First oscilloscope dilemma

[edavid]

And what about a Tektronix type 454? The auction starts from 25€.

Is it a 454 or 454A?  454 has 6x10 screen (cramped) and nuvistors.  454A has 8x10 screen and JFETs, very nice sharp trace, but is very old...

[EEVblog]

So i would like to buy my self a new oscilloscope.
i can chose between :
 - Hameg HM400( because i love analog scopes )
 - Rigol DS1102E
 - Tektronix TBS 1152
because they all are in range of 460€ max.

The official Rigol price is only 320€
http://www.eu.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000e/ds1102e/
The Tek TBS series is old crap, don't bother.
Don't bother with the analog if can afford a modern digital.
Of those 3, hands down, the Rigol.

The new Rigol 1072Z is only 450€
http://www.eu.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000Z/ds1074z/
Awesome value!

[Paul Moir]

I mostly work with audio stuff. I think that 15MHz it's enough for what I have to do.

w2aew makes a compelling argument on why you might need more:

[picofarad]

And what about a Tektronix type 454? The auction starts from 25€.

Is it a 454 or 454A?  454 has 6x10 screen (cramped) and nuvistors.  454A has 8x10 screen and JFETs, very nice sharp trace, but is very old...

It's a 454. However, the seller want to be paid with a check, no Paypal. I prefer to focus on the HP scope.

I watched the w2aew's video. Very interesting.

[picofarad]

I just found a working HP 1707A on Ebay starting from 50€. Same glitches when changing timebase and volt/div as the other HP scope. The auction ends thursday.
Any advice?
The 1222A has a 8x10 screen, but it has lower bandwidth and the controls looks 'cheapy'.
The 1707A has a smaller screen (6x10) but it's a 35 MHz and it seems to have more features.

[Stonent]

Glitches when turning a knob are likely dirty contacts and that can be cleaned.

[picofarad]

Glitches when turning a knob are likely dirty contacts and that can be cleaned.

Yes, I know.

However, anybody has a HP 1707 or ever used one? Does it worth 50€?

[Crazy Ape]

Have you seen this one in your searches?

HP 54502A DIGITIZING OSCILLOSCOPE 400MHZ w/HP-IB 250 €
http://usato-computer.vivastreet.it/usato-computer-informatica+tezze-sul-brenta/hp-54502a-digitizing-oscilloscope-400mhz-w-hp-ib----/66294366

There are others at the same site, but the one above caught my eye.

[picofarad]

250€ is too much. If I had enough money I would buy a Rigol DS1052E, since I use one at school. I can spend a maximum of 80-90€, if it really worth I can raise to 100€.

[Crazy Ape]

These guys have an ancient HP 1220A for €80,00
http://www.radiosurplus.it/StrumentazioneUsata/STRrevisionati.htm

The trace does look very dim though (intensity knob on full), I didn't notice it before posting.

[picofarad]

The trace does look very dim though (intensity knob on full), I didn't notice it before posting.

Yep, it seems that there's a missing piece on the screen (maybe a dimming plastic to increase trace contrast).

Again, nobody has any info about the HP 1707?

[sync]

Yes, the contrast filter and the safety plate is missing. Without them and at full intensity the trace should be very bright. It looks that this oscilloscope is too dim.

[chibiace]

try the make offer feature on ebay. i recently got a hitachi v660 for 40 dollars and another 40 dollars for shipping by sea to new zealand. took 6 weeks to get here but works perfectly

[picofarad]

Just won the auction for the HP 1707A! Got it for 71€ plus 10€ for shipment.
Thanks for all the advices, tips & tricks!

[Ecklar]

So i would like to buy my self a new oscilloscope.
i can chose between :
 - Hameg HM400( because i love analog scopes )
 - Rigol DS1102E
 - Tektronix TBS 1152
because they all are in range of 460€ max.

The official Rigol price is only 320€
http://www.eu.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000e/ds1102e/
The Tek TBS series is old crap, don't bother.
Don't bother with the analog if can afford a modern digital.
Of those 3, hands down, the Rigol.

Dave,
Why do you refer to the Tek TBS as old crap?  In their catalogs they claim to put out a quality significantly higher than usual entry level scopes; some claims 100% over typical in class quality.   Also, they have 5 year warranty.  Is their relative performance really that bad to say, a comparable Rigol?  I'd appreciate any experience or exposure you could bring on something like the TBS1152.

Thnx.  Eck

[Wuerstchenhund]

Why do you refer to the Tek TBS as old crap?  In their catalogs they claim to put out a quality significantly higher than usual entry level scopes; some claims 100% over typical in class quality.   Also, they have 5 year warranty.  Is their relative performance really that bad to say, a comparable Rigol?  I'd appreciate any experience or exposure you could bring on something like the TBS1152.

I guess Dave is referring to the pathetic specs of this scope. The sample memory is ridiculously small (2.5kpts), the screen is piss-poor, functionality-wise it's absolutely primitive (lacking even basic stuff like intensity grading). In short, it's a perfectly fine entry level scope if the year was 1999. In 2014 selling such a scope at that price is just an embarrassment.

Also, claims of 100% better quality are simply preposterous, but I guess that's one area where Tek might convince some technically challenged corporate buyer to go for their products instead of one of the modern-day alternatives.

Dave says these scopes are crap. I'd go as far to say that everyone who seriously considers to buy one at the price they're asking for it needs to have his head examined.

[Ecklar]

Thanks Wuerstchenhund
Crap did sum it up quickly, but as a beginner I wasn't fully understanding the reasoning.  Your expansion gives me not only an explanation but also a better reference as why the modern Rigols and such are so much more liked.   I guess what caught my attention was that I saw some of these Tek TBS scopes offer in new warranted condition for $600 US so thought at that price it was worth exploring. 

However, now I can see the capabilities are really lacking compared to the latest stuff on the market.