Seeking Advice: Tektronix 2465 vs. 2465B ¨C or other suggestions?
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Hi all,
I'm currently looking for a suitable Tektronix oscilloscope for a specific use case:
Displaying vector graphics in XY mode from arcade PCBs (Atari Asteroids, Tempest, Space Duel, etc.) ¨C ideally with clean beam blanking via the Z input. I'm also planning to use it for general CRT repairs and TTL logic diagnostics.
I'm trying to find the ¡°sweet spot¡± ¨C the best break-even point between technical capability, reliability, and low maintenance. I know these scopes are way overkill for my use case, but I have a soft spot for well-engineered, high-end analog gear from that era.
Important to know:
I'm not an electronics engineer ¨C I'm a computer scientist by trade. So robustness and low maintenance are my top priorities (right after a proper Z input). I¡¯d prefer something that just works and doesn¡¯t immediately turn into a restoration project.
My key criteria:
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Z input with true beam blanking
¡ú Not just brightness control ¨C I need actual blanking to avoid ghost lines between vector points.
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Low maintenance, long-term reliability
¡ú I¡¯m leaning toward models without battery-backed NVRAM (e.g., EAROM in the 2465).
However, I¡¯ve read that there are now precalibrated NVRAM replacements without batteries.
¡ú What's your take? Is the newer 2465B (with NVRAM) still the better choice long-term ¨C or is the older but potentially more robust 2465 a safer bet?
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Good CRT (brightness and focus)
¡ú I don¡¯t need MCP ¨C in XY mode, I prefer full screen size over extra brightness (so 2467B might be a step in the wrong direction for me).
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Technical condition over bandwidth
¡ú Anything in the 100¨C300?MHz range is more than enough. I'd rather have a stable, well-maintained unit than an ultra-fast one on paper.
Right now I¡¯m deciding between the 2465 and 2465B, but I¡¯m open to other suggestions from the late 22xx or 24xx series.
Also: if anyone here happens to have a suitable unit available ¨C I¡¯m definitely open to offers.
I¡¯m located in Germany, but happy to discuss shipping if needed.
Thanks in advance for any insights or recommendations!
Best regards,
Christian
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