Re: Digital O-scopes for TC use

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

I don't know that a disk drive for a portable scope (which will get
dropped, banged, thrown in the back of the car/truck) is such a hot idea.
For a "benchtop portable" scope which is really more of a "transportable",
perhaps.

the GPIB/IEEE-488 interface is all well and good, but expensive to use: You
need a 488 interface card for your PC and 488 cables are wretchedly
expensive (being all those shielded parallel wires).  A pain to program,
sometimes, depending on software. 

I'd go with Serial interface (RS232) or Ethernet, both of which are also
available on most scopes these days.  Serial is slower, but cheaper and a
"lowest common denominator".  Ethernet is becoming more common, and really,
really fast.

There is a web site somewhere with a huge database of "fair" prices for all
manner of Tek oscilloscopes.  I don't recall how they come by their
numbers, but last time I looked (a year ago), it was very credible.  Used
oscilloscope prices are all over the map for the same model, so shop around.

Be aware of:
1) calibration status (may or may not be of importance to you, but has a
big effect on price)
2) CRT age/life (older scopes may have older tubes, and replacement CRTs
are VERY expensive, not to mention the replacement and recalibration is a
pain to do)


Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Mccauley, Daniel H by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <daniel.h.mccauley-at-lmco-dot-com>
> 
> Depends what you get.  Get a "true" digital scope or buy some junk.
> 
> Your good digital scopes will have internal disk drive to save waveforms as
> well as a GPIB port which when hooked to a computer you can actually fully
> control and access info from the scope.
> 
> Dan
> 
> Definitely check out the TDS420A, TDS430A, or TDS460A scopes.  They are
> battery / ac powered, compact - standard size except they are only about 5
> inches deep, feature full four channel phosorphous screen, and much more . .
> .
> 
> Check them out at the Tektronix website.
> 
> They are also pretty inexpensive for digital scopes.
> 
> Dan
> 
> > > digital scope for TC use
> >
> > I hope these come with some means of getting trace data out of the
> > scope and into a computer - a disk or better still a serial port.
> >
> > Is that generally the case with digital scopes, or do these things
> > tend to be optional extras?
> > --
> > Paul Nicholson
> > --
> >
> >
> >