven't. Has anyone else looked into > this? > > > ****************************************************************** > Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, (978) 742-9014. #1 PIC > consultant in 2004 program year. http://www.embedinc.com/products

I read a comparison of usb 'scopes from a link on this site. summary was useful,pricey for what you get and of limited bandwidth as the cost falls below that of a modern DSO.I personally would wait until someone uses a hyper-fast pic (or similar..BOOO!) in a new design; this list is the first place to look! ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Humes" <james.humesKILLspamgmail.com> To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <.....piclistKILLspam.....mit.edu> Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 9:37 PM Subject: Re: [EE] Time to buy a new scope On similar subject, does anyone have experience with usb peripheral scopes? something like http://www.usb-instruments.com/oscillo_stingray.html this. James

OK, you clods! You have messed with my mind, and now rather than straightforwardly ordering a new scope I am bidding on eBay! For a Tektronix 465. Most likely I will rue the day, although the guy that is selling it is rated very positively (99.6%) and has a string of glowing feedbacks about three miles long. Anyway, we shall see. Of course, I have not yet won the bid. Thanks for all the good advice. It is always interesting to ask a question on the piclist, and then wade through the responses to distill out the wheat from the chaff. (Both "wheat" and "chaff" being relative terms, of course -- there is no bad advice, only advice that does not comport with what I want to do).

I do not know about the price but I think the TDS-3032 we are using now are the worst scope I have ever used at work. An old HP54600B 100Mhz is much better. The old TDS-3xx are also much better than the TDS-3032. I guess TDS-210 and TDS-20xx/30xx are in the same league as TDS-3032. Anyway now I am using an expensive Lecroy LT264 so I do not need to use the TDS-3032. If it is sent to caliberation, I will normally use the HP54600B. The TDS-3032 called itself a 200Mhz/2.5Gsps scope but it is much slower than the 100MHz HP54600B. Maybe it is due to the screen. It may be good to debug PICs but I think it is quite bad even to debug some quite simple analog circuits. Regards, Xiaofan {Original Message removed}

try http://www.testequity.com John --- John Nall <EraseMEjwnallspam_OUTTakeThisOuTgmail.com> wrote: {Quote hidden}> Enrico Schuerrer wrote: > > As a fan (and owner) of a Tektronix Scope I want > to say that Tek has > > "reconditioned products" - which means that you > will get a second hand > > scope, refurbished and recalibrated up to 70% down > the (former) listprice. > > > Hmmmm . . . hadn't thought about a reconditioned > one. The CE's that > worked on the mainframes in the computer center > that I used to work for > always wheeled in a Tektronix scope when they had to > do diagnosis of a > problem, and so I just kind of assumed that a > Tektronix was out of my > price range. Who sells the reconditioned scopes? I > went to the > Tektronix website, but it didn't say anything about > reconditioned products. > --

Chen, Is the TDS 1xxx also that bad? I am looking at it for my personal use. John --- Chen Xiao Fan <xiaofanspam_OUTsg.pepperl-fuchs.com> wrote: {Quote hidden}> I do not know about the price but I think the > TDS-3032 we are > using now are the worst scope I have ever used at > work. > An old HP54600B 100Mhz is much better. The old > TDS-3xx are > also much better than the TDS-3032. I guess TDS-210 > and > TDS-20xx/30xx are in the same league as TDS-3032. > Anyway > now I am using an expensive Lecroy LT264 so I do not > need > to use the TDS-3032. If it is sent to caliberation, > I > will normally use the HP54600B. > > The TDS-3032 called itself a 200Mhz/2.5Gsps scope > but it is > much slower than the 100MHz HP54600B. Maybe it is > due to > the screen. It may be good to debug PICs but I think > it is > quite bad even to debug some quite simple analog > circuits. > > Regards, > Xiaofan > > {Original Message removed}

Anybody use Aligent DSO3000 ?? Looks affordable for personal use. http://www.testequity.com/products/1314/ John --- Robert Rolf <@spam@Robert.RolfKILLspamualberta.ca> wrote: {Quote hidden}> I have been a Tektronix scope fan all my life. > I have used HP, TEK, Leader, B&K, Iwatsu, and many > other > brands over the years, but always like the Tek's > best. > > When our lab was in the market for a new digital > scope > I of course started looking at Tek 3000 series (VGA > resolution) models. > Thanks to comments from this list I also looked at > Agilent's > offerings (6000 series MSOs), and I was hooked. > 800 times the memory (1-8Ms vs 10k), 4 times the > resolution > (SVGA vs VGA or QVGA), 10 times the screen update > rate (makes > if 'look' more like analog scope, and since I do > need to > use it as a waveform monitor, it is important to me, > and > for nearly the same cost. And for a small increment > (18%) > the MSO series will also do 16 channel logic > analyzer. > > If there is an under $1k scope by Agilent I would > love to know > about it for my home lab. They did just introduce > the > 100Mhz BW MSO 601x series (mixed signal > oscilloscope) as > their lowest end, but there may be something in the > 53xxx > series that is cheaper yet since its a few years > older now. > > I am sure that with the popularity of digital > scopes, there > will be lots of inexpensive analog scopes to be had > and > places like Tuckers and Test Equity (and others). > By spending the extra bucks to buy from a dealer, > you > know you won't be getting a clunker. > What is your time REALLY worth? > > Robert > > > Olin Lathrop wrote: > > > Paul James E. wrote: > > > >> I agree 100%. But the unit is inexpensive > enough and handy enough > >> that I overlook the small inconveniences like > that one and go on > >> about my work. But I do agree it's annoying. > > > > > > I vaguely heard that Agilent came out with a > similar small digital scope for > > under $1000 a few months ago. Also 60MHz > supposedly. Before buying a scope > > like that I'd certainly want to check out the > Agilent offering. Since I'm > > not looking for scope right now, I haven't. Has > anyone else looked into > > this? > > > > > > > ****************************************************************** > > Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, (978) > 742-9014. #1 PIC > > consultant in 2004 program year. > http://www.embedinc.com/products > --

Sorry I do not know. It is just my personal perception that the TDS3032 is quite bad. Maybe it is because of the application. The HP54600 is also not very good compare to higher-end scopes but it is at least much better than TDS3032 and it is a much older product. I think they obsoleted some of these lousy scopes as well. Regards, Xiaofan -----Original Message----- From: KILLspampiclist-bouncesKILLspammit.edu Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 3:02 PM To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. Subject: RE: [EE] Time to buy a new scope Chen, Is the TDS 1xxx also that bad? I am looking at it for my personal use. John

>Sorry I do not know. It is just my personal >perception that the TDS3032 is quite bad. Hmm, I have an original (not B series) TDS3034, and I quite like it. But I do not personally like the current series of Agilent scopes, I find them not ideal ergonomically. Having said that the TDS3xxx does have its own ergonomic problems. Having only one set of controls that gets switched between all channels is a bit of a bugbear. The TDS2024 that I also have is nicer with separate controls for each channel. Both models could do with more trace storage memory - which is an area that Agilent seem to have done nicely (at least with the particular one I have access to around here), allowing one to take a nice trace and expand it out to look at a single pulse without loosing resolution on the screen. If Tektronix did this with their machines they would be a lot nicer.

On 11/23/05, Alan B. Pearce <RemoveMEA.B.PearceTakeThisOuTrl.ac.uk> wrote: > >Sorry I do not know. It is just my personal > >perception that the TDS3032 is quite bad. > > Hmm, I have an original (not B series) TDS3034, and I quite like it. But I > do not personally like the current series of Agilent scopes, I find them not > ideal ergonomically. What I can say, I have a Lecroy LT262 350MHz/1GS/s but when I need to measure noises, I go back to Philips PM200 or to an antique russian scope. What is digitally is good for math signal computation and triggering fancy signals, but when you need to see really small signals without expensive tricks, an analogic scope is the best. Vasile

You can have a look at http://www.candhsales.com too. They sell a lot of surplus stuff, and have several older scopes to choose from. * DISCLAIMER * * No affiliation whatsoever, just a satisfied customer * D. {Quote hidden}>From: "Enrico Schuerrer" <spamBeGoneenricospamBeGonegmx.at> >Reply-To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <TakeThisOuTpiclistEraseMEspam_OUTmit.edu> >To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <RemoveMEpiclistTakeThisOuTmit.edu> >Subject: Re: [EE] Time to buy a new scope >Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 20:08:13 +0100 > >As a fan (and owner) of a Tektronix Scope I want to say that Tek has >"reconditioned products" - which means that you will get a second hand >scope, refurbished and recalibrated up to 70% down the (former) listprice. > >Enrico >{Original Message removed}

On 11/23/05, Vasile Surducan <piclist9EraseME.....gmail.com> wrote: > > What I can say, I have a Lecroy LT262 350MHz/1GS/s but when I need to > measure noises, I go back to Philips PM200 or to an antique russian > scope. > What is digitally is good for math signal computation and triggering > fancy signals, but when you need to see really small signals without > expensive tricks, an analogic scope is the best. > > Vasile > The Lecroy should be quite good. At work I am using the LT264 and I like it. The zoom memory could be bigger though. I was developing a universal power supply (12V-240V DC and 24V-240V AC) powered optic sensor for most of this year and the scope proved to be very good. Of course this is not cheap and should not be recommended to hobbyists. I do not know about PM200. I used to use a digital/analog Fluke/Philips scope and it is pretty bad as well (slightly better than the TDS3032 but much worse than the HP54600B). By the way, one of the HP54600B had an old firmware and we were able to play Tetris on it. Just need to press one or two buttons when power up and we could select the game option. That was in the year 1999. Later when we sent it out for caliberation, they changed the firmware and removed the game. The HP54600B probably is one of the best budget scope in the 1990's. It is still servicable now. TDS3xx/5xx should be better but they must be more expensive than HP54600B. Regards, Xiaofan

Surely they must be better than the ones with PMS <duck> Cheerful regards, Bob {Quote hidden}>>I do not know about PM200. I used to use a digital/analog >>Fluke/Philips scope and it is pretty bad as well > > I don't know about other folk, but I find that I just cannot get on with > any > of the Philips/Fluke instruments that have PM as the leading characters in > the model number. These are all instruments that came from the Philips > part > of the fold, and the continental mind set in how they expect the > instrument > to work is quite different to mine.

At 06:04 PM 11/22/2005, John Nall wrote: >OK, you clods! You have messed with my mind, and now rather than >straightforwardly ordering a new scope I am bidding on eBay! For a >Tektronix 465. Most likely I will rue the day, although the guy >that is selling it is rated very positively (99.6%) and has a string >of glowing feedbacks about three miles long. Anyway, we shall >see. Of course, I have not yet won the bid. Thanks for all the >good advice. It is always interesting to ask a question on the >piclist, and then wade through the responses to distill out the >wheat from the chaff. (Both "wheat" and "chaff" being relative >terms, of course -- there is no bad advice, only advice that does >not comport with what I want to do). I've been supremely happy with both of the 465 scopes I have. I find I use them far more often than my THS720P digital scope. But: much of my work involves either audio or low level analog signals. The digital scope can't be beat when tracking down glitches or reading a signal that requires either storage or measuring. But it sucks when trying to look at low level analog signals. I'm sure that there are modern digital scopes that work as well as analog scopes these days. I just haven't found one yet. dwayne -- Dwayne Reid <EraseMEdwaynerplanet.eon.net> Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax Celebrating 21 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2005) .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .- `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' Do NOT send unsolicited commercial email to this email address. This message neither grants consent to receive unsolicited commercial email nor is intended to solicit commercial email.