Oscilloscope

In article , snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com (known to some as hardhackers) scribed...

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.

--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, KC7GR)
http://www.bluefeathertech.com -- kyrrin a/t bluefeathertech d-o=t calm
"Salvadore Dali's computer has surreal ports..."

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.

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!

Dr. Anton T. Squeegee wrote in news:MPG.20156bb61a49d088989711@192.168.42.197:

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!!

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

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.

Hi Sree,

Have a look at

. 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:

Best regards,

Marthein

"hardhackers" schreef in bericht news: snipped-for-privacy@51g2000cwl.googlegroups.com...

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.

Jim Yanik schrieb:

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

"Andreas Tekman" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

A Good idea,EXCEPT for scopes.

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 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 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!

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net