I am looking to buy a good used scope. I am looking for advice on what is
a good model to get. I have seen some Tek 475As which have about a 250MHz
BW and they seem to have a good combination of features for not too high
a price (abt. $200). Is it worth this much? Is this still a useful scope?
When was this model last manufactured?
I would also appreciate it if anyone could point me to a place that sells
used scopes and is reputable.
I like using http://www.ebay.com This is an on line auction service, I have
had good luck with them. Every seller lists his email address for
responding to questions. most of the o-scopes I have seen listed are
from individuals all over the USA. Just search for oscilloscope, and see
what you get. Good luck.
>
> Hello all,
>
> I am looking to buy a good used scope. I am looking for advice on what is
> a good model to get. I have seen some Tek 475As which have about a 250MHz
> BW and they seem to have a good combination of features for not too high
> a price (abt. $200). Is it worth this much? Is this still a useful scope?
> When was this model last manufactured?
>
> I would also appreciate it if anyone could point me to a place that sells
> used scopes and is reputable.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sean
>I am looking to buy a good used scope. I am looking for advice on what is
>a good model to get. I have seen some Tek 475As which have about a 250MHz
>BW and they seem to have a good combination of features for not too high
>a price (abt. $200). Is it worth this much? Is this still a useful scope?
>When was this model last manufactured?
Sean - if you can get a good working 475A for $200, run as fast as you can
to get one before they get all snapped up. WHERE?!? ** I ** want one for
myself at that price!
The 475 is a workhorse and is easily as useful today as when it was new.
Sean Breheny wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> I am looking to buy a good used scope. I am looking for advice on what is
> a good model to get. I have seen some Tek 475As which have about a 250MHz
> BW and they seem to have a good combination of features for not too high
> a price (abt. $200). Is it worth this much? Is this still a useful scope?
> When was this model last manufactured?
>
> I would also appreciate it if anyone could point me to a place that sells
> used scopes and is reputable.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sean
sean,
i have owned a tek575a for about 12 years or so. i would not sell it
for $200. i still use it quite often.
i am about to purchase a tek portable with lcd and will keep the 575a
for a while.
i agree with one of the other postings. if you can get a 575a for $200
and it works ok (crt is bright), buy it before someone else does. you
should be able to use it for a couple of years and still make a few
dollars on it.
It's a very good scope, and is *much* better than any new ones you are
likely to be able to afford. I wish I'd bought one, rather than the Tek
2225 I'm using, which I bought new a few years ago.
> >I am looking to buy a good used scope. I am looking for advice on what is
> >a good model to get. I have seen some Tek 475As which have about a 250MHz
> >BW and they seem to have a good combination of features for not too high
> >a price (abt. $200). Is it worth this much? Is this still a useful scope?
> >When was this model last manufactured?
>
>
> Sean - if you can get a good working 475A for $200, run as fast as you can
> to get one before they get all snapped up. WHERE?!? ** I ** want one for
> myself at that price!
>
> The 475 is a workhorse and is easily as useful today as when it was new.
>
> dwayne
>
>
> Dwayne Reid <EraseMEdwaynerspam_OUTTakeThisOuTplanet.eon.net>
> Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA
> (403) 489-3199 voice (403) 487-6397 fax
>
Sean, if you can get a Tek 475 in good condition for $200, `jump on it'!
Around three years ago I bought a 465B with a DM44 for around $500 and that
was a bargain. Tek is based here in Portland, OR and I bought this from a
former Tek engineer that sells a lot of used Tek scopes. There is a lot of
support for these scopes that are no longer in production. Former employees
are doing a fairly good business selling used scopes, parts, and manuals.
The major exception is the CRT. You will have to go to Tek for that and it
costs a small `fortune'... If the 475 has a bright display and good focus,
I would'nt hesitate. You can order service and operator manuals from a well
known local who's been dealing with this for several decades. They cost
around $30. If you do buy the scope and need manuals, leave e-mail and I'll
get his number.
>Hello all,
>
>I am looking to buy a good used scope. I am looking for advice on what is
>a good model to get. I have seen some Tek 475As which have about a 250MHz
>BW and they seem to have a good combination of features for not too high
>a price (abt. $200). Is it worth this much? Is this still a useful scope?
>When was this model last manufactured?
>
>I would also appreciate it if anyone could point me to a place that sells
>used scopes and is reputable.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Sean
>
>
THanks for all your advice. I have several places in consideration which
sell Tek 475s. I will probably buy from one of them in the next few days.
>From your recomendations, it sounds like it would be the perfect scope
for my needs. I'll let you all know how it turns out. BTW, even though I
am almost set on the 475, I might still consider others. WHat are your
opinions of the Tek 7000 series benchtop scopes?
> Sean, if you can get a Tek 475 in good condition for $200, `jump on it'!
> Around three years ago I bought a 465B with a DM44 for around $500 and that
> was a bargain. Tek is based here in Portland, OR and I bought this from a
> former Tek engineer that sells a lot of used Tek scopes. There is a lot of
> support for these scopes that are no longer in production. Former employees
> are doing a fairly good business selling used scopes, parts, and manuals.
> The major exception is the CRT. You will have to go to Tek for that and it
> costs a small `fortune'... If the 475 has a bright display and good focus,
> I would'nt hesitate. You can order service and operator manuals from a well
> known local who's been dealing with this for several decades. They cost
> around $30. If you do buy the scope and need manuals, leave e-mail and I'll
> get his number.
>
> - Tom
>
> At 07:00 PM 7/23/98 -0400, Sean wrote:
> >Hello all,
> >
> >I am looking to buy a good used scope. I am looking for advice on what is
> >a good model to get. I have seen some Tek 475As which have about a 250MHz
> >BW and they seem to have a good combination of features for not too high
> >a price (abt. $200). Is it worth this much? Is this still a useful scope?
> >When was this model last manufactured?
> >
> >I would also appreciate it if anyone could point me to a place that sells
> >used scopes and is reputable.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Sean
> >
> >
>
> THanks for all your advice. I have several places in consideration
> which sell Tek 475s. I will probably buy from one of them in the
> next few days. From your recomendations, it sounds like it would be
> the perfect scope for my needs. I'll let you all know how it turns
> out. BTW, even though I am almost set on the 475, I might still
> consider others. WHat are your opinions of the Tek 7000 series
> benchtop scopes?
Big, versatile, heavy, lots of plug-ins available including spectrum
analyzers, etc. Great performance, but you'll have to mortgage
your house <g> if the CRT ever dies.
After seeing your comments about the Tek 7000 series, I am considering
getting one of these. Has anyone had good or bad experiences with a
company called Wid Industries http://www.widind.com?
I tried a low-cost probe, and the hook pulled out the first time I used
it. The probe was replaced, and the same thing happened. After three
replacements, I gave up and got a refund. The Tek probes supplied with
my Tek scope about 10 years ago are still going strong.
USUALLY, you don't get what you don't pay for but you also don't get as
much as you pay for when you pay more. (Law of diminishing returns).
I have a gaggle of scopes from 10MHz Trio to 100 MHz Tektronics
The cheapo but robust 10 MHz Trio probes I bought 18 + years ago are still
about as good as new.
The oldish 100MHz Tektronix probes I have are mechanically good but the
cables have gone nastily stiff with age - The old thick trio leads are now
stiffer than the Tek leads - shame on you Tek!
I suggest:
1. Ensure the mechanical construction is adequate for your use (regardless
of price).
2. Try the probe out on a known signal at the upper end of its claimed
range.
If you can get an eg Tek probe and a cheapy side by side all the better.
I have a Tek pulse generator which does this well - a 100MHz square wave
may be a little hard to come by but would be ideal. Note rise time,
overshoot, ringing, response (-3dB?) (remembering the scope will also be
sagging here if it is a 100 MHz one). All 100 MHz probes will be able to be
"tuned" - see how well the probe can be matched to the scope. Less easily
measureable will be loss of probe & cable, impedance match of cable to
probe etc (probably not major).
If the probe performed OK at its top end I would be happy enough to use it
if it was suitably cheap. Scopes are traditionally +/- 5 to 10% devices
(*perhaps* better with modern digital techniques).
> >probes 100MHz x1/x10 switchable for $30? Are these probably just junk?
>
> I tried a low-cost probe, and the hook pulled out the first time I used
> it. The probe was replaced, and the same thing happened. After three
> replacements, I gave up and got a refund. The Tek probes supplied with
> my Tek scope about 10 years ago are still going strong.
>
> Leon
> --
> Leon Heller: leonEraseME.....lfheller.demon.co.ukhttp://www.lfheller.demon.co.uk
> Amateur Radio Callsign G1HSM Tel: +44 (0) 118 947 1424
> See http://www.lfheller.demon.co.uk/dds.htm for details of a simple
AD9850
> DDS system. See " "/diy_dsp.htm for a simple DIY DSP ADSP-2104 system.
Thanks for all your advice. I just bought a 7904 frame, 7A26, and 7B53A
today. It should ship tomorrow. I also got a cheap $30 probe. I'll try it
out and get better ones if I am not satisfied.
When I receive the scope, If I have any problems, I'll let you know so
you know who not to buy from!
> In message <EraseMEPine.SOL.3.91.980727180446.3895Ctravelers.mail.cornell.edu>>
> , Sean Breheny <RemoveMEshb7EraseMEEraseMECORNELL.EDU> writes
> >Hello again,
> >
> >I am sorry to take up more BW, but the scope newbie needs help again!
> >
> >How important is it to get name brand scope probes? I have seen new generic
> >probes 100MHz x1/x10 switchable for $30? Are these probably just junk?
>
> I tried a low-cost probe, and the hook pulled out the first time I used
> it. The probe was replaced, and the same thing happened. After three
> replacements, I gave up and got a refund. The Tek probes supplied with
> my Tek scope about 10 years ago are still going strong.
>
> Leon
> --
> Leon Heller: RemoveMEleonspam_OUTKILLspamlfheller.demon.co.ukhttp://www.lfheller.demon.co.uk
> Amateur Radio Callsign G1HSM Tel: +44 (0) 118 947 1424
> See http://www.lfheller.demon.co.uk/dds.htm for details of a simple AD9850
> DDS system. See " "/diy_dsp.htm for a simple DIY DSP ADSP-2104 system.
>
onre more quick thing: When I originally said that I had found a working
Tek 475 for $200, that was the current highest bid at an auction at http://www.ebay.com The highest bid now is at $295 and there is one day
left, and high bidding activity.
>I tried a low-cost probe, and the hook pulled out the first time I used
>it. The probe was replaced, and the same thing happened. After three
>replacements, I gave up and got a refund. The Tek probes supplied with
>my Tek scope about 10 years ago are still going strong.
>
>Leon
>--
Can you believe that the same thing happened with my Tektronix two probes
that came with my TDS210? That's true.
I believe you and everybody should notice, the new series of TEK scopes not
the same quality as the old ones.
That is why poeple still paying lot of many for reconditioned old ones.
planet.eon.net>
