Post by thread:[OT]: budget oscilloscope?

Lots of talk about really nice oscilloscopes on the list, but they are all out of my range. I'd like to get a very basic scope to use for fairly simple electronics projects, perhaps something in the ~$100 price (on eBay)... Scopes sell for that price, but I'm sure that there were some great scopes as well as a few dogs built back in the 80s. Without intending to set off a religious battle, what are some of the classic scopes that might be going for low prices now? There seem to be lots of Tektronix out there, but are other brands (Hitachi?) good? What about well-regarded model numbers? I'd like to have a few models to search for and then just look until I find a good one. Any thoughts or considerations would be greatly appreciated. cheers, mike -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList spam_OUTpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

The late model Tek 453's are supposed to be pretty decent scopes. 50MHz, two-channel, built throughout the 70's. All solid state - no tubes except the display tube (watch out for some early models - they had tubes). I just got one off of Ebay, recently calibrated (2001), one probe, lots of accessories, works fine, decent cosmetic shape, seems to work fine, for $80. It seems like the 453's come up on Ebay pretty often for really cheap. Just watch out for dogs/lemons. TTYL! - Robert Michael O'Donnell wrote: {Quote hidden}> Lots of talk about really nice oscilloscopes on the list, but they are all > out of my range. I'd like to get a very basic scope to use for fairly > simple electronics projects, perhaps something in the ~$100 price (on > eBay)... > > Scopes sell for that price, but I'm sure that there were some great scopes > as well as a few dogs built back in the 80s. > > Without intending to set off a religious battle, what are some of the > classic scopes that might be going for low prices now? There seem to be > lots of Tektronix out there, but are other brands (Hitachi?) good? What > about well-regarded model numbers? I'd like to have a few models to search > for and then just look until I find a good one. > > Any thoughts or considerations would be greatly appreciated. > > cheers, > mike -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList .....piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspam@spam@mitvma.mit.edu

I too am after a budget 'scope... How long do solid state 'scopes tend to hold their calibration? (I know; leading question). If, say, one was calibrated in the past five years, is it likely to be okay for hobbyist use? -marc On Mon, 19 Jul 2004, Robert Ussery wrote: {Quote hidden}> The late model Tek 453's are supposed to be pretty decent scopes. 50MHz, > two-channel, built throughout the 70's. All solid state - no tubes > except the display tube (watch out for some early models - they had > tubes). I just got one off of Ebay, recently calibrated (2001), one > probe, lots of accessories, works fine, decent cosmetic shape, seems to > work fine, for $80. It seems like the 453's come up on Ebay pretty often > for really cheap. Just watch out for dogs/lemons. > > TTYL! > > - Robert > > Michael O'Donnell wrote: >> Lots of talk about really nice oscilloscopes on the list, but they are all >> out of my range. I'd like to get a very basic scope to use for fairly >> simple electronics projects, perhaps something in the ~$100 price (on >> eBay)... >> >> Scopes sell for that price, but I'm sure that there were some great scopes >> as well as a few dogs built back in the 80s. >> >> Without intending to set off a religious battle, what are some of the >> classic scopes that might be going for low prices now? There seem to be >> lots of Tektronix out there, but are other brands (Hitachi?) good? What >> about well-regarded model numbers? I'd like to have a few models to >> search >> for and then just look until I find a good one. >> >> Any thoughts or considerations would be greatly appreciated. >> >> cheers, >> mike > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspammitvma.mit.edu > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList .....piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspam.....mitvma.mit.edu

Tek 465 is excellent. Bob Ammerman RAm Systems ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Ussery" <EraseMEuavsciencespam_OUTTakeThisOuTFRII.COM> To: <PICLISTspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 6:31 PM Subject: Re: [OT]: budget oscilloscope? {Quote hidden}> The late model Tek 453's are supposed to be pretty decent scopes. 50MHz, > two-channel, built throughout the 70's. All solid state - no tubes > except the display tube (watch out for some early models - they had > tubes). I just got one off of Ebay, recently calibrated (2001), one > probe, lots of accessories, works fine, decent cosmetic shape, seems to > work fine, for $80. It seems like the 453's come up on Ebay pretty often > for really cheap. Just watch out for dogs/lemons. > > TTYL! > > - Robert > > Michael O'Donnell wrote: > > Lots of talk about really nice oscilloscopes on the list, but they are all > > out of my range. I'd like to get a very basic scope to use for fairly > > simple electronics projects, perhaps something in the ~$100 price (on > > eBay)... > > > > Scopes sell for that price, but I'm sure that there were some great scopes > > as well as a few dogs built back in the 80s. > > > > Without intending to set off a religious battle, what are some of the > > classic scopes that might be going for low prices now? There seem to be > > lots of Tektronix out there, but are other brands (Hitachi?) good? What > > about well-regarded model numbers? I'd like to have a few models to search {Quote hidden}> > for and then just look until I find a good one. > > > > Any thoughts or considerations would be greatly appreciated. > > > > cheers, > > mike > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > @spam@piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspammitvma.mit.edu > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList KILLspampiclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspammitvma.mit.edu

> I too am after a budget 'scope... > > How long do solid state 'scopes tend to hold their calibration? (I know; > leading question). If, say, one was calibrated in the past five years, is > it likely to be okay for hobbyist use? > Yep. Bob Ammerman RAm Systems -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList RemoveMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

Michael O'Donnell wrote: > Lots of talk about really nice oscilloscopes on the list, but they are all > out of my range. I'd like to get a very basic scope to use for fairly > simple electronics projects, perhaps something in the ~$100 price (on > eBay)... > > Scopes sell for that price, but I'm sure that there were some great scopes > as well as a few dogs built back in the 80s. > > Without intending to set off a religious battle, what are some of the > classic scopes that might be going for low prices now? There seem to be > lots of Tektronix out there, but are other brands (Hitachi?) good? What > about well-regarded model numbers? I'd like to have a few models to search > for and then just look until I find a good one. > > Any thoughts or considerations would be greatly appreciated. I have an HP 1220A two channel 20MHz and it works great for me. I paid about $60 on eBay. -- -- Martin Klingensmith http://infoarchive.net/ http://nnytech.net/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList spamBeGonepiclist-unsubscribe-requestspamBeGonemitvma.mit.edu

I was a calibration and repair (component level) tech for 20-30 years. Tektronix for high frequency (>10 Mhz), HP for low frequency (audio, <10Mhz); are the best. Tek and HP had better mechanical construction, better switches, and better triggering circuits. They tend to stay in spec unless abused. Most also have minimal amplitude and timebase calibrators built in. Frequency response is more difficult (expensive) to check/adjust. Other brands were often unreliable (switches noisy, triggers difficult to adjust, etc). For general troubleshooting, 10-20 Mhz is OK. For digital circuits, 100 Mhz or more; is needed. It is important to remember; test equipment that cannot be trusted to give accurate and reliable information, will cost more time and frustration than not having test equipment at all. Michael O'Donnell wrote: {Quote hidden}> Lots of talk about really nice oscilloscopes on the list, but they are > all > out of my range. I'd like to get a very basic scope to use for fairly > simple electronics projects, perhaps something in the ~$100 price (on > eBay)... > > Scopes sell for that price, but I'm sure that there were some great > scopes > as well as a few dogs built back in the 80s. > > Without intending to set off a religious battle, what are some of the > classic scopes that might be going for low prices now? There seem to be > lots of Tektronix out there, but are other brands (Hitachi?) good? What > about well-regarded model numbers? I'd like to have a few models to > search > for and then just look until I find a good one. > > Any thoughts or considerations would be greatly appreciated. > > cheers, > mike > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > TakeThisOuTpiclist-unsubscribe-requestEraseMEspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList RemoveMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

In message <007601c46e03$80959360$6600a8c0@dell8100> Bob Ammerman <rammermanEraseME.....VERIZON.NET> wrote: > Tek 465 is excellent. So is its big brother, the Tektronix 466 Analogue Storage Scope. Later. -- Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB, EraseMEphilpemdsl.pipex.com | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice, http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/ | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI ... It's not in the manual !!!!! -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

I have a 468, which is the digital storage big brother of the 466. I paid about $150 for mine in mint condition. Works great for me. I'm considering getting the new pocket bitscope because I need a logic analyzer, and the price is more attractive than the full blown bitscope. Regards, Bob {Quote hidden}> > Tek 465 is excellent. > So is its big brother, the Tektronix 466 Analogue Storage Scope. > > Later. > -- > Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, > 6GB, > RemoveMEphilpemEraseMEEraseMEdsl.pipex.com | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice, > http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/ | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI > ... It's not in the manual !!!!! -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

At 10:54 AM 7/20/2004 -0500, Bob J wrote: >I have a 468, which is the digital storage big brother of the 466. I paid about $150 for mine in mint condition. Works great for me. I'm considering getting the new pocket bitscope because I need a logic analyzer, and the price is more attractive than the full blown bitscope. I'm getting good service from my ANT-8 -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

Is Pocket Bitscope any good? That might be an option for me as a primary scope/analyzer/function generator....hmmmm... -marc On Tue, 20 Jul 2004, Bob J wrote: {Quote hidden}> I have a 468, which is the digital storage big brother of the 466. I paid about $150 for mine in mint condition. Works great for me. I'm considering getting the new pocket bitscope because I need a logic analyzer, and the price is more attractive than the full blown bitscope. > > Regards, > Bob > >>> Tek 465 is excellent. >> So is its big brother, the Tektronix 466 Analogue Storage Scope. >> >> Later. >> -- >> Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, >> 6GB, >> RemoveMEphilpemspam_OUTKILLspamdsl.pipex.com | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice, >> http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/ | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI >> ... It's not in the manual !!!!! > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

part 1 622 bytes content-type:text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 (decoded quoted-printable) I was wondering the same thing. I hear lots of opinions that PC-based scopes are a wasted of money, but this thing is attractive to me at least because of the openness of the project. On Tue, Jul 20, 2004 at 12:52:19PM -0400, Marc wrote: > Is Pocket Bitscope any good? That might be an option for me as a primary > scope/analyzer/function generator....hmmmm... -- Ryan Underwood, <RemoveMEnemesisTakeThisOuTspamicequake.net> -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads part 2 190 bytes content-type:application/pgp-signature; name="signature.asc" (decode)