Oscilloscope

[hardhackers]

Hi All

I want to purchase a new Oscilloscope with a maximum frequesncy limit
of 30MHZ (20-50MHz). I'm looking PC Attached type, like USB or
Parallel.

I want some advice for to procure best cost efficent scope


rgds
Sree

 

[Dr. Anton T. Squeegee]

Hi All

I want to purchase a new Oscilloscope with a maximum frequesncy limit
of 30MHZ (20-50MHz). I'm looking PC Attached type, like USB or
Parallel.

I want some advice for to procure best cost efficent scope

If you're serious about your test gear, I think you would do much
better to find an older Tektronix 7000 series. Something like an SC504
(80MHz) or 7603 (100MHz).

Note that with the SC504, you will also need a Tek TM500 or 5000
series instrument enclosure to run it. The good news there is that both
are pretty cheap these days, and you can plug other TM5xx instruments
into them as well.

With the 7603, you will also need a timebase plug-in (7B50 would do
nicely) and a vertical amp (7A26, plentiful and cheap). All should be
readily available from surplus electronic sources such as ham radio swap
meets, Ebay, etc.

Contrary to what the computer makers of the world would like you to
believe, the PC is not the be-all and end-all for electronic test
equipment. Far from it, in fact.

Happy hunting.

 

[Charles Schuler]

Hi All

I want to purchase a new Oscilloscope with a maximum frequesncy limit
of 30MHZ (20-50MHz). I'm looking PC Attached type, like USB or
Parallel.

I want some advice for to procure best cost efficent scope

Can't really advise you without knowing how will use it. For general
purpose work, you don't need a PC type.

Questions:

1/ Why new?
2/ Would a small, portable unit serve your needs?
3/ How many channels?
4/ Digital scopes are tricky and analog scopes (new) are tough to find.

I'd consider a good, used, analog Tek, assuming I had the means to return it
if it was not in good condition. I don't like some of the digital scopes
that are out there now.

 

[Maxwell McHamster]

Contrary to what the computer makers of the world would like you to
believe, the PC is not the be-all and end-all for electronic test
equipment. Far from it, in fact.

I agree completely, I would not even TOUCH a "Pc-dependent"
test-instrument because in a few years time...the port
that is uses...OR the software will still depend on that
old Operating system you used when you bought it and all of
a sudden your PC-scope is obsolete just after 4-5 years!

If you purchase a test-instrument (stand-alone) it will
most likely last you 20 years or longer and it will do excactly
the same job it did for you when it was brand new - ready -
on stand by for YOU when YOU need it, and no booting
time or annoying incompatibility issues.

My whole hobby workshop is filled with such standalone
instruments - never regret it so far!

What Dr. Anton says - is 100 % true - go for the real thing,
you may even find its a lot cheaper too!

 

[Jim Yanik]

If you're serious about your test gear, I think you would do much
better to find an older Tektronix 7000 series. Something like an SC504
(80MHz) or 7603 (100MHz).

Note that with the SC504, you will also need a Tek TM500 or 5000
series instrument enclosure to run it. The good news there is that both
are pretty cheap these days, and you can plug other TM5xx instruments
into them as well.

With the 7603, you will also need a timebase plug-in (7B50 would do
nicely) and a vertical amp (7A26, plentiful and cheap). All should be
readily available from surplus electronic sources such as ham radio swap
meets, Ebay, etc.

Contrary to what the computer makers of the world would like you to
believe, the PC is not the be-all and end-all for electronic test
equipment. Far from it, in fact.

Happy hunting.

IMO,the SC504 is a piece of useless crap.
It's display is too small for anything other than monitoring.
It has no BW limit,and you get too much noise picked up,especially
considering the small graticule.
It's not the sharpest CRT beam,either.

He'd be better off buying a T932/935 or a 442 (35Mhz) scope than a SC504.
Even better; a 2235 100Mhz scope.
Any of those would also be more maintainable than the SC504.
And FAR better "cost-effectively".


For 7K mainframes;
7603 is a good choice,7704A or 7904/A better.
7A26 is the best of the 1MegZ 7K vertical plug-ins.
It has a 20 Mhz BW limit switch.

AVOID 7300,7400,7500 series!!

 

[Heinz Schmitz]

I agree. However, the charm of a PC-based instrument ist the
availabilitiy of the data on the PC for further processing.
One way to get close to this e.g. with a stand-alone scope is
to photograph the screen with a digital camera and to work on
with the jpg file.
Or to combine a real good digitizer with a cheap old scope.

Regards,
H.

 

[Marthein Plat]

Hi Sree,

Have a look at http://www.tiepie.com . TiePie engineering is a Dutch company
that manufactures many different PC-based oscilloscopes.

Since you are looking for a USB-scope, I think you will find the Handyscope
HS3, HS4 and HS4 DIFF interesting. See:
http://www.tiepie.com/uk/products/External_Instruments/USB_Oscilloscope.html

Best regards,

Marthein

 

[Maxwell McHamster]

I agree. However, the charm of a PC-based instrument ist the
availabilitiy of the data on the PC for further processing.
One way to get close to this e.g. with a stand-alone scope is
to photograph the screen with a digital camera and to work on
with the jpg file.

Even better...
A Scope with a Gpib/Rs-232/usb interface so you
have "both" the instrument itself independent
of any pc...but if you ever need it - you can
record them to PC anytime because of the interface.

In fact...most of my standalone instruments have this.

 

[Andreas Tekman]

Jim Yanik schrieb:

IMO,the SC504 is a piece of useless crap.
It's display is too small for anything other than monitoring.
It has no BW limit,and you get too much noise picked up,especially
considering the small graticule.
It's not the sharpest CRT beam,either.

He'd be better off buying a T932/935 or a 442 (35Mhz) scope than a SC504.
Even better; a 2235 100Mhz scope.
Any of those would also be more maintainable than the SC504.
And FAR better "cost-effectively".


For 7K mainframes;
7603 is a good choice,7704A or 7904/A better.
7A26 is the best of the 1MegZ 7K vertical plug-ins.
It has a 20 Mhz BW limit switch.

AVOID 7300,7400,7500 series!!

Well, the SC504 is worth to consider if you are fond of the TM500
series idea. The SC plugin fits nicely as a plugin. If you need a
simple scope and small space is a reqirement, SC504 and 502 are the
ones to think about.

But for a serious wjob, you're better of with a 7xxx or 2xxx series.
Sharper trace, easier to repair, more efficient work. The 7xxx here
around are so incredible cheap to buy nowadays, and offer so much
flexibity for working. If you have the space, to place such an
instrument, it's really worth buying it. It'll serve you for years, and
it's always a pleasure to do measurements with such a fine scope.

The T9xx are the plastic (vacuum cleaner apperance) scopes. It's a
matter of taste. surely not the best scopes Tektronix ever made, but
for hobby use more than adequate.


hth,
Andreas

 

[Jim Yanik]

Jim Yanik schrieb:




Well, the SC504 is worth to consider if you are fond of the TM500
series idea.

A Good idea,EXCEPT for scopes.

The SC plugin fits nicely as a plugin. If you need a
simple scope and small space is a reqirement, SC504 and 502 are the
ones to think about.

SC502 15 Mhz,IIRC.
But the graticule is still TOO SMALL for any useful work.
To be honest,I think I'd rather have a PC based scope than a SC5xx scope.

But for a serious wjob, you're better of with a 7xxx or 2xxx series.
Sharper trace, easier to repair, more efficient work. The 7xxx here
around are so incredible cheap to buy nowadays, and offer so much
flexibity for working. If you have the space, to place such an
instrument, it's really worth buying it. It'll serve you for years,
and it's always a pleasure to do measurements with such a fine scope.

But getting harder to maintain,full of TEK-made ICs.Switch contacts are
going to be a problem;the HF cam sw. contacts will eventually degrade.I've
already heard of the gold contacts falling off the spring beam,because the
white plastic cam follower crumbled.

The T9xx are the plastic (vacuum cleaner apperance) scopes. It's a
matter of taste. surely not the best scopes Tektronix ever made, but
for hobby use more than adequate.


hth,
Andreas

The T900's are the most serviceable;they don't use any TEK-made ICs,the
attenuator contacts are one strip that can be removed for cleaning.If one
resolders the cracked solder joints from the case flexing,then they are
nice beginner scopes. Good size CRT graticule.
And very inexpensive!