Best analog scope for hobby electronics?

[David Hess]

Analog oscilloscopes that I would consider in rough order of age:

453A   60 MHz   Dual Timebase
454A   150 MHz   Dual Timebase

455   50 MHz   Dual Timebase   Ruggedized
465M   100 MHz   Dual Timebase   Ruggedized

465B   100 MHz   Dual Timebase (1)

2213A   60 MHz   Single Timebase
2215A   60 MHz   Dual Timebase
2235   100 MHz   Dual Timebase
2235A   100 MHz   Dual Timebase

2225   50 MHz   Single Timebase   500uV/div

2335   100 MHz   Dual Timebase   Ruggedized
2336   100 MHz   Dual Delta Delay Timebase   Ruggedized
2337   100 MHz   Dual Delta Delay Timebase   Ruggedized

2245   100 MHz   Dual Timebase   4 Channels
2245A   100 MHz   Dual Timebase   4 Channels
2246   100 MHz   Dual Delta Delay Timebase   4 Channels
2246A   100 MHz   Dual Delta Delay Timebase   4 Channels

These analog oscilloscopes have fantastic gated universal timer/counters:

2236   100 MHz   Dual Delta Delay Timebase
2236A   100 MHz   Dual Delta Delay Timebase
2247A   100 MHz   Dual Delta Delay Timebase   4 Channels
2252   100 MHz   Dual Delta Delay Timebase   4 Channels

These analog oscilloscopes have digital storage capability allowing cursor frequency measurements:

2221   100 MHz   Single Timebase    100ns Glitch Detect   Based on 2230
2221A   100 MHz   Single Timebase    10ns Glitch Detect   Based on 2232
2224   60 MHz   Dual Timebase    10ns Glitch Detect   Based on 2232
2230   100 MHz   Dual Timebase   100ns Glitch Detect   Based on 2235
2232   100 MHz   Dual Timebase    10ns Glitch Detect   Based on 2235   My Favorite Old DSO

2211   50 MHz    Single Timebase   Based on 2225

(1) A 465B with the DM44 attachment has delta delay based frequency measurement capability.

[rstofer]

There's a nice, clean and calibrated 2232 on eBay right now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektronix-2232-100MHz-Digital-Storage-Oscilloscope-Cald-tested-probes-/272597811638

[David Hess]

There's a nice, clean and calibrated 2232 on eBay right now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektronix-2232-100MHz-Digital-Storage-Oscilloscope-Cald-tested-probes-/272597811638

I can vouch for shockcore on Ebay having bought from and interacted with him before but $300 may be too much for an old oscilloscope for hobby use.

The 2232 does not have automatic measurements but instead uses an excellent set of cursors in digital storage mode to make voltage, time, and frequency measurements; just do not expect the resolution and accuracy of a dedicated frequency counter.