How often do you use your Oscilloscope?

[murphy625]

I work with servo's and cnc machines as a hobby or for work, and I use my scope..

1. Everyday.
2. Once in a while.
3. Once in a year.
4. Almost never.

I am in the "process" of cosidering a scope. I have a general idea of what I want to spend but am wondering if I will really need it all that much or if component swapping will be enough to troubleshoot to my requirements.

Thanks,

[Dr.H]

im into electronics and i work with machines that cut lenses for glasses. theses machine are comparable to cnc machines and i dont use scopes very much on them

my recommandation is if you trobleshoot boards that are worth many thousands $$$ get your self a decent scope

if you work with gecko drives and sherlines machines dont spend more than 100$ for a scope

at home i have a scope thats older than me and it's pretty up to the job for hobby stuff

[Fred in NC]

The staff at the thrift shop had no idea what it was, and priced the scope at $20, probes and all. It is an older 40 MHZ unit but works perfectly. I use it with timing signals.

[murphy625]

Originally Posted by Fred in NC The staff at the thrift shop had no idea what it was, and priced the scope at $20, probes and all. It is an older 40 MHZ unit but works perfectly. I use it with timing signals.

I tried that.. A couple of pawn shops had them but they were unknown brands that I could not find information for.. And they wanted to much money.

Murphy

[pminmo]

You can get a pretty good analog scope on Ebay these days, cheap! I've seen 100mhz Tektronics that used to go new for 5 grand go for under $200. For 50 or 60 bucks you can get a 60mhz dual trace without much effort. Hitachi, B&K, Philips to name a few.

Phil

[murphy625]

I got one!

Tektronix 465B with manual and probes. Seller has 99.9% pos feedback with almost 2000 transactions selling stuff just like this. He said it works perfect and has a calibration sticker good to mid 2006.
I paid $130 for it + shipping !! It ended in the very early morning hours so I had little competition bidding on it..

Murphy

[ESjaavik]

Good deal Murphy!
Now just learn how to use it.

We just bought a Fluke 196C, and I'm really disappointed! Especially with the support, it su**s. No way are the trusty old Tektronix going to be taken away from my workbench! If it tells lies, I can usually find the reason sitting on my chair.

[murphy625]

Originally Posted by ESjaavik Good deal Murphy! Now just learn how to use it. We just bought a Fluke 196C, and I'm really disappointed! Especially with the support, it su**s. No way are the trusty old Tektronix going to be taken away from my workbench! If it tells lies, I can usually find the reason sitting on my chair.

I am pretty familiar with them.... I used to be a PMEL (Presicion Measurement Electronics Lab) technician in the Air Force.. (later changed to TMDE as Test Measurements and Diagnostics Equipment).
In fact, I think my 465B is one of the models I used to fix.. Its been 20 years since I touched anything that shows a waveform but it took me less than 5 minutes to remember it all...

Fluke usually makes good stuff.. What's wrong with yours?

Murphy

[ESjaavik]

Originally Posted by murphy625 Fluke usually makes good stuff.. What's wrong with yours? Murphy

It came with a dead accumulator. They sent me a new one (somewhat) promptly, but to me it indicates it was an old-on-the shelf unit. And my suspicion was later reinforced.

Then on an exhibition just some months later, I find that the most recent model have some of the features I'm used to on my (privately owned) old ITT digital scope. (You can tell by the name it's old!) but the one I bought have not. And guess what! They can upgrade the firmware in the one bought just months earlier for the equivalent of about $500! I really get p***ed when they sell us yesterdays news and want to "milk" us for more to bring it up to date. As a comparison I (again privately) delivered my Nikon digicam in for a firmware update and was moderately charged only for the time used. That is what I expect for paying a bit more for a "brand name" product. I'd buy Nikon again no doubt, expensive, but worth every penny.

This is just a couple of the wrong's with it. Bottom line is that as the technical manager of our company, any purchase request for a Fluke will be returned with a question if other possible brands have been properly considered. Our instrument budget probably don't impress Fluke, but if you include my network, I hope it can change the picture. If you worked in US Defence, I guess they listened carefully to what worried you.

The only really positive I've seen, is that the local representative at the mentioned exhibition really knew her product and how to use it to get the most out of it. But Tektronix and others also have capable staff.

Now this may be a local problem, although I believe in most cases "milking customers" is a company policy. So to be sure, get your references locally. It's your first level support that matters when you need it.

And "locally" to me is the Scandinavian market.

[Mariss Freimanis]

I use scopes daily and it's Tektronix all the way. 465Bs, 2247As, a TDS360 and a TDS3014B. Probes are Tektronix as well; bunches of P6109Bs, P3101s and a pair of TCP202 Hall-effect DC-50MHz current probes. There is nothing more irritating than junk probes when you are working. Tek probes are expensive but they are good.

Mariss

[MILLMANM]

I use my scope once a year , about the end of November,
That Buck is out there someware.
Just could not resist
Brad

[cool-it]

I just reading this and though someone mite know about what I have had for about 8 mo. . I picked up these at an auction can any of you guys tell me if there any good and what they would be used for ? and maybe what there worth ?

Nicolet 4094B
HP 1980 B
Tectronix 475A with a DM44
Tecteonix 466 with a DM44
They were suposed to all be working.

thanks if anyone can help ! Dave