o-scope question

[keeperx]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220340273153

Is that o-scope any good for simple sound card dac tuning

[buffo]

Just about any oscilloscope will be fine. We're dealing with signals in the Khx range, not Mhz, so even a 1Mhz scope is overkill.

Having said that, the one you linked to is rather old. If it still works, then the price is certainly right. (6 bucks!) Of course, shipping will probably run you $40 on it.

I paid around $100 (including shipping) for my 100 Mhz Techtronics 'scope when I bought it on E-bay a few years ago, but it was much newer than the one you linked to. It's got true X/Y plotting though, which is nice. You can see the scanner output on the 'scope's screen.

Eh - if you don't mind driving up there to get it, and assuming you can get it for $6, it's probably worth it.

Adam

[keeperx]

well shipping is 12.95 do that not a big deal..
after talking to you i decided i need to get one..
i got a 13 pound plate of aluminum in the mail and that only cost 13 bucks..

[buffo]

For $13 shipping I'd say go for it. You'd burn more than that in gas money driving up there to pick it up.

An oscilloscope for $19? Yeah, that's a deal even if it is ancient.

Adam

[keeperx]

ok.. i made my bid (top bid) 25.

[DZ]

keeperx, I'd make sure the scope can do X and Y. I did a quick google search for that model and couldn't find much about it. If you get a decent scope, not only will it do X and Y, but it will handle blanking as well.

Here's a decent scope that handles X and Y, not sure about intensity though. But it probably has alot more features than the PDC scope. http://cgi.ebay.com/Heath-40-MHz-Osc...QQcmdZViewItem

[keeperx]

well my id is in.. if its not useful ill give it to someone that can use it..

If thats the case ill have you find me another one when the time comes.

[Stuka]

Anyone here use software-based scopes, and have any recommendations / pros / cons they would be willing to share?

[keeperx]

i would say its cheaper to find a used oscope the deal with the software..

[The_Doctor]

I had cause to explore this, and went with advice Steve (Roberts) and others gave. Go for the best used analog scope you can afford. Minimum of 100 MHz. You never know what you might want to do with one once you have it and how many do you really want? The moment you want to test diode driver overshoot you want FAST response, never mind the fact that the mod wave might only be 25 KHz or so.

Software scopes are a pain unless you have heaps of loot and need storage of waveforms and digital image presentation. And for similar performance their cost is extreme compared to a decent old analog scope.

When I researched scope choices, I learned that two scopes were highly recommended, Tektronix 265B (I think it was that), and HP Agilent 1740A. I bought one of each, second hand. The Tek was horrible. (Actually it was so decrepit that I argued for and got a refund). While both makes are recommended because field repair keeps them going way longer than their intended life, and is apparently eassy enough for many techs, I see no contest between them. HP Agilent scope 1740A has no fan, the case is sealed so dustproof, the graticule illumination is a backwash of electrons instead of feeble incandescent lamps that dull and blow and are awkward to replace and look just plain terrible in comparison. The HP Agilent controls are better, period. They handle hard use much better.

So, if you can get a good cheap HP Agilent 1740A scope, grab it and don't let go. It even does X/Y and Z (intensity), so you can test a galvo drive and laser mod all at same time. It only has one drawback, it's a bit big. But don't let that stop you, the Tektronix is too. If you really must have small, go with something like the Vellemann LCD scope.