Suggestions for a good used oscilloscope

I've bought 2 scopes off Ebay.. So far positive view and feeling lucky.

Your bids might be competing with power resellers who flip for profit. Check Craigslist first then Ebay..

I've got an "Iwatsu" dual-trace 100MHz scope that the Great Pumpkin left for me in the dumpster one day, that's for sale now. It's got A and B sweeps, whose trigger inputs can double as signal inputs for four traces (in lieu of trigger inputs, although I think you can trigger on them anyway.) It has a look and feel much like a Tek, and a freq. counter and DVM on top; the counter seems to work, but DMV doesn't; that's not a big deal, because of the vertical cal, which you can eyeball to 5% at worst, maybe even 3, and who doesn't have a couple of hand-held DVMs these days?

What would you be willing to offer me, and where are you? I have no idea what the shipping would be. I'm in Whittier, CA. zip 90606.

Thanks, Rich

That can be said for any transaction anywhere. If you go to fly-by-night-co, and pay 4 times too much, there is no guarantee that the sovietstyle scope you just bought is going to last a whole day or that seller or maker will be in business tomorrow.

Check the seller's feedback. I've done 200 transactions on ebay and only gotten burned once and paypal gave me my money back.

D from BC wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

WRT TEK scopes;

#1.Check TEK's Long Term Product Support(LTPS) list first; you may find your prospective purchase is out of support and no parts available.

#2. TDS series scopes did not have manuals containing component level schematics,and were supported by module exchange or "repair and return",and NOT an option for out-of-support instruments.TEK -scraps- the modules once the LTPS period is past.

#3. any parts marked 155-xxxx-xx are TEK-made ICs and no longer made,no longer stocked,and no substitutes.TEK no longer makes 234-xxxx-xx and 165- xxxx-xx hybrids either.Those production lines were sold off and long gone. your only source is "parts scopes".

Very viable, you just have to know what you are buying, and willing to accept the risk that it might have a problem.

You pay a lot more for a scope from a reputable test equipment dealer who has checked the scope and offer a right of return, than if you get it from someone who says "know nothing about these things, I plugged it in and it lights up, sold as-is".

If it's shown displaying basic waveforms OK then your odds are much higher you'll get a winner.

You can often get two "dodgy" ones for the price of one guaranteed one, you feeling luck, punk? :->

People will usually bid like crazy on Tek gear, a bit less so on HP, and much less again on say a Philips or other brand. You might bet better band-per-buck with a lesser brand.

Dave.

You just have to be willing to be patient. I got a beautiful TDS744 for $850 including shipping earlier this year.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

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Reminds me of the biker rallies and gun shows I frequent.

Unfortunately no used oscilloscopes there. ;

snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

nd

You make some good points.

So for used Tek scopes, what model lines are yet supported that one can buy used?

TMT

You Yanks have it so good. We have buckleys chance of getting good old gear off Ebay in Oz, the freight is a killer. And hardly any good gear comes up for sale within Oz anyway, and when it does it's insanely priced compared to US based prices.

Dave.

I'm actually a Canuck--born in Vancouver, though I've lived in the US more than half my life at this point. I used to grouse about the same thing when I was still up there. There are a few things that are way better in Canada, though, such as Purdy's chocolates--they leave Godiva et al. in the dust. You should come on an equipment buying trip once you've made your fortune--we could scrape together a few guys and have a great time over a beer or ten.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Analog or digital? Number of channels? Bandwidth required? If digital, sampling rate?

That being said, I have a few scopes for sale:

HP 54542C with a full set of manuals (programming, service, and user) and two 10441 passive probes $1400

Tek TDS540 $800

Tek TDS524A $900

Lecroy 9374M with built in printer and WP01 and WP02 soft options $1400

If interested, shoot me an email at 66gtojayw AT comcast.net