There's a problem: I simply don't have enough space for a classic oscilloscope in my room. That's why I'm looking at modern compact digital models.
What makes you say it is junk? Specs look good to me, what am I missing?
What makes you say it is junk? Specs look good to me, what am I missing?
I'm also looking for a beginner-level scope in the specified price range. I'm thinking of buying this one, what do you think of it?
Looks like an interesting TOY. For $89 perhaps handy to throw in a toolkit given its size (just smaller than a pack of 100mm cigarettes). Not a real scope. Looks like an mp4 player that didn't sell well with an 8bit A/D stuck in front of it.
Doc
drop it from 3 foot protection . its your call . althrough ive seen single beam oscilloscopes made in the DDR or USSR wich didnt measure that big and whit that big i mean around 10 inch deep 4 wide bout 10 high single beam ofcourse .
Never saw such a small Soviet scope, I'll look for one. Thanks for the hint.whit that big i mean around 10 inch deep 4 wide bout 10 high single beam ofcourse .
i thought the type number of the one i was refering to was c1-94 if the soviets left some behind you can probs scoop one up
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
if you can try find a philips 80s transistorized unit . 10MHZ will be fine for audio . i picked mine up a PM3233 for €10
edit . philips go go go . ever taken apart a blue front philips scope ?
Yes, actually. As someone who used to repair commercial test equipment for a living I am NOT a fan of Phillips scopes. There was a reason it was only €10. Phillips makes a classic error in their power supply designs. They use a limited thermal mass heatsink in conjunction with insuffient venting. So once heatsink saturates unit slowly overheats creating drift and early component failure. Okay for intermittant use but not to be used for 8 hour work shifts.
I had that very discussion with the president of Phillips at Wescon in 84. When I brought up their thermal drift problems he promptly shut up.
Doc
Never saw such a small Soviet scope, I'll look for one. Thanks for the hint.
If you want small there are a couple of Tek 220 series 500KHZ portables on ebay for fairly cheap right now. (as of last night - sept 21)
Doc
im still a fan course its made here 😀 and its out of callibration anyways . fixing the thermal runaway wouldnt be a problem for me if it ever occured . I'd stick a ATX fan on the back of the cast alu lid . and bolt it on .
Indeed they did! Thanks! I think it's not one of popular models, though, but I'll see if I can find something of the kind.if the soviets left some behind you can probs scoop one up
im still a fan course its made here 😀 and its out of callibration anyways . fixing the thermal runaway wouldnt be a problem for me if it ever occured . I'd stick a ATX fan on the back of the cast alu lid . and bolt it on .
You can actually improve one quite a bit by just removing the covers and drilling some 1/8" vent holes top and bottom to get some airflow going. Quite frankly at €10 I'd probably have bought one as well... but I wouldn't go to €50.
Doc
the older stuff still tends to be exelent . allthrough the special kind of engeneers at phillips brewed some odd stuff
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All worthy and noble, but buying a used scope made in the eighties isn't going to benefit them now.
Doc
Doc
I like that one, but I'm a DIY beginner (and a noob with little to no knowledge of electronics), I don't think it makes much sense to spend more than $200 for a device I very rarely need. Besides, expensive as it is - shipping that 220 to my country will make it cost like golden 🙁If you want small there are a couple of Tek 220 series 500KHZ portables on ebay for fairly cheap right now. (as of last night - sept 21)
Doc
Yep, posting a buy request as we speak.isnt there a local trading / hamswap where you could dig something up ?
I like that one, but I'm a DIY beginner (and a noob with little to no knowledge of electronics), I don't think it makes much sense to spend more than $200 for a device I very rarely need. Besides, expensive as it is - shipping that 220 to my country will make it cost like golden 🙁
Try a closer Ebay. If you want a real scope $200 is about the low end. If money is tight, it is better to buy something that is old but excellent than to buy something that is new but junk.
Doc
I totally realize that.If you want a real scope $200 is about the low end.
Makes sense. Thanks for the advice. I don't want to buy junk, even if I'm going to use it once a year.If money is tight, it is better to buy something that is old but excellent than to buy something that is new but junk.
For audio work, I believe we want high sensitivity in a scope. I just bought an old HP/Agilent 1200A which has down to 100microvolts/div, whereas you'd be lucky to find something with 1mv/div these days. Most of the cheap scopes are only 10mv/div. It's also handy to have balanced inputs for low level signals, which very few scopes have these days. These kinds of scopes have low bandwidth also, like about 500kHz. We're not designing radios after all so who cares about that.
For audio work, I believe we want high sensitivity in a scope. I just bought an old HP/Agilent 1200A which has down to 100microvolts/div, whereas you'd be lucky to find something with 1mv/div these days. Most of the cheap scopes are only 10mv/div. It's also handy to have balanced inputs for low level signals, which very few scopes have these days. These kinds of scopes have low bandwidth also, like about 500kHz. We're not designing radios after all so who cares about that.
Are there any other options besides the HP/Agilent 1200A?
I would like to obtain a CRO with this level of vertical deviation resolution. I'll need to purchase one in a few days time.
(Sorry for resurrecting an old thread)

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it is better to buy something that is old but excellent than to buy something that is new but junk.
Doc
I will strongly disagree, mostly because there is not that many specialists worldwide, which can inspect old oscilloscopes.
It is wiser a young fellow to spent close to 300$ and to select one basic fresh Oscilloscope at 50MHz with two probe inputs.
GW Instek has also such models for beginners, with three years warranty.
For audio use 250MSamples is enough for measurements over the acoustical bandwidth.
The demanding people like me, they are forced to open further up their wallet due their higher demands, which is not related with audio applications.
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