Recommend a good entry level oscilloscope

Mr Creosote

Mr Creosote

Super Member
I want to take my bench to the next level and purchase an oscilloscope. I'm an amateur builder. I built a little 6V6 guitar amp, a VTA ST-120, and a VTA PH-14. And I fiddled around with some vintage receivers. Strictly analog work. And I'm interested in some other projects. I have a couple I'm looking at, The Rigol DS1202Z-E two channel / 200 MHZ digital oscilloscope and the Rigol 1054z 4 channel / 50 MHz. I'm leaning toward the DS1202Z, thinking 2 channels is plenty. Any others I should look at? Out of the two mentioned what would be the best fit? Also looking at the Siglent SDG810 Signal Generator to go along with it. Thanks.
 
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You might want to consider an oscilloscope with a CRT, some people can't get along with digital screens and digital electronics, and the way the trace is displayed, and prefer the old or 'older' school 'scopes with CRT's. ;)
 
The Rigol DS1202Z would be a great choice. I see that Tequipment has 1 - open box unit for $280.00 - snatch it up quick before it's gone

The Siglent is also very good for the money - Chris
 
So another question comes up. Digital or Analog? I was looking on Tequipment and I see an analog BK2120C 30MHz Dual Trace. It has a CRT. It looks like it would fit the bill also.
 
The digital ones are nice and they're small but you can usually get a nice CRT scope for pretty small money. My current scope in use is a 25 year old Tektronix that I got in a truckload of other things for the princely sum of $50. Considering the value of some of the other stuff, I was essentially paid to take it away. The B&K was in trade for a used computer hard drive. I do like the slightly more modern ones with direct voltage readouts but one hasn't fallen into my lap yet.
 
Mr Creosote said:
Digital or Analog?
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Since it's 2020 and not 1985 ~ Digital oscilloscopes are the norm. While analog oscilloscopes are great and have there place in the world - it's really difficult to beat a digital oscilloscope. If this is your first oscilloscope, you should buy a digital model, and learn how to use it to it's full extent. Once you've leaned how to use it, you would never consider going backwards to analog. - Chris
 
I have heard really, really good things about these, and - last time I looked - they're cheap (on Amazon).
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I mean -- I use this, but it was a hand-me-down.

DSC_8084 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

There are... a few... other scopes here. Most are fine for audio hardware troubleshooting, but truth be told one can get so much more capability cheap today, most 'vintage' silly-scopes are more collector/curiosity pieces. Collect 'em I do :confused:

545A by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
tek310A by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
 
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If you are doing predominantly audio work,I believe that you might be better served by purchasing an audio analyzer.

Combining a low-distortion signal generator and a distortion analyzer in one box (which were designed to work together seamlessly, and generally provide on-board filters and other really useful and convenient stuff that makes life easier) this will give you the ability,in ONE setup,to measure gain,noise,plot frequency response and measure distortion percentages,often at each harmonic multiple,depending on the machine. Lotta bang for the buck with one of these.For audio work I use my Amber 3501's and Rohde & Schwarz UPA's far more often than my scopes.

For scopes,I still use my Tektronix 547 as my daily shop driver (in the winter:rolleyes:) and my Tektronix 2235 as my "road" and summer scope.One is ancient (almost as old as I am) and one is vintage modern,yet I have never needed fancier.Note that I didn't say better...

Interweb pics:
250px-Tek_547_trace.jpg
images
 
One like Mr. Wizard had.. Likely a Tek of some variety or another, likely had more Tooobs in it than 2 TOTL RCA or Zenith color TV/ Entertainment Consoles had in 'em, also had more knobs, switches jimcracks, doohickies to keep overgrown boys busy for hours diddlin' w/'em..YOU wanted one or 2, too, didn't you ?!?
 
arts said:
and my Tektronix 2235 as my "road" and summer scope.
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Mine is a 2215a, same family and era but only good to 60mhz. I had to replace a few resistors in the focus area. There are about a half dozen carbon comp resistors in there. All in the focus section, all of them were way off value.

for my purposes, I'm usually using it for signal tracing or detection of gross distortion. Making sure the output is the same basic shape as the input, that kind of thing. I can generally function without it, but I will admit it makes some things a whole lot easier.
 
gadget73 said:
Mine is a 2215a, same family and era but only good to 60mhz. I had to replace a few resistors in the focus area. There are about a half dozen carbon comp resistors in there. All in the focus section, all of them were way off value.

for my purposes, I'm usually using it for signal tracing or detection of gross distortion. Making sure the output is the same basic shape as the input, that kind of thing. I can generally function without it, but I will admit it makes some things a whole lot easier.
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Yes,I had to change all of those resistors as well.Did yours need the filament mod?
 

Attachments

mine is a 2213. Just replaced the PS caps and got rid of the transformer? whine it had for 10+ years.

I got it from a friend who had a few.
 
arts said:
Yes,I had to change all of those resistors as well.Did yours need the filament mod?
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no idea. Never heard of this before, but its not like I did any heavy research on the scope when it basically fell in my lap. Whats the purpose, reducing CRT heater voltage?
 
I came across what was basically a NIB 100MHz Kikusui scope some years back. Not a real common brand but it's a decent scope. Got it for song and a dance.

It's been out of the box at least two or three times since then. LOL.
 
mhardy6647 said:
I have heard really, really good things about these, and - last time I looked - they're cheap (on Amazon).
thumbnail


I mean -- I use this, but it was a hand-me-down.

DSC_8084 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

There are... a few... other scopes here. Most are fine for audio hardware troubleshooting, but truth be told one can get so much more capability cheap today, most 'vintage' silly-scopes are more collector/curiosity pieces. Collect 'em I do :confused:

545A by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
tek310A by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
Click to expand...

When I see something like "entry level" referenced, my first thought is one of the much older, single channel Tek or HP scopes - which are not always easy to find in fully working order. These are often as much of a project themselves as what the prospective buyer has planned to use them for. Your 310 is exactly what I would point to as a great entry level scope - were it not for its age, often its condition and perhaps its functionality. Yours looks great and if one could be found fully tested, refurbed and calibrated for a reasonable cost, it would be great for a beginner. Often though, low cost and great condition don't go together in the marketplace. Cheap Chinese digital scopes seem to control the low cost segment though I would hardly call them entry level scopes.

Cheers
 
WobblySam said:
Yours looks great and if one could be found fully tested, refurbed and calibrated for a reasonable cost, it would be great for a beginner.
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That's the rub.
In 2020, I'd buy new, and digital. The Rigol 'scope I mentioned is horrific overkill, but it's a pro-grade instrument (I found out about it from one of the local vacuum tube gurus, who in real life is a full-time EE of some repute, does this stuff for a living, and uses one of these at work) and it is three hundred and fifty bucks.

One and done.
 
I have (halfheartedly) been looking for a 'scope and I'd have to say I would go with digital. I just want to plug something in and have it work, and be calibrated properly. I'm thinking back to high school when all we had were half tubed oscilloscopes of varying degrees of flakiness (our district was constantly under budget cuts, so I would bet in the early '80s, our 'scopes probably dated back to the late '60s) with a few newer units here and there. I would think OP wants something he doesn't have to fuss with or worry about--just plug it in and go. I'd actually prefer one that connected to laptop or tablet, as long as the trace is smooth. I'm sure there is something for me, but I haven't needed a 'scope enough to bother looking much.
 
I have a Hantek DSO-5102P b/new never used if interested message me. w/amazon prime you can get free shipping (caution as these are sent from china if not in usa stock). Sent one to member @elnaldo. in Argentina. These can free hacked to 200mhz but for most apps 100mhz is more than enough. If doing tube amps. shop for an analog.
 
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