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Oscilloscope Probes

PickyEars81

PickyEars81

Super Member
I just picked up my first scope. It's nothing fancy, 2 band and 10Mhz. It seems to work but it didn't have probes.

It is a Philips PM 3232. I think the probes for most of these guys are standard. Is this true, or do I need to order probes specifically for this model?
 
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Standard, if it has the standard input impedance of 1 Megohm. Make sure of two things: the probe connector is the right one for the 'scope, and the input capacitance of the 'scope is within the adjustment range of the probe.

I suggest a switchable probe, x1 and x10. You can pretty much ignore the bandwidth specifications if you are working in audio. They have to do with the capacitance at probe tip and are not really bandwidth specifications.
 
Thanks, Bob. I plan to use it primarily for building audio related devices. I am no electronic engineer, but I have some background and plan to hit the books.
 
Don't fret about cheap probes too much. Even Teks break down eventually. The only positive in that case is that Tek probes are modular so you can replace the end probe, cable assy, and compensation network and connector as seperate parts if it breaks. Chinese models, probably not. But for light duty home use, I think they may do you OK at audio. And replacing one part of a Tek probe from Tek would maybe cost as much as a new aftermarket probe. We had a 300 Mhz Philips at work once, fancy memory etc. but it kept developing intermittent problems. It had its own type of probes but they functioned like Tek ones.
 
Just got out my Phillips 3232 and found the probe is missing.
Did you find a source for probes please?
I'd like to get a second one so I
can use both channels.
I monitor my amateur radio
audio input and
rf output to check the effects
on outboard audio processing.
Thanks anybody.
DaveS
 
Thanks vancumps

Thanks for the leads (0 pun, really)
I was totally clueless.
Its been a good scope.
Bought at a hamfest about 20 yrs ago.
Usual to monitor my outgoing signal
for flatopping, modulation density,
peak amplitude as I tinker with
outboard sound processing and stuff.
Thanks
DaveS N4DAG
 
Aidetek probes

I just got my set of 4 probes from Aidetek today.
At 4 for $28 I'm wowed.

They are a little weird that switched to 1X they are 4 MHz and 10X 100 MHz

http://aidetek.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=P6100_4&Category_Code=Probes

I am messing around with battery desulfators and looking at the pulses and ringing with a Tektronix 475A sweep at 0.1 or 0.05 nSec/div.

Switched to 1X are bla! probably like thier spec says 4 MHz

Switched to 10X WOW! :nutz: they are a dead ringer for my BIG$ Tektronix P6105 X10 100 MHz probes and only $7 each :yes: .

The down side is I had to keep after them to get then shipped. Maybe a one off problem, but forewarned is a good thing.
 
Those are some seriously cheap probes. I have one remaining usable Tec probe and a few Pomona probes, but those might be worth having just so it wouldn't make a guy feel bad about watching them unhook and fall into a coolant sump alongside a gear shaper.
 
I'm using a variant of those cheepos, I have a 60 and 100 MHz version. They do meet their specs and are strong enough for use by a caring person.
 
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