rdf said:
There are folks out there who will fix 2xxx series scopes -- the trick is to buy one which isn't broken in the first place. Look at the sellers feedback and see that they mostly deal in scopes -- not baseball cards or stamps.
I have a word of caution with respect to the 2215 scopes -- the CRT mesh in these is easily deformed (from banging around) and the only fix is a new CRT.
rdf said:
Yes, a 2465 (or A or B) is probably the best portable analog oscillocope ever made.
And yes, you cannot get actual "new" replacement parts, directly from Tektronix, anymore, for (at least) the 2400-series' Tek-custom ICs, some of which were prone to early failure. [Tek sold basically their whole IC operation and basically all of their IC designs to <some well-known IC manufacturer> (was it Maxim, maybe?), who then promptly refused to make them anymore, at the low volumes Tek wanted, killing the 2400-series!]
BUT, ALL of the parts "are" still available, from much-cheaper-than-working-scopes "parts units", if you're lucky (i.e. IF the one you buy for parts didn't die of what you need from it), from places such as ebay.com, or, monthly from http://www.govliquidation.com (where they might even be working units, but still often much cheaper because operational status is typically unknown, which tends to lower the bid prices, unless you're bidding against someone who thinks it's just like ebay), and, for the individual ICs, from dealers such as Sphere (Walter Shawlee, who owns Sphere, is a VERY good guy, too. Recommended.).
And, IF I recall correctly, there was a thread on the TekScopes group, at http://www.yahoogroups.com, a year or two ago, maybe, in which someone in-the-know pointed out either WHICH serial-number ranges OR which chip versions were susceptible to the early-failure problem, and why. It would be in the message archive, there. Or it could be asked again, now, and might be quickly answered by the OP, who was a regular there, at that time at least.
At any rate, knowing enough about THAT situation, one might be able to have more confidence in, say, a used 2465/A/B that they were considering buying (assuming one could ascertain the needed information about the prospective scope's custom IC(s) version(s) etc).
That brings to mind one advantageous "secret" about govliquidation.com: You often can't trust the military's "condition code" that was put on a unit by the person or organization it was "released" by, for sale. But it turns out that SOMETIMES that can be hugely in YOUR favor! e.g. If you actually GO to the warehouse site, during the pre-auction inspection period, you MIGHT get lucky, like I did quite a few times, and find a YELLOW TAG affixed to a piece of equipment that says something like "Unit is perfect. No money for CAL."!!! Eventually, it dawned on me: Budgeting. i.e. If they had NO money in their budget line-item for calibration (which is REQUIRED to be done on a very strict time-schedule, for U.S. Military equipment), but DID have money in their "new equipment" budget line-item... YOU WIN!
And, FWIW, I bought and resold "quite a few" Tektronix 2465, 2465A, and 2465B scopes, for several years, and only heard of one problem, with just a single one of them, which was a rectifier diode failure in the power supply that took only minutes to find and correct (once all of the upper board assemblies were removed, which can be "a bit of fun", the first time you try it [and beware of disconnecting the battery from the "NV"RAM...]).
And, FWIW, back when I was buying large lots of used or surplus scopes, the 2465 family was the ONLY type that never included ANY dead ones, and, in fact, presented no functional problems at all, when received in lots that could not be tested before bidding. Probably they were better-cared-for, by the original owners, than most other models, and they were more worth fixing. I don't know. I also didn't buy nearly as many of the 2465 family, overall. But every other older Tek model-series that I acquired as mil surplus in any significant quantities had DOA rates of about, oh, say, somewhere between 15% and 25%, maybe also depending on how diligent I was, and whether or not I personally inspected them, before bidding. (So, for personal use, probably one should try to buy two or three identical units at a time.) [I just thought of one other nice little secret about govliquidation.com: They usually have some wonderful, large, old power supplies that usually sell for almost nothing (although you might have to buy two or three pallets of them, at a time).]
Additionally, last I heard (a year or more ago), there were some guys on the TekScopes group who had some friends who were considering fabricating reverse-engineered replacements for some of the most-sought "unobtanium" Tek-custom ICs. But I haven't been following that group's message traffic, since then.
The 2465 family is getting relatively cheap, now, anyway, isn't it? I thought I saw 2465 scopes in the $300-$500 range, fairly often, a year or so ago, on ebay. A year or two before that they seemed to usually sell for more like $600+.
ONE more "FWIW": MY OWN Tektronix 2465 (one of my "main" scopes), purchased "used", has been running regularly for eight years or so, here, with no problems whatsoever. (HOW I love that scope! I just wish that I would have kept one of the 2465Bs, instead. Oh well...)
Oh wait! I actually have some stuff that I might be able to brag about, too: <brag> I ALSO LIKE my 500 MHz 7904A, a whole lot. And I like my 475(s), and the 2235M(s), and the 454 and 453, and the 7704, 7844, 7603(s), 7504, 422, 465, 465B, 2225, 2215A, 564, T912(s), and whatever else I still have here (except for the yucky 455(s))... even the old Heathkit IO-18 that I built when I was 12 years old (with its now-surprisingly-valuable Mullard "audio" tubes). Actually, I guess my "scope collection" is still rather large, albeit mostly just left over from my old "resale" inventory. I probably still have AT LEAST twenty or more scopes, (plus a Tek 575 Curve Tracer in perfect working condition), but sometimes almost can't remember which ones don't quite work properly, unless, of course, they're already partially disassembled. ;-) I also still have about a hundred 7000-series plug-ins (probably mostly just plain vertical amps and timebases; wish I'd kept a 7L5 and 7L12), and a few 5000-series mainframes and plugins, plus some TM500-series power supply mainframes and a few plug-ins for those (I like some of the TM500 stuff, a whole lot). I just realized, too, that I ALSO still have my set of TM500-based scope-CALIBRATION equipment, which came from a U.S. Navy Cal Lab (just barely out of their official calibration period, when I got them, which was very short on most cal-lab units). They have been repeatedly compared to many, many other instruments and have always seemed to still be "dead-on". I also have an original service manual for almost every model I own.</brag>
BTW, I'm not trying to sell anything, here. I work fifteen hours a day on "other stuff", now. And I usually don't have the time or much inclination to even check the stuff out, if someone does happen to want to buy it. And I'm probably way too conscientious about packing heavy-yet-fragile equipment so that it could survive a four-foot drop, which made that consume so much time and effort that I eventually developed a dislike of packing-and-shipping larger equipment, which made me tend to dislike even selling such equipment. (Ergo, here's some Free Advice for would-be equipment resellers: "Only buy and resell items that are very small and lightweight and that cost a whole lot.")
Sorry to have blathered-on for so long.
I would not hesitate to buy another 2465/A/B.
- Tom Gootee
http://www.fullnet.com/~tomg/index.html
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gootee said:
Hello...
i have followed the various 3ds on oscilloscopes here on the forum and i finally came out with the desision of buying a Tektronix 467A, payed $200 on ebay which if i'm not wrong should be on the proper range of price.
i was undecided till the end IF a 465/B would have been the right choice or not.
This Tek 467A is not recalibrated unit but the picture were showing the scope at work propertly displaying a sine wave on the first channel and a square on the second one.
Unforutnatelly, the oscilloscope won't come with probes...and now i'm realizing how expencive they are ... augh!!!
I need your help on this subject guys.
On the link at the website that shows the probe's matching i have seen there are 2 choices: passive or active probes.
Accordingly on what i have read, active probes seem to be the best choice and they would give the better results.
Conversely are quite expencive and pointless having 2 channels if you don't have two probes
..and two probes...equal...a lot of money ...so...one is already too muccchhhh... Other point found interesting...attenuation... 1X, 10X 100X... :
the 10X seems to be the most commen since it allows a medium width range signal analysis.
What would a reasonable price be for such a probe as the P6205 (10X active)?
I think this is the correct one for the mentioned oscilloscope, correct?
ehehe i wouldn't like to ened up spending a lot of money for a wrong probe that doesn't even fit on the scope inlet ...
I have found one of this a used one on ebay for $185:
- Is this the right price for such item or i can find one for a better deal?
- Is really true that a active probe is better than a passive one?
- How much would it be for a passive probe?
I'm sorry for all this questions, but i'm really not an expert and this is the reason of why...
Thanks in advance for the attention.
Best,
Stefano.
thanks.
Just go through ebay and you'll find many good stuff.
Just a suggestion: first go aroud without having the intention to buy anything.
Once oyu got the idea onn the various sellers items and prices ...than you can try to negotiale a little bit the price with the seller on the item that you are better interested on!
anyways there are not other good 475A out...but you can find good 465 (the B version seems to be better)
If you are willing to spend $400 i found such a nice scopes around on ebay!!
Just go through ebay and you'll find many good stuff.
Just a suggestion: first go aroud without having the intention to buy anything.
Once oyu got the idea onn the various sellers items and prices ...than you can try to negotiale a little bit the price with the seller on the item that you are better interested on!
anyways there are not other good 475A out...but you can find good 465 (the B version seems to be better)
If you are willing to spend $400 i found such a nice scopes around on ebay!!
I've got a 465B, and IMO it was a great scope in its day. But, they're getting on it years. The lube in the controls will be turning to glue, switches will be going intermittent, and parts will be starting to fail. The 465B is about ten pounds of you-know-what, stuffed into a five pound sack. They're difficult to service if certain parts have to be removed, and parts availability may be difficult. If you can get one cheap, they're good, but I wouldn't pay much for one, lest the pain be too great if it has a short life. Oddly, I still use the much older big Tek boat-anchor scopes like the 545B every day, and they hold up much better with age due to the more robust controls. OTOH, the power supplies are prone to failure. If I had to get a scope today, I'd go for something much newer than the 465B, possibly even the new Agilent handheld meter/scopes.
Right i do agree with you.
You just forgot to say that a new agilent would be around $1000 or more...depending upon the model you want to get.
Just remember that digital scope are good only on the high range...that is at least what is being said from expert here on the forum, don't really know f it's true.
I would personally get a 2400 tek serie.....i personally got a 475A in mint condition for $200 (i still haven't received it yet...so as soon as i will have it here i will post my impression)....and hope i went for the right purchase.
There are a lot of choiches out right now you just have to decide based on your budget...that's all!!
You just forgot to say that a new agilent would be around $1000 or more...depending upon the model you want to get.
Just remember that digital scope are good only on the high range...that is at least what is being said from expert here on the forum, don't really know f it's true.
I would personally get a 2400 tek serie.....i personally got a 475A in mint condition for $200 (i still haven't received it yet...so as soon as i will have it here i will post my impression)....and hope i went for the right purchase.
There are a lot of choiches out right now you just have to decide based on your budget...that's all!!
SS-5712 Service ManualSize : 17 MB
http://www.iti.iwatsu.co.jp/manual/pdf/ss5712-e-ServiceManual.pdf
http://www.iti.iwatsu.co.jp/manual/pdf/ss5712-e-ServiceManual.pdf
You can also consider Tek 7000 series scopes if you have the space. They are some of the most versatile analog scopes ever built. The plug-ins are cheap enough that you can just get another one if one develops problems.
Keep an eye on Craigslist as well as bargains show up once a while. You can also test the scope personally to make sure it is working and save on shipping. I got a working 7854 with the keyboard and plug-ins for $70. The waveform capturing/analysis functionality is pretty useful at times. You can even program that scope to do some basic automated monitoring of the input signal if you want to.
Keep an eye on Craigslist as well as bargains show up once a while. You can also test the scope personally to make sure it is working and save on shipping. I got a working 7854 with the keyboard and plug-ins for $70. The waveform capturing/analysis functionality is pretty useful at times. You can even program that scope to do some basic automated monitoring of the input signal if you want to.
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I finally got a Tek 465 off craigslist, supposedly in working condition, but I'm pretty sure Channel 1 is bad. I have to turn the volts/div all the way to minimum before I see a very attenuated looking waveform. Channel 2 seems to show the calibration waveform properly. I'm probably alright for now with just one working channel, but what would be a good place (tekscopes?) to float my issue and see if there's a straightforward fix?
hmmmm! Did you buy an oscilloscope to use it for work, or did you buy an oscilloscope to create you work?
Anyways steps to follow:
1) individuate the exact issue or malfunction/s
2) get a service manual for your model
3) study the service manual and try to outline the parts on it that might apply to your case
4) try to fix it yourself (usually you need a multimeter and another scope for this duty)
4a) try to goolgle your problem to see if anybody had your very same issue and how they fixed it. A good place to look is the Tek's scope forum.
5) prepare your self for a long term relationship with your new scope and a LOT of patience
Best.
Anyways steps to follow:
1) individuate the exact issue or malfunction/s
2) get a service manual for your model
3) study the service manual and try to outline the parts on it that might apply to your case
4) try to fix it yourself (usually you need a multimeter and another scope for this duty)
4a) try to goolgle your problem to see if anybody had your very same issue and how they fixed it. A good place to look is the Tek's scope forum.
5) prepare your self for a long term relationship with your new scope and a LOT of patience
Best.
You will find the operation and service manual here: Boat Anchor Manual Archive. Usually Tektronix service manuals (at least the earlier ones) have very useful troubleshooting flowcharts.
If you still couldn't figure out the issue, pay a visit to the TekScopes Yahoo group to get true expert advice.
Good luck!
If you still couldn't figure out the issue, pay a visit to the TekScopes Yahoo group to get true expert advice.
Good luck!
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
This is a portable oscilloscope with frequency handwidth 0 - 10 MHz and sensitivity 5m V/DIV - 5 V/DIV. Equipped with 10:1 prode, which makes the sensitivity up to 50V/div. Sweep at 0.1S/DIV - 0.1 u S/DIV on horizontal system. The oscilloscope is easy to operate and highly reliable. It is an ideal instrument for research, production , education and development in electronic device or circuitry.
Please kindly refer to the details as following:
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[*]10 MHz bandwidth. It actually can show 20 MHz signals.
[*]One measurement input channel, one external trig channel.
[*]Voltage division: 5V to 5mV.
[*]Time division: 0.1s to 0.1us.
[*]Trig mode: auto, norm and TV.
[*]Trig source: input signal, line and external.
[*]Trig on rising or falling edge.
[*]X-Y mode.
[*]Coupling: AC/DC/GND.
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Working Voltage Range 110V, 220V, 230V Working Frequency 50Hz +-2%, 60Hz +- 2% Max. Watt 25W Vertical System: Sensitivity 5m V/DIV - 5V/DIV +-3% Vertical System: Hold Off Time >= 2.5 : 1 Vertical System: Rise Time <= 35 ns Vertical System: Bandwidth(-3dB) DC: 0 - 100 MHz, AC: 10 Hz - 10 MHz Vertical System: Imput Impedance 1 MΩ +1 3%, 30pF +-pF Vertical System: Max. Input Voltage 400V (DC + AC peak) Trigger Sensitivity Int 1 div. Ext 0.3V Trigger Input Impedance 1 MΩ, 30pF Trigger Max. Input Voltage 400V pk Trigger Sources Int, Line, Ext Trigger Mode Norm, Auto, TV Horizontal System: Sweep Time 0.1S/DIV - 0.1 μ s/DIV +- 3% Horizontal System: Variable Range >= 2.5 : 1 X-Y Mode: Sensitivity 0.2 V/DIV - 0.5 V/DIV X-Y Mode:Bandwidth(-3dB) DC: 0-1 MHz, AC: 10Hz - 1MHz Calibration Signal: Waveform Symmetric Square Wave Calibration Signal:Range 0.5V +- 2% Calibration Signal:Frequency 1KHz +- 2% CRT: Display Area 8 x 10DIV , 1 DIV = 6mm CRT: Accelerating Voltage 1200V CRT: Display Color Green Weight 7.5 lbs Dimensions (H x W x D) 3.7" x 8.5" x 11" Pressure-Proof TestDisplay Color 1500V 1 min
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- 1 unite 10 MHz analog oscilloscope
- 1 probe
- 1 user's manual
10MHz bandwidth is pretty marginal. Most audio experimenters would want something closer to 100 MHz. Otherwise, oscillations can be missed and most digital stuff will be beyond the scope's capability.
Second the recommendation of the Tek 7854. I got one from Pete Millett a few months ago and it's been a dream to use.
Second the recommendation of the Tek 7854. I got one from Pete Millett a few months ago and it's been a dream to use.
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