I just bought a Tektronix TDS210.  It's a two channel real-time digital
scope
with a whopping 60MHz at 1GS/s.  The price was about $1300 CAN.

I know it's perhaps out of the price range of most hobbyists, but you can't
beat the price for features and usability in new scopes.  I find the autoset
and run/stop capture extremely useful, and it's got a 3 year
warranty.....and
I can't stand most digital scopes!

We are currently buying some used equipment too, and if we buy over
$5000 worth, we get a 7% discount.  So it might be worth it to get a bunch
of guys together who want used equipment and make one big purchase
and save approx. $800 on the hole.


Craig

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Devin Newland <ape@ESKIMO.COM>
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Date: Friday, May 22, 1998 11:16 AM
Subject: Re: PICLIST Digest - 17 May 1998 to 18 May 1998


>
>As an example, I picked up a HP 275 MHz scope in perfect working
>condition at a Hamfest (Ham radio swap meet) for only $250.  I turned
>down the cheaper ones (rangeing from $50 - $100) because I deal
>with mine daily
>
>Peter L. Peres wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 19 May 1998, Mike DeMetz wrote:
>>
>> > > aha! I have taken my DMM back to the shop and demanded they fit the
scope
>> > > button back on it :-)
>> > >
>> > > Seriously, I cannot afford a full scope, has anybody got any
recommendations
>> > > of a cheap PC based scope system ( I can see VIPS and PICO in a
catalogue
>> > > here.... )
>> > >
>> > Tech America has a handheld LCD scope/meter for $199. Only good up to
>> > 5Mhz(steady signal).
>>        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> And this makes it unsuitable for serial digital troubleshooting unless
>> special signals are generated for testing. A poor man's digital analyzer
>> would do it, but a real scope is more versatile.
>>
>> My advice (been there): Haunt your local ham club or school and find out
>> when the next garden/garage sale is on. Then, pick up a reasonable 'old'
>> scope for $100 or less. You should be able to net a Hameg or whatever 2 x
>> 20 MHz (perhaps valved - although better not) this way.  Insist on
>> checking it out on the spot, you should get the scan line on the screen,
>> don't take it otherwise.
>>
>> Peter
>