a beginner question - scopes

[Buck Buchanan]

At 01:44 AM 12/9/98 +0100, ^cAmOtSe^ wrote:
>Hum.
>They lie.. But do they lie enough to justify the price difference???? I know
>nothing about scopes so i'm affraid it'd be hard to buy one 2nd hand...i
>wouldn't know if it's good or not... and also here in belgium 2nd hands and
>bargain shops are much rarer than in uk or us...


Hi all, (this will be my last scope post to the list since this is really
off topic - off list is another story)

DSOs don't really lie per-se - it just seems like they do because they can
trick you into looking at the wrong thing.  It's just such a different
beast than an analog scope that problems can arise.  Here at work have new
engineers right out of school that have never used an analog scope and
complain about them the way most people complain about digitals.  So I
guess lot of it depends on what you learn on.  But with an analog you can
turn knobs till you find your signal until at some point you figure out
how/why the thing is working.  But with digital you better know your scope
theory at least a little....

Price difference making analogs seem more expensive that digitals?  You
must be comparing apples to oranges.  I looked at the bit scope and it's
about $400US.  There are tons of brand new 20MHz dual trace analog scopes
(though not Tek...) sold via mail order for the same price that are sure to
stomp on the bit scope in terms of everyday audio useability.  And you
don't have to drag a computer around either (you can add that to your scope
cost too!).  No, they won't capture a one shot, save a waveform, do your
math or your dishes.  But, they will (within the limits of
bandwidth/risetime/etc.) show you reality every time!  Most digital scopes
cost $1,500US for the cheap ones and go WAY up from there.  And for $1,500
there's still stuff you will miss that will show up on your $500
reconditioned Tek 465!

I'm not saying you can't work with a digital box.  NO WAY!  They're great
things and I'm saving for a TDS210 w/FFT option myself.  But where should
the digital box sit on the bench?  Right on top of the analog box!

Pick up a copy of the American zine Electronics Now or Nuts & Volts - tons
of adds for places that will ship you a new or calibrated/reconditioned
used scope overseas.

Ok, I'll finish blabbing for now.  Last thing I'll say is Belgium!  I love
Belgium!  I used to live in Waterloo... but I still don't know where to buy
a scope there....

Buck

 




A lot of cool shit way more advanced than synthesizers was designed before
DSOs came around.


Buck Buchanan  AA-436   x84377
RF Eng. Tech  Advanced Technology

---------------------
Interviewer:  Have you ever had an original idea?
Mark Ryden: When I painted Abraham Lincoln lyning on the ground giving
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thought that was pretty original."
-Mark Ryden from interview in Juxtapoze"-