Well Sean I have three scopes on my bench right now.? Two digital and one analog.? When I want to use one of them, almost invariably I turn to the analog unit.? When I want to refine or verify a measurement I will fire up one of the digitals.
Having said that, I admit that the digital units have some very interesting and useful capabilities that are lacking in the analog.? But most of what I do doesn't require those capabilities.? Then again I am still only partway up the learning curve for digital.? My two digitals have very different characteristics, with the HP 54542A being a bit more likeable than the Tek.? It's faster and offers FFT for example.? The Tek is better at displaying an AM signal, for which the others require an external trigger.? I can save a screen on the HP to floppy disk and then print it from a computer.? (Remember floppy disks?)
Bob
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On Sunday, February 28, 2021, 03:26:16 PM PST, Sean Turner <
[email protected]> wrote:
Sounds like you found a great solution for you! And you found the advantage of tonnage. LOL!!
I use a couple of Keysight megazoom MSOs loaded with options at work regularly. When I need to single shot trigger off some obscure protocol feature, they are fantastic and nothing old can replace them. For what I like to do in my home lab (which is largely analog on the whole), I prefer the old boat anchors. They are infinitely more satisfying to use, IMO. :o) And I sharpen my circuit design IQ every time I perform a repair or resurrect another bit of old test gear.
Sean
On Sun, Feb 28, 2021 at 02:08 PM, Michael wrote:
I have used Tektronix scopes since the 60s. They have always been the gold
standard, at least as far as I am concerned. Now my old Tek scopes, I have 4,
are getting old and keep requiring service. The 465Bs are particularly hard to
service. I hate having to remove the tube in order to get at parts. I have a
couple of the 2000 series, which are much easier to service. I spoke with an
old duffer like me who was working for Saelig. They sell test equipment. He
knew all about Tek scopes and their capabilities. I told him I would like to
buy their newer Siglent model 1202X-E (200 mhz dual trace), but I did not want
to see steps or noise on the display. Older inexpensive digital scopes have
that problem. He knew all about it and said I would love this model. Well, he
(John) was right. It shows a beautiful picture, plus the DC level, voltage of
the signal and frequency. It does other stuff that I keep off the display
because it just confuses me. This scope cost me about $400. The price of this
scope has increased a lot since last month. They are now $615. However,
Circuit Specialists are still selling their stock for $379 delivered. My first
1202X-E was so good I wanted another for backup so I could give away my other
analogue scopes and be done with servicing them. I managed to get an order in.
I hope they actually ship it at that price. I realize that Tektronix scopes
have an almost cult following. I have been part of that cult. At this point, I
am moving on to cheap and powerful. The only thing I don't like about the
scope is that it is too light. I will have to make some sort of frame and
fasten it down to my workbench. I want to be able to plug in and remove probes
without the scope moving away from me. The buttons have a light enough touch
that the scope remains steady when pushing buttons. I realize that my post
here might offend some, but I am just trying to let someone who might be
trying to put together a good workbench that there are choices other than
Tektronix. Again, I have been a believer in Tek scopes since the 60s. When I
went out to work on radars and sonars, I brought the very heavy 465B. I wanted
full capability when I was supposed to fix a misbehaving sonar on a ship or
submarine. These blue scopes have served me very well for decades.
