Strange encounter

[Mark-VA]

Strange encounter. Went to a yard sale today and struck up a conversation with the guy that was there. He ask what I was looking for and my reply was "an oscilloscope". He replied I have five, I replied and said why he would have five and his reply, “I'm an Astrophysicist, actually I have a PHD in Astrophysics”. Of course my reply was "really", yes he said and he used to work at NASA in Florida until he lost his job. I told him I knew a man named Tom Dankowski that worked there too. Well anyway the conversation continued and the very next question was why I wanted a scope. My reply was experiment with electronics and metal detectors. All along I was wondering if he was honest or feeding me a line. Well the conversation continued and he said Tektronix was about the best and suggested shopping in Ebay for one. Then he said he had connections and could get me a very good scope for maybe around $300. Then he ask if I had a breadboard circuit to work with and I stated no. Then do you have a signal generator and of course my reply was also no. The conversation continued but this time he said for less than $500 I can get you set with a complete electronics lab which would include a scope, generator and complete breadboard lab. Knowing for sure he was laying the BS on heavy he gave me his name “Paul Pentecost” and where he lived and also his email address.

Got home and searched his name and where he lived and sure enough I think I found it. Well anyway, I thought I would share the story.

Anyway he made a statement that go me to thinking. Don’t get a complete digital scope, make sure it is analog. My reply was why and he said the analog could see signals and give a better representation than digital.

[Sean_Goddard]

I have five 'scopes because each one can do something different. The Tek 2236 100MHz analog scope is a brilliant piece of kit, but my HP 54520A @ 500MHz bandwidth is my favourite. I bought it 20 years ago. It was my first eBay purchase and cost me £4995. I'm looking to buy a Rigol 5000 MSO soon. I just like test equipment.

[Riss]

Unfortunately (about the capabilities of digital tins ) , your new friend is right about everything ... I have a very old analog Tektronix, when I removed the top cover to connect a selected low voltage light bulb in series in the heating circuit of the oscilloscope tube heater (to extend the tube life), I saw inscription on the tube - the two names of the woman who tested the tube and her signature. I felt a sense of admiration and respect - this is an assumed responsibility for a quality product and control ... audiophiles know very well that there is no better quality sound than that of a professional studio reel-to-reel tape recorder – for example -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJZ9XM4RgnM .and gramophone records rose like the phoenix bird ...

[Mechanic]

I would have to agree about the analog scope seeing things a digital might not.
For a long time I had an old analog Kikusu(wrong spelling) 100mhz scope. In more recent years I updated to a Tek TDS3014 scope 4ch 100mhz. It still has the analog feel to it and will see most things the old analog scope did with the added bonus of being able to store waveforms. And you can run them from a battery which makes them great for in field measurements.
In my opinion an old Tek is much better than a new Rigol.

[profesor]

Your thoughts about analog are correct.
I only had a 2465, it broke down and I couldn't get it fixed.
It was very high quality. I think the solution is combiscope.
But keysight and single brand top oscilloscopes are as good as analog.

[Mark-VA]

The guy sent me this list and said it would make a good electronics lab but the total cost would be $730
I already have multimeters so the fluke would not be necessary. He really is pushing the older analog scopes, says they out do the modern digital version

What do you guys think
Item specifics


Condition New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is ... Read moreabout the condition



Brand SeeSii

Signal Generator Type Function Generator Frequency Range 60MHz



Sampling Rate 200MSa/s Precision 0.1%



Linear Sweep Max. up to 999.9s Frequency Resolution 0.01μHz



Frequency Accuracy ±20ppm×10-6



Frequency measurement range 1Hz~100MHz



Square & Triangle Wave 0~25MHz Sine frequency range 0~60MHz



Pulse & Arbitrary & TTL Digital Signal Wave 0~6MHz



Amplitude resolution 1mV Square rise time ≤15nS Pulse



Width Adjustment Range 30nS~4000S



Frequency stability ±1ppm×10-6/3h



Coupled Mode DC & AC



Screen 2.4'' Color Screen



Waveform Sine, Square, Triangle, Pulse,Partia Sine, CMOS, DC level



price $119.99


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Condition New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is ... Read moreabout the condition

UPC 0095969245241



Brand Fluke Publisher Fluke



MPN FLUKE 87-V, 87-5



Ean 0666669859443, 0095969245241



UPC 0666669859443, 0095969261920, 0696570655025, 0095969245241



Model FLUKE 87-V



eBay Product ID (ePID) 7032790323



DC Voltage Range 1000V



Measurement Category CAT III



AC Voltage Range 1000V



Form Factor Handheld



Test/Measurement Functions Frequency (Hz), DC Voltage, Capacitance, Continuity Test, AC Voltage



Features True RMS, Low Pass Filter



Number of Counts 6000



Display Digital



Item Weight 0.78 lbs



Style 87V



Type Multimeter



price $250.00 or best offer



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Condition Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is ... Read moreabout the condition

Brand Tektronix Oscilloscope Type Analog Oscilloscope



Number of Channels 4



Model 2246A



MPN 2246A



Country/Region of Manufacture United States



Maximum Bandwidth 100 MHz



One Tektronix 2246A 100MHz 4-channel analog oscilloscope. Includes power adapter, but no probes. All four channels are in good working condition. Calibration has not been checked. Shipping to U.S. only.

Link to the manufacturer's page, including PDF of manual:

https://www.tek.com/en/oscilloscope/2246-manual/2246

Specifications:

https://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/2246 Key Specifications

Bandwidth	100 MHz
Deflection	CH 1, CH 2: 2 mV/div to 5 V/div (1–2–5); CH 3, CH 4: 0.1 V/div and 0.5 V/div, all ±2%; BW Limit: 20 MHz ±15%
Vertical Operating Modes	CH1,2,3,4, CH2 Invert, Add, Alt, Chop (625 kHz)
Input Impedance	1 MΩ ±1.0% // 20 pF ±1 pF
Maximum Input Voltage	400 V (DC + peak AC) or 800 V (p-p ac at ≤ 10 kHz)
Sweep Speeds	A Time Base: 0.5 s/div to 20 ns/div (1–2–5); B Time Base: 5 ms/div to 20 ns/div (1–2–5, ×10 magnifier to 2 ns/div)
Trigger	DC, Noise Reject, HF Reject, LF Reject, AC, TV Line, TV Field
Trigger Modes	A Mode: Auto Level, Auto, Norm, TV Line, TV Field, Single Seq. B Mode: Runs After Delay, Auto Level, Norm, TV Line (From A Source)
Trigger Source A & B	Vert, CH1, 2, 3, 4, Line
Voltmeter	DC, +Peak, −Peak, PK-PK, Gated Volts, Smart Tracking Cursors: Volts, GND, Trigger Lvl
Cursors	Time, 1/Time, Delta Time, 1/Delta Time, Delta Phase, Volts
Interface	Ext Counter/Timer Base Input connector; Ext Z-Axis Input connector
Probes	Two P6106 100 MHz ×10 probes, BNC connector with a readout pin
Power	90 − 250 VAC, 48 − 445 Hz, 100 W max.

$300.00



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Item specifics Electronic Breadboard

Condition New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is ... Read moreabout the condition

MPN 03MB611

Brand Electronix Express

UPC 679771614916

Item description from the seller

Premium solderless breadboard ideal for testing, prototyping and experimentation

Contact Points: 2,390

Terminal Strips: 3

Bus Strips: 5

Binding Posts: 4

Features a sturdy aluminum backing

Nickel plated clips

Size: 9.4" x 7.7"

The 03MB611 is a premium solderless breadboard ideal for testing, prototyping and experimentation. It features 3 terminal strips and 5 bus strips for a total of 2,390 contact points. The breadboard also has 4 binding posts for easy connection to external power sources. Sturdy aluminum backing and rubber feet are also included. Measures 9.4" x 7.7". $30.00 each recommend breadboards 2

[Carl-NC]

If I could only have 1 scope, it would be digital. There are a lot of things a digital scope can do that analog cannot, and only a few things that analog does better. As it is, I have 2 digital and 1 analog and rarely use the analog, mostly for looking at very subtle PI waveform issues.
I used to have a 2246 and it's a good scope, but the power supply on the old 224x series has a habit of failing. For the same price, buy a new digital scope. And many have a built in sig gen, if you need one.

[Mark-VA]

Looking at the Rigol DS1102Z-E you mentioned I couldn’t get it from either Amazon or Walmart but I did find a DS1202 version for about $337 with 4 channels and the specs look the same. But here again I’m not sure. I’m willing to go $400
What do you think

[Carl-NC]

The DS1202 is a 2-ch scope. If you want 4-ch, look at the DS1054Z for $350. It's a 50MHz scope but you can apply a software hack and upgrade it to 100Mhz. I hacked my Rigol MSO5074 and upgraded it to a MSO5354, turning a $1000 scope into a $2900 scope.

[profesor]

Hello Carl.
I had a Rigol DS1074Z oscilloscope before.
I didn't like it, I sold it.
I saw in a post that you used MSO 5204.
I want to buy it. Can you recommend it?

[Mark-VA]

The DS1202 is a 2-ch scope. If you want 4-ch, look at the DS1054Z for $350. It's a 50MHz scope but you can apply a software hack and upgrade it to 100Mhz. I hacked my Rigol MSO5074 and upgraded it to a MSO5354, turning a $1000 scope into a $2900 scope.

Carl does the DS1054Z provide the same features and functions except the Mhz, as the DS1102E-Z?
Or does all the DS models have the same features?

[Carl-NC]

Hello Carl.
I had a Rigol DS1074Z oscilloscope before.
I didn't like it, I sold it.
I saw in a post that you used MSO 5204.
I want to buy it. Can you recommend it?

That depends on what you did not like about the DS1074.

Carl does the DS1054Z provide the same features and functions except the Mhz, as the DS1102E-Z?
Or does all the DS models have the same features?

I would assume so, but you should compare the spec sheets to be sure.

[profesor]

That depends on what you did not like about the DS1074.

It was very slow when 4 channels were running.

[ivconic]

"If I could only have 1 scope, it would be digital..." but only if it is from the middle or high end class.
Cheapos... say under x000 and less euros (~dollars) do not represent a significant shift in capabilities compared to a good analog oscilloscope.
That's why I still stuck with analog.
Local classifieds and local stores are full of some small, portable, very nice and attractive digital oscilloscopes, with prices as low as 180e, 250, 300, 400...
I reviewed the specifications in detail and then side-by-side reviewed Youtube analyzes by experts who test the same models.
In 80% of cases, each of these models will meet the needs of simple measurements and analysis.
But as Carl said; here we are dealing with very thin and very time-critical signals... which, unfortunately, this category of oscilloscope is not able to process.
At best it will show something that is not accurate.
That being the case, until my standard rises to the point where I can afford one of the Teledyne LeCroy or Rohde & Schwarz models... I'll stick with my analog oscilloscope.
...

I have a Chinese copy of a Telequipment model that works perfectly, but it doesn't have many advanced functions that I would use sometimes.
And here's what I found on the local classifieds yesterday... and at what price!
https://www.kupujemprodajem.com/elek...rId=4032349451
In some ancient times when I dreamed of having this model; it cost 4-5000 German marks (there was no euro then).
I'm tempted to buy it, purely for nostalgia!

[Carl-NC]

That depends on what you did not like about the DS1074.

It was very slow when 4 channels were running.

I have never noticed this with the MSO5074, seems plenty fast.