EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: scknight on October 20, 2012, 01:29:07 am
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So I just bought a Tektronix 7633 100Mhz Oscilloscope with 7A18 7A26 7B53A modules. I got it for 50 bucks and it seemed like a good deal.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8104141519_a89b744709.jpg)
This is my first oscilloscope, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me what kind of probes would be best and if there's a good place to get them from.
Thanks!
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I have these: http://www.amazon.com/100MHz-Oscilloscope-Clip-Probes-Accessory/dp/B0030KWM30/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350704036&sr=8-1&keywords=oscilloscope+probe (http://www.amazon.com/100MHz-Oscilloscope-Clip-Probes-Accessory/dp/B0030KWM30/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350704036&sr=8-1&keywords=oscilloscope+probe)
They're cheap but good. No need to spend a ton on probes when you bought a $50 scope.
Oh, and by the way? That old scope looks amazing. I love old test gear. The 7633 isn't that old, but it's got "the look". I want it.
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Basically,any type of probe would be OK,bearing in mind that the "cheapo" new probes are cheaply made,so may fail sooner,or have lower specs than genuine Tektronix,probes,or probes from other major manufacturers.
One advantage of some Tek probes,is that the 'scope can detect whether you are using a X10 or X1 probe,& set the "on screen" v/cm display to correspond.(That said,I'm not sure if the 7633 has such a display--the 7613 does).
Obviously,with other probes,including some Tek ones,this doesn't happen,& you need to calculate the correction in your head.
You may find second hand probes by Tek,HP,Siemens,Philips,BWD,Telequipment,& a number of other legitimate manufacturers on eBay,or at Hamfests,etc.
All of these will do a good job for most work,as will the "cheapies".
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For 10x probes, make sure the compensation range includes the 20 pF input capacitance of these vertical plugins (7A18, 7A22), although the far majority of them will compensate to 20 pF. You definitely want 10x probes, and might want 1x (or switchable 10x/1x) probes for low level work (eg. audio, power supply ripple) where you don't care about circuit loading or bandwidth. To make full use of the mainframe's bandwidth, the probe bandwidth should be at least 100 MHz.
I would buy at least three probes (one per vertical input), and might get one for external trigger. More information: Choosing a probe (http://www.reprise.com/host/tektronix/reference/choosing_a_probe.asp).
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Thanks for all the great information!