What to look for in a Used Oscilliscope?

[Mastermech]

Well I am diving right into this Electronics thing. I am looking for a
decent power supply and a Scope. Also looking into classes locally.
Electronics has interested me for quite a while but I have never had a
chance to pursue until now.
Anyway I was thinking of picking up a used Scope and was wondering if
someone could give me some pointers on what to look for in a used Scope.
Any particular Brand for a beginner like myself?
Any common things to look for so I do not end up with a Lemon?

Thanks Much
JRE

 

[loedown]

Firstly you want a scope that has 2 traces (more commonly known as dual
trace), this may not be very useful now, but when you get further into
things, you will realize how valuable they are. Secondly, you would want to
check that it has a tightly focused beam, making sure the line (trace) can
be made sharp when you use the focus control on the CRO (oscilloscope).
These are basic things.

Paul

 

[Rich Grise]

On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 10:24:17 -0500, Mastermech wrote:

Well I am diving right into this Electronics thing. I am looking for a
decent power supply and a Scope. Also looking into classes locally.
Electronics has interested me for quite a while but I have never had a
chance to pursue until now.
Anyway I was thinking of picking up a used Scope and was wondering if
someone could give me some pointers on what to look for in a used Scope.
Any particular Brand for a beginner like myself?
Any common things to look for so I do not end up with a Lemon?

Yes. If you're just starting out, only buy a used scope if the guy you're
buying it from is reputable and can assure you that it's 100% working and
in calibration. New scopes can be had fairly reasonably, and you expect it
to last a long time - what's 1/2 a month's rent for something that's
going to last the next 10 or 20 or more years? Probably even less...
lessee...
There are some OK looking ones on ebay, but like I say, watch out
for used stuff that they won't back up.

Dn't buy a ten dollar piece of crap, unless you want your electronics
training to consist of trying to make a piece of crap act like a scope. ;-)

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[loedown]

I always love his responses, informative and amusing

Keep up the good work Rich

Paul

 

[JeffM]

I was thinking of picking up a used Scope
JRE (Mastermech)

Find one in your price range and post the specs here.
Manufacturer
# of channels
Bandwidth
Sensitivity
Max sweep speed

 

[N. Thornton]

"Mastermech" <mastermech@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<i_Cdna5n_I7iP6TfRVn-gg@comcast.com>...

Well I am diving right into this Electronics thing. I am looking for a
decent power supply and a Scope. Also looking into classes locally.
Electronics has interested me for quite a while but I have never had a
chance to pursue until now.
Anyway I was thinking of picking up a used Scope and was wondering if
someone could give me some pointers on what to look for in a used Scope.
Any particular Brand for a beginner like myself?
Any common things to look for so I do not end up with a Lemon?

Thanks Much
JRE

why not get a junked PC and use that as the scope? Look for IIRC
OSC251 written by a Petersburg student, it all works properly.

NT