is this usb oscilloscope ok for m.d. building ?

[ronbyrne]

Hi guys,

I am not an electronics pro or anything near it, i bought a silverdog surf pi kit and it works, but i would love to tune it more and also know more about coils, would any of these pc scopes be ok spec wise ?

not asking will they break after a day, just the specs.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/NEW-2-Channel-PC-Computer-Digital-mini-USB-Oscilloscope-/110667471174?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item19c44b9946

or

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/4-Channel-USB-Oscilloscope-Datalogger-/190664080917?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item2c6476fe15

[juice2839]

o-scope

The first one only goes up to 3khz so not good for even VLF detector. The second one goes to 40khz so it would probably work, but for a few more bucks you can find a good used CRT 40MHZ scope and be able to use it for alot more.

[Skippy]

I have the 2 channel one, but I haven't used it yet. I think it would be good for looking at the demodulated signals in a VLF detector, as it can take a huge number of samples, so many sweeps of the target can be recorded for analysis. It's actually very well made, and should be reliable, but, at 8Ksample/sec, it's far too slow for most uses.

[kt315]

i bought a silverdog surf pi kit and it works, but i would love to tune

you have to use 100MHz range o-scope atleast for the PI. 20MHz also will be good.
try looking for Japan made analog o-scope, there are much of these.

[Tepco]

Or even better, older US made analog scopes, like HP 1740 series, or Tek 46x models, bit old but seriously made instruments, usually cheap, maybe some maintenance will be needed. And good probes. Forget soundcard or USB scopes for any serious work.

[ronbyrne]

Thanks a bunch guys. But let me clarify what i am looking for.

I don't want to get into designing or creating. I want to buy kits, such as those from silverdog, and make coils and match everything up. So by building kits i would presume that all the hard work is done and all i really need is fine tuning a couple of parameters. So, what kind of scope will fulfill this function ? 10MHz , 20 Mhz, less, higher ?

[Tepco]

Something like this. (OK, bit more maintanance is needed here).

[kt315]

Forget soundcard or USB scopes for any serious work.

I am signing under every your word! these usb and etc are only toys. yes, ron, I am working with scopemeter Fluke 199C, it is really the beast! but too expensive for us

[Alexismex]

Hello Ron,
With a good old race 70'S oscilloscope 20Mhz it is fine to adjust your Pi...there are a lot in ebay

[Skippy]

I presume the original poster is wanting a USB scope so it is portable and can be taken out on the beach, etc and used in real world tests. There are much better USB scopes available, but of course they are rather expensive, but you do see them come up secondhand on eBay, so they are worth considering.

[Tepco]

Thanks a bunch guys. But let me clarify what i am looking for.

I don't want to get into designing or creating. I want to buy kits, such as those from silverdog, and make coils and match everything up. So by building kits i would presume that all the hard work is done and all i really need is fine tuning a couple of parameters. So, what kind of scope will fulfill this function ? 10MHz , 20 Mhz, less, higher ?

Bandwidth itself is not that critical, 20MHz will do, not only for MD but for most general electronics, even 10MHz will. (I keep 20MHz BW limit turned on almost all the time on my scope). Problem is, 10-20MHz service grade scopes are cheap but usually crappy, whit lower CRT display quality, lack of features and poorly built. Somewhat older lab grade instrument in similar price range, or somewhat higher, is better option for me. Additional performance may be useful in some situations, extended BW, dual timebase etc but if you can utilize 100MHz BW most of the time, you need 350MHz scope already. (My friend just hit one 4x350MHz Tek on Australian Ebay, in perfect condition for 399AU$, but this is really not needed for any hobby electronics, some cheap DSO can be far more useful) Question is, as always, what is the budget?

Anyway, even worst scope on Earth is about zillion times better than none, without it everything is only guesswork. Only whit proper bench scope in place, consider anything portable, USB, pocket etc.

[ronbyrne]

how about this one ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220998006704&ssPageName=ADME:X:BOCOR:GB:1123

[Tepco]

Problem is, UK Ebay is not the best place for sourcing second hand test equipment (German is even worst) but you don’t have choice. Considering relatively cheap but large instrument, anything else is out of question due to overseas shipping costs.

Scope you mentioned will fulfill all needs for hobby electronics, price is OK, but consider other options. Only tradeoff here is instrument performance vs. how old it is. Consider adding bit more money and go for, in this order: Tek 22xx series (newer), or tek465 (there are few in offer, older but proven to be good, similar price range, avoid 465M, newer Modular or Military version, prone to failures), then maybe Hameg, Japanese are also acceptable (Hitachi etc). Avoid anything else, Philips especially, and other never heard off brands. Also in this price range, check if you get scope probes whit instrument, otherwise 2 new, relatively low quality probes can set you back almost like instrument itself. Whit older instruments, be ready for some maintenance, nothing dramatic, maybe some contact spray on switches, or replacing some electrolytic

Another question is how deeply you want to be involved in all this, but if you plan to keep this hobby, better buy some higher performance scope so you don’t have to change it soon, this is, aside soldering iron, multimeter and some PSU, most important item.

[Alexismex]

Hello Ron,
Also is important that the 2 probes are included with the oscilloscope because if not you loose money
This Gould is fine is the guy say it is working ....is like a lottery ...
Three years ago i bought a 100Mgz HP 1740A in Ebay for 230 Dlls ... i open the box very bad shipping ... and hope nothing broken.... it come with original manual...all probes
i open the case of the oscillo...
like new inside..like it was never used ....all GOLD plated printed circuits ...a real beauty.... with a rare phosphor tube glowing in the dark !!! turn in ..and the beauty live again 100% calibrate ..cannot believe it ...i see my pulse signal with a very very fine definition ....nothing to compare with a digital scope !!!!
I said it is like lottery

[ronbyrne]

Ok, i got this one, just waiting for delivery, it looks good and is factory refurbished with 30 day guarantee and 2 probes, all in cost €110

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/310394741896?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649