'scopes - what to get?

[tubeswell]

Well I have some spare dosh and I've been meaning to get one for some time. I see a few one channel ones for cheap, and 2-channel for a bit more. I guess the thing with 2 channel ones is you get to see two signal waves on the screen at the same time huh? (or something like that?) Any helpful suggestions appreciated. TIA Pete

(Edit - would this be a reasonable one to start with? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=369260188)

[jjasilli]

Personally I would not pay around $400 for a used scope UNLESS it were from a reputable seller of scopes, fully guaranteed, calibrated & returnable.  Pete Millet sells them for about that online at the Oscilloscope Store.  I got a used Protek 2 channel scope on eBay for about $90.  It works fine; I lucked-out.  But for 4X that you can & should have a Guaranteed item.   IMHO "working condition" is way too vague a term, especially for a scope.

Also you MUST have the scope's manual.  If the scope does not come with one, then before you buy first make sure the manual is available on line.

(If you don't already know how to use a scope, be prepared for a steep learning curve. )

[sluckey]

TubesorNothing had a nice Tek 2246 for sale recently at a really good price. Send him a PM.

[DummyLoad]

based on the link to the advertisement you posted, i'm assuming that you're from NZ; it seems that your selection for used test gear is lesser than what it would be in the UK or USA/Canada. what you posted seems to be in a fair price range for your region of the world.

the tek 2215 is more scope than you'll ever need to service tube audio gear. if it's priced well, and at least has a something of a warranty, then you could do much worse. be sure to get a pair of probes. a pair of 1x/10x switchable would do for starters.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Other-electronics/Other/auction-370248217.htm

i'm tempted to pay the shipping to gift that scope to my partner in crime on this forum.

--DL  

[G._Hoffman]

I bought a relatively cheap analog scope a year or two ago, and for analog audio stuff it is perfectly acceptable, but I have to say that I wish I had bought a Picoscope.  It would have done everything the analog scope does, but it can also store a wave form so it would have been useful in some digital projects I'm trying to work on, and it would have been about $100 cheaper than the one I got!  So, if I had it to do over again, that is what I would do.


Gabriel

[DummyLoad]

http://www.elexp.com/tst_ps50.htm

[tubeswell]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions so far.

FWIW I came across this awesome website of free service manual downloads

http://www.opweb.de/index.html

(It has lots a tektronix scope manuals)

[tubeswell]

In the end I decided to start with a cheap old 1 channel scope and a old signal generator from that auction site. We'll see how it goes (it all is in working order apparently)

[jjasilli]