Is this Oscilloscope suitable for DIY Ampbuilding

vonfilm · 5th March 2009, 07:10 PM

Is this digital Oscilloscope suitable for DIY amp building and testing?

http://www.tequipment.net/OWONEDU5022.html

c2cthomas · 5th March 2009, 07:19 PM

The bandwidth looks ok - but that bit depth being only 8 bits might be a bit of a problem. Looks like an OK general prupose starter scope that will work for most things audio - but with that bit depth trying to nail things down to a nat's behind might prove to be a challange. You can get some pretty decent used scopes for $400 over on flea-bay or other used equipment web sites.

infinia · 5th March 2009, 11:16 PM

I wouldn't do it... unless you are doing digital work. Analog is best for analog work, can't beat wide open real time BW.

Spend the same money and get a used 70-80's era Tek. You know a real mans scope.

c2cthomas · 6th March 2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by infinia
Analog is best for analog work, can't beat wide open real time BW.

Spend the same money and get a used 70-80's era Tek. You know a real mans scope.

A motion has been made and seconded! Analog scopes for analog work. Plus - Tektronix is the king of good scopes (with a couple of exceptions).

infinia · 6th March 2009, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by c2cthomas

A motion has been made and seconded! Analog scopes for analog work. Plus - Tektronix is the king of good scopes (with a couple of exceptions).

HP never made a scope that could trigger, but the their spectrum/network analyzers ... oh my.
but then Tek never made a spectrum analyzer that was worth a darn.

c2cthomas · 6th March 2009, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by infinia

HP never made a scope that could trigger, but the their spectrum/network analyzers ... oh my.
but then Tek never made a spectrum analyzer that was worth a darn.

Yeah - but Tek made some sweet Time-domain reflectometers (TDR's) back in the day. Made some nice logic analyzers too.

jitter · 6th March 2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by c2cthomas

Plus - Tektronix is the king of good scopes (with a couple of exceptions).

I beg to differ. The company I work for used to have lots of Teks but bad experiences with them and their overpriced but slow service department has changed all that. We once got a digital video signal generator back which suffered damage during shipment (some BNC's were pushed in). The service technician that came had the nerve to ask us if he could borrow a HAMMER! He was planning to hammer the BNC's back in place...can you imagine that??? Suffice to say we sent this "technician" away with the damaged equipment to have it repaired properly.

And maybe we had the "couple of exceptions" you talk about... Competitors like Agilent, LeCroy, Magni, Rhode & Schwarz and Leader have taken over the Teks' places.
About someone's remark of the inability of HP (= Agilent now) to trigger, that's something of the past. Modern Agilents will trigger just fine now.

My personal preference with analogue signals is a Fluke/Philips hybrid scope: an analogue scope with a few digital functions...

slam · 6th March 2009, 08:19 AM

I did some research on Owon and wasn't impressed based on the reviews I saw form the web.

You might want to look into Rigol if you want a decent low price scope. They cost a bit more but have better reputation and more real digital scrope functions. Rumor has that they OEM some of the low end Aglient stuffs.

Digital scope is really good for troubleshooting intermittent issues. They also have math/measurement features built in which could be a time saver. FFT is nice too.

However, low price DSO still doesn't have same kind of resolution of an analog scope and some time the lack of resolution could be misleading.

DSO is a nice to have, but I am really happy with my Tek 7904a and all the plug-ins.

c2cthomas · 6th March 2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jitter

I beg to differ.

Hmmmm....... This could be - I have been retired for ten years now and things change.

So that tech was going to use a hammer! Foolish lad - Obviously a crowbar is the tool that should have been implemented!

cowboy99 · 10th March 2009, 04:31 AM

I have an old 5440 some call a boat anchor, there is quite a few on ebay. But I just bought a digitial Tek TDS 360 from Valuetronics $450.
Seems to have some nice features like VGA out, rs232 out FFT
Charles

Gino at
http://www.valuetronics.com/Details....60&ProdID=3112

5th March 2009, 07:10 PM	#1
vonfilm diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2006	Is this Oscilloscope suitable for DIY Ampbuilding Is this digital Oscilloscope suitable for DIY amp building and testing? http://www.tequipment.net/OWONEDU5022.html

5th March 2009, 07:19 PM	#2
c2cthomas 49 - for the 16th time diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near "Music City" (Nashville Tennessee)	The bandwidth looks ok - but that bit depth being only 8 bits might be a bit of a problem. Looks like an OK general prupose starter scope that will work for most things audio - but with that bit depth trying to nail things down to a nat's behind might prove to be a challange. You can get some pretty decent used scopes for $400 over on flea-bay or other used equipment web sites. __________________ "You can't always get what you want" K. Richards/M. Jagger *** "Next time I will know some things better" Zen Mod

5th March 2009, 11:16 PM	#3
infinia diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication	I wouldn't do it... unless you are doing digital work. Analog is best for analog work, can't beat wide open real time BW. Spend the same money and get a used 70-80's era Tek. You know a real mans scope. __________________ like four million tons of hydrogen exploding on the sun like the whisper of the termites building castles in the dust

10th March 2009, 04:31 AM	#10
cowboy99 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Hill Country, SSW of Austin	Price is right I have an old 5440 some call a boat anchor, there is quite a few on ebay. But I just bought a digitial Tek TDS 360 from Valuetronics $450. Seems to have some nice features like VGA out, rs232 out FFT Charles Gino at http://www.valuetronics.com/Details....60&ProdID=3112 __________________ I'm kinda curious about that myself........

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

6th March 2009, 08:19 AM	#8
slam diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA	I did some research on Owon and wasn't impressed based on the reviews I saw form the web. You might want to look into Rigol if you want a decent low price scope. They cost a bit more but have better reputation and more real digital scrope functions. Rumor has that they OEM some of the low end Aglient stuffs. Digital scope is really good for troubleshooting intermittent issues. They also have math/measurement features built in which could be a time saver. FFT is nice too. However, low price DSO still doesn't have same kind of resolution of an analog scope and some time the lack of resolution could be misleading. DSO is a nice to have, but I am really happy with my Tek 7904a and all the plug-ins.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Oscilloscope?	joetama	Equipment & Tools	12	6th October 2009 01:32 PM
Book on ampbuilding (aleph) for background	rwagter	Pass Labs	22	21st November 2006 11:09 PM
Oscilloscope	XTAL	Parts	0	18th March 2005 05:05 AM
Suitable regulated/filtered 4volt battery-valve power supply suitable for 6+ valves?	Layberinthius	Tubes / Valves	0	11th March 2004 08:49 PM
How to use an oscilloscope	SimontY	Equipment & Tools	15	16th September 2003 10:46 AM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read