Please help me get a oscilloscope

[Stonecold]

I really need a oscilloscope please help me! https://www.gofundme.com/13-year-old-boy-needs-ossiliscope


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[eugenenine]

Try your local craigslist, you don't need anything fancy to get started, an old scope is cheaper than an ipad.

[jpanhalt]

Get a job.  Earn some money.  Buy one.

That's not too hard for a snowflake to remember, is it?

[Aztlanpz]

 

[tooki]

Goodness gracious you guys are mean-spirited.

Try your local craigslist, you don't need anything fancy to get started, an old scope is cheaper than an ipad.

Or maybe he's using his parent's iPad, as many kids do?

Get a job.  Earn some money.  Buy one.

That's not too hard for a snowflake to remember, is it?

Oh fuck off with the "snowflake" crap.

[retrolefty]

Goodness gracious you guys are mean-spirited.

Try your local craigslist, you don't need anything fancy to get started, an old scope is cheaper than an ipad.

Or maybe he's using his parent's iPad, as many kids do?

Get a job.  Earn some money.  Buy one.

That's not too hard for a snowflake to remember, is it?

Oh fuck off with the "snowflake" crap.

  Humbug must humbug. At least the kid is taking some initiative, some action. He might even
get his wish, who knows. 
 

[AlexNorell]

Here is an old Tek 2213 for $35 near you.
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/bfs/d/for-sale-tektronix-analog/6211924909.html
Give the guy a call, and he might even be willing to give it to you for free.

And if you want a scope and a ton of other vintage test equipment, this guy has a huge lot for $100.
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/ele/d/test-equipment-lot-eico-bk/6216705743.html

[MarkS]

  Humbug must humbug. At least the kid is taking some initiative, some action.
 

No he's not. This is not how the world works. You don't ask for a hand out for something that the lack of will not cause your demise. He is not in need of food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment, etc. He wants <- key word - an oscilloscope. It saddens me greatly to see a generation where their first thought when wanting or needing something is charity.

I want an oscilloscope. I cannot afford an oscilloscope. I do not have an oscilloscope and I will not have an oscilloscope for the foreseeable future. It is no one else's responsibility to buy one for me.

[timb]

  Humbug must humbug. At least the kid is taking some initiative, some action.
 

No he's not. This is not how the world works. You don't ask for a hand out for something that the lack of will not cause your demise. He is not in need of food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment, etc. He wants <- key word - an oscilloscope. It saddens me greatly to see a generation where their first thought when wanting or needing something is charity.

I want an oscilloscope. I cannot afford an oscilloscope. I do not have an oscilloscope and I will not have an oscilloscope for the foreseeable future. It is no one else's responsibility to buy one for me.

Actually, it *is* how the world works. It never hurts to ask. The worst that can happen is someone says no. However, you'd be surprised what people will give you by just asking nicely.

[MarkS]

It never hurts to ask.

No, it does not, but that isn't what he is doing. He isn't asking someone throwing out an oscilloscope if he can have it. He isn't asking someone replacing an older, but working, oscilloscope to make him a deal. He isn't haggling on the price of an oscilloscope already for sale.

He is begging the internet at large and the members of this forum specifically for a hand out. He isn't making an effort to get this on his own, through hard work. He is hoping we'll foot the bill. Why should we?

[Stonecold]

I am asking for a maximum of 500 and I am not convincing people to donate.They donate if they want to donate.I am really only want enough money to buy a decent scope.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[eugenenine]

Goodness gracious you guys are mean-spirited.

Try your local craigslist, you don't need anything fancy to get started, an old scope is cheaper than an ipad.

Or maybe he's using his parent's iPad, as many kids do?

If his parents are rich enough to buy an ipad they can afford 1/10th of the price for a scope.  I sure can't afford an ipad but I was able to scrape together $40 for a scope on craigslist.

You missed my point though, I was demonstrating that a used scope sufficient to start out with is not something affordable or even expensive.  I actually have two now, bought one for $30 then bought a nicer one for $40.  Planned to sell the $30 one but my son wants it.  Mowing two yards would earn enough to buy a $30 scope.

[mtdoc]

Ignore the naysayers Stonecold. Good on you for taking the initiative. Do you have a paypal account?  If so, PM me your email and I'll send you a donation (I'm not a fan of Go Fund Me).  Keep your expectations realistic though - a used analog scope for < $100 is all you need to get started. (and check the spelling on your Go Fund Me page!).

For the naysaying scrooges - he's 13 - at that age it is not easy to earn money other than an allowance from parents. With his mom out of work (and I assume no dad around) an allowance may not be an option. 

[buck converter]

Maybe you will get support if you explain why you need a $500 dollar scope and not an analog scope,  you will get more support. My first scope an analog tektronix. I paid 80 bucks for it. I'm just a 14 y/o and there is no way i need the functionality of digital storage, and neither did the engineers until the late 1980's

[Stonecold]

I don't need a 500 scope I just put it at that I need something that works good


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[xrunner]

I don't need a 500 scope I just put it at that I need something that works good

Go to Ebay and grab a nice vintage Hitachi V-212 for under $75. You'll have a blast with it. 

[Stonecold]

I don't need a 500 scope I just put it at that I need something that works good

Go to Ebay and grab a nice vintage Hitachi V-212 for under $75. You'll have a blast with it. 

Thanks for the suggestion.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Mattjd]

Try your local craigslist, you don't need anything fancy to get started, an old scope is cheaper than an ipad.

Swear to god, I was gonna say "start by selling ur ipad"

[NiHaoMike]

If the word "need" is restricted to stuff required for basic survival, it wouldn't be a particularly useful word in most contexts! Never mind that his intent is to use it for education, which easily comes in handy for being able to afford basic needs and more in the long term.

He could possibly sell his iPad, but perhaps that's his only decent way to go online? Maybe he has some old, unused gadgets to sell, but I would more suggest doing cryptocurrency mining with them. (My old Kindle Fire has made me $75 so far this month, thanks to a price jump on the altcoin it was mining. Sadly, such a jump is unsustainable so I wouldn't expect that to keep going for long.)

Or given that he does have at least an iPad, start making videos and asking for donations. People are much more likely to give when they think they'll get something back (video content) in return.

[gnavigator1007]

Many schools these days require students to have a tablet. It may not be the luxury item you think.

[Stonecold]

Many schools these days require students to have a tablet. It may not be the luxury item you think.

My school does not require me to have a tablet.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Stonecold]

Don't sell your tablet. If you use it a lot, you will want to buy it again, which costs more if you sell it.

Yeah I am not going to sell it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Electro Detective]

Stonecold, please disregard and ignore some of the sunday hangovers here,

they do not represent the EEVblog community, even though they feebly attempt to 

Best of luck scoring a good WORKING analogue scope locally, even if you have to save a few bucks to buy one   

In the meantime suggest to use the iPad to check out some oscilloscope Youtube videos,
especially the safety related ones dealing with earth/ground connections and probe basics etc, 

so you don't cook your circuit, scope or yourself.. on the first day! 

www.eevblog.com/2012/05/18/eevblog-279-how-not-to-blow-up-your-oscilloscope/



cool videos 

youtube.com/watch?v=Iq4QlfH-oqk

youtube.com/watch?v=xaELqAo4kkQ 

[Stonecold]

Stonecold, please disregard and ignore some of the sunday hangovers here,

they do not represent the EEVblog community, even though they feebly attempt to 

Best of luck scoring a good WORKING analogue scope locally, even if you have to save a few bucks to buy one   

In the meantime suggest to use the iPad to check out some oscilloscope Youtube videos,
especially the safety related ones dealing with earth/ground connections and probe basics etc, 

so you don't cook your circuit, scope or yourself.. on the first day! 

www.eevblog.com/2012/05/18/eevblog-279-how-not-to-blow-up-your-oscilloscope/

cool video here >   youtube.com/watch?v=xaELqAo4kkQ

Thank you for the video suggestions


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[TerraHertz]

Hello Stonecold,

Here is some advice, from someone who has given away two oscilloscopes so far.
First thing is you need to put more detail in your explanation of *why* anyone should give you a scope. The two I gave, one was to a fellow in the Philippines, who was a hard working guy, supporting a family, had already set himself up with great effort to do simple electronic repairs, despite considerable economic hardship that was not his fault. Just born in a poor country with a very bad exchange rate so buying stuff from overseas was impossible for him.

The other scope giveaway was to a personal friend, who is considerably socially handicapped for various reasons beyond his control.
Your gofundme page says:

Hello,my name is Brett and  I need a ossilscope.Ever since I have took apart a radio,I have wanted the be a Electrical  Engineer.My mom is out of work and I unable to get a job.I have been wanting a ossilliscope for a long time and it would really help if you donate.Thanks for reading

There are a few problems with that, which don't inspire generosity.
First is grammar. Like it or not, people make judgements based on your ability to write correct English, spelling, punctuation, etc. Here's how your text would be, if you took a little more care just with grammar:

Hello, my name is Brett and I need an oscilloscope. Ever since I first took apart a radio, I have wanted to be an Electrical  Engineer. My mom is out of work and I am unable to get a job. I have been wanting an oscilloscope for a long time and it would really help if you donate. Thanks for reading.

But you could put a lot more into it than that.
Include some more about yourself and your situation. Why can't you get a job? Do you have some special needs or handicaps? Or do you live in a socially or economically disadvantaged area? Your workbench photo looks like it's in a nice house, fairly new.  So how come you can't scrape together a little cash for a low cost second hand scope?
You say you've been wanting one for a long time, but what have you tried doing so far to get yourself one? And how did that fail? Here you are talking to people who all know how cheap old second hand analog scopes are, and how perfectly acceptable they are for hobbyist/beginner use.

I don't have a spare scope I'd want to give away at the moment, and anyway I'm currently broke, having trouble getting my car past rego, and couldn't afford to ship a scope to the USA. Which btw, would be absurd - donating a scope from Australia to the USA, where cheap surplus equipment is very common. But there's your problem. You have to make a case for why you, in the USA, have been unable to find a usable scope for yourself. Most people would be hard to convince that was real. Even using perfect grammar.

[tggzzz]

... there is no way i need the functionality of digital storage, and neither did the engineers until the late 1980's

Actually, we did need them - but the ADC technology wasn't sufficient. So we had to use analogue storage scopes where the storage is in the tube itself.

You can still find them around; my local HackSpace has a donated Telequipment 63, and I picked up a Tek 464 for free from a local equivalent of Craigslist. After the usual light repair, they work and are an excellent reminder of why people switched to digitising storage scopes as soon as they became usable.

Such analogue storage isn't new: some early computer memories were made as charges stored on the inside of a CRT; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_tube

[Someone]

... there is no way i need the functionality of digital storage, and neither did the engineers until the late 1980's

Actually, we did need them - but the ADC technology wasn't sufficient. So we had to use analogue storage scopes where the storage is in the tube itself.

Well so far we have a post saying they wish to measure frequency so need a scope, again jumping for the easy answer. An oscilloscope can measure many things but it has its limitations (and expense) while a lot of measurements can be made in numerous ways with other techniques and tools, measuring frequency can be as simple as a speaker and a tuning fork or musical instrument, or a cheap multimeter, or a stroboscope, or a counter. Many of us would recall doing fine in the hobby space without a scope by using other methods, and this comes in use when you are trying to measure something and can't access it with desired tools.

Some things are nice to have but they aren't needed.

[Halcyon]

Get a job.  Earn some money.  Buy one.

Pretty piss poor advice. As others have pointed out, it's not that easy, in fact, most countries have a minimum age where someone can be legally employed and be paid. In Australia it's 14 years and 9 months old. That's when I got my first job.

I respect the kid, he knows what he wants and he is doing his best. At least he has a keen interest in something useful, not hanging out with a "bad crowd" or wasting his day away at a skate park.

[tggzzz]

... there is no way i need the functionality of digital storage, and neither did the engineers until the late 1980's

Actually, we did need them - but the ADC technology wasn't sufficient. So we had to use analogue storage scopes where the storage is in the tube itself.

Well so far we have a post saying they wish to measure frequency so need a scope, again jumping for the easy answer. An oscilloscope can measure many things but it has its limitations (and expense) while a lot of measurements can be made in numerous ways with other techniques and tools, measuring frequency can be as simple as a speaker and a tuning fork or musical instrument, or a cheap multimeter, or a stroboscope, or a counter. Many of us would recall doing fine in the hobby space without a scope by using other methods, and this comes in use when you are trying to measure something and can't access it with desired tools.

Some things are nice to have but they aren't needed.

Indeed - look at my .sig and replace "span" with "scope".

At school we were taught how to measure voltage to 0.1% with a 2% voltmeter, a piece of wire, a metre rule, and two cells. One cell could supply current but the voltage varied, one had a known voltage but couldn't supply any current whatsoever (and contained mercury and cadmium solutions).

[Electro Detective]

Get a job.  Earn some money.  Buy one.

Pretty piss poor advice. As others have pointed out, it's not that easy, in fact, most countries have a minimum age where someone can be legally employed and be paid. In Australia it's 14 years and 9 months old. That's when I got my first job.

I respect the kid, he knows what he wants and he is doing his best. At least he has a keen interest in something useful, not hanging out with a "bad crowd" or wasting his day away at a skate park.

  

...and he's hooked up with one of the better forums   

[fcb]

I bought my first 'scope (Telequipment DM64) on my 13th birthday - it cost me £130 from Henry's on Tottenham Court Road in 1985, this was every penny I saved for a couple of years.  So I can sympathise with Brett's desire for a 'scope.

That said I think we should be wary about suggesting an old analogue 'scope - he may get lucky and get a good one, on the other hand he may get a duffer - and who is going to suggest that an inexperienced 13yo should be poking about inside a CRT 'scope.

I would suggest Brett try and find either a maker/hacker space locally or a HAM radio club. Highly likely that someone will have spare gear and also be able to show him how to use it safely.

More explanation as to why he needs a 'scope would help.  If it was audio, then there are apps for the ipad that turn it into a basic 'scope, if it's digital - then those $10 8ch digital logic analysers might be a great place to start (probably need an old PC - but that's trivial to get compared with 'scope).

Either way - I wish Brett good luck, please keep up with the thread.

[MK14]

For around $15, you can get these simple beginners oscilloscopes.

N.B. If you do buy one. Get advise (here) from someone who knows more about them. As some of the kits are better/best, than others. I DON'T know which are the best ones, as I DON'T have one.

You could have fun building it (if so, it is probably worth the $15 as an electronics project), and learn a lot, both from building it, seeing/understanding how it works, and then playing with it.
If you then told people about your experiences with it and/or did a youtube video, showing people, how good or bad, you found it. Maybe some fun projects you did with it.
You may get more people interested in helping you, sort out how you get yourself an oscilloscope.

If you do get an analogue one, make sure that it is NOT too big for your work bench and storage capabilities. If it is, you can either get a rather small analogue oscilloscope (some are smaller), or somehow earn/raise enough to buy your first proper digital oscilloscope. The later digital ones (usually LCD), are usually much more compact than the old analogue oscilloscopes.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DSO138-2-4-TFT-Digital-Oscilloscope-Acrylic-Case-DIY-Kit-SMD-Soldered-New-R2C0-/172351258235?var=&hash=item2820ef7e7b:m:mMasFJ1Und7ykMSUF3yEFqQ

[CatalinaWOW]

I will add to Terrahertz suggestions for your go fund me account.

Tell more of your story.  What have you done in electronics since you took the radio apart?  What have you built, what have you read, what have you measured?  What are you hoping to do with the scope when you get it?  Which part of electronics fascinates you - is it radio or controls or power or digital logic or ....  It is OK to not have a single pick or even a few, but all you can do to talk about them will help your quest.

I will also partly agree with those who suggest getting a job.  A lot will depend on your home situation and the local community, but often commitment leads to rewards.  Just hanging around a local shop which does something "technical" can lead to odd jobs or informal work or donations.  The local shop could be a maker space, a lawn mower repair shop, or if you are really, really fortunate, someone who repairs electronics (they exist though rare as hens teeth these days.)

I would also suggest that there is much to learn and explore in electronics before you need an oscilloscope.  Voltage dividers.  Simple power supplies.  Simple logic.  You haven't mentioned whether you have a voltmeter or DMM or any other test gear yet.  Something as simple as the free Harbor Freight DMM (actually will cost as much as two or three dollars since you may need to buy a Sunday newspaper to get the coupon and since a purchase is required and the cheapest thing I am aware of in the store is a snap off knife for 49  cents which you can use the 20% off coupon on). 

Get to the library or internet and look for old books on electronics.  The electronics engineers who designed the first radars and televisions did not have oscilloscopes to start with, they invented them as part of their work.  Much of what they did have can be duplicated easily and cheaply today, and following them through the learning/invention process is a great learning tool.

[tooki]

  Humbug must humbug. At least the kid is taking some initiative, some action.
 

No he's not. This is not how the world works.

You might wanna read up on how Steve Jobs got started in tech.

[PlainName]

For the naysaying scrooges - he's 13

And Dunkem High is actually my real  name.

JOOI, how do you know he is 13?

[hermit]

For the naysaying scrooges - he's 13

JOOI, how do you know he is 13?

Someone joins an electronics forum and and their first post is for $500 in donations?     If they are that interested where is the previous participation?  With so many scams now days my money isn't given that freely.

[WastelandTek]

here kid

http://www.zelscope.com/

don't say I never did anything for 'ya

[grumpydoc]

I bought my first 'scope (Telequipment DM64) on my 13th birthday - it cost me £130 from Henry's on Tottenham Court Road in 1985, this was every penny I saved for a couple of years. 

You beat me by a few years.

I guess I was 16, maybe 17 when I got my first 'scope. I don't recall the make - something like a Telequipment D67 but I do remember visiting Steward of Reading to buy it - with hard saved funds. I think it was also around the £100 mark - I struck a deal because one channel wasn't working. I figured I could use the good channel to trace through the bad - in truth I probably would not have stood a chance but I got very lucky. It must have been a dry joint or dodgy switch because after the jostling of the train journey home it worked and continued to do so perfectly until some low life *&^^%$£ stole it from my car when I was about 24.

[hermit]

Here is an old Tek 2213 for $35 near you.
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/bfs/d/for-sale-tektronix-analog/6211924909.html
Give the guy a call, and he might even be willing to give it to you for free.

Geez the link disappeared after I bought the thing.  Go figure.   Thanks for the heads up on that.  I had to drive to Cleveland for it, but it came with a bag full of probes.   Fortunately, one was bad.  It was the one connected to the thing when I got there and caused at least one other person to decline the purchase.  I had an Arduino and attached dongle to output something I could easily look at. 

[eugenenine]

There is a 2264 in c-bus, I'd buy it but I don't have $275
https://columbus.craigslist.org/ele/d/tektronix-channel-mhz/6213159523.html

I have a 2205 and a 2211.

[Vgkid]

I have a 2246 as my only oscilloscope.

[eugenenine]

Looking at the location on the map I know the seller, I bought a fluke meter from him a while back.

Maybe I should ask him to give it to me

[vk6zgo]

... there is no way i need the functionality of digital storage, and neither did the engineers until the late 1980's

Actually, we did need them - but the ADC technology wasn't sufficient. So we had to use analogue storage scopes where the storage is in the tube itself.

You can still find them around; my local HackSpace has a donated Telequipment 63, and I picked up a Tek 464 for free from a local equivalent of Craigslist. After the usual light repair, they work and are an excellent reminder of why people switched to digitising storage scopes as soon as they became usable.

Such analogue storage isn't new: some early computer memories were made as charges stored on the inside of a CRT; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_tube

I could count the number of times I actually needed  a storage oscilloscope on the fingers on one hand, over many years in Electronics.
There were more times when it would have been handy, but even they were fairly rare.

But then, again, I'm not an Engineer! 

Those 'scopes with analog storage fell into one of two categories:-
(1)The storage function had never been used.
(2)The storage controls were worn out, so the pot position you needed was right in the noisy part of the track

When HP brought their "latest & greatest" DSO we were enthusiastic, but were disappointed in its performance, for other reasons.(Lack of memory made it useless for video testing.)
This was repeated with both HP & Tektronix for years.

Perhaps naively, I thought that digital storage would allow us to save a good waveform, superimpose the one we were looking at, then compare them, but such a facility did not exist, at least in the early 1980s/1990s instruments.
Indeed, does it exist now?

[aargee]

Get a job.  Earn some money.  Buy one.

Pretty piss poor advice. As others have pointed out, it's not that easy, in fact, most countries have a minimum age where someone can be legally employed and be paid. In Australia it's 14 years and 9 months old. That's when I got my first job.

I respect the kid, he knows what he wants and he is doing his best. At least he has a keen interest in something useful, not hanging out with a "bad crowd" or wasting his day away at a skate park.

... or collecting obscene amounts of test gear that will never be used. 

[hermit]

... or collecting obscene amounts of test gear that will never be used. 

Those giving verbal support never gave financial support.  No donations as of yet.  Seriously, that $35 60Mhz scope was quite the recommendation IF this is an honest  endeavor.  But, I own it now.   Beats the 1Mhz tube based scope I was begged to take away.  But, look at that board on his desk.  It really needs a $500 scope to analyze, because Lord knows, it will kill his 'real' interest if he doesn't get that $500 scope.  Need and want are still different last I checked.

[PlainName]

But, I own it now

Why did you buy it?

[testpoint]

when I am in 13 years old, I try to get a multimeter, but my family is poor in that time, I can not get it, to determine the DC power supply's +- line, I just put the line into water, more gas bubble is negative K, another one is positive A;
please give me a reason why you want the scope ? I have several, may give you in free, but the shipping cost is quite high, you may wait one year, until I move to MA, USA.

[NivagSwerdna]

FWIW OP also appears here... https://www.eevblog.com/forum/contests/giveaway-rohde-schwarz-rtb2004-oscilloscope/msg1245118/#msg1245118

Just because you don't own something doesn't mean it you can't get access to it... IMHO In the meantime OP needs to seek out a school, ham radio club, colege, hack space... finding a mentor would help a lot.  (I used to hang out around University departments many years before ever being an under grad, academics can be amazingly friendly to keen young people). [Obviously under some oversight of parent... child protection issues etc etc!]

[onesixright]

Get a job.  Earn some money.  Buy one.

Pretty piss poor advice. As others have pointed out, it's not that easy, in fact, most countries have a minimum age where someone can be legally employed and be paid. In Australia it's 14 years and 9 months old. That's when I got my first job.

I respect the kid, he knows what he wants and he is doing his best. At least he has a keen interest in something useful, not hanging out with a "bad crowd" or wasting his day away at a skate park.

I don't think you need a license to cut grass, wash a few cars, shine some shoes? Or do you? A few weeks and you have 50 USD, enough to buy a analog scope.

What I don't get is where the need comes from? To want stuff, I understand. But need when your 13?

It wouldn't be my style to beg ask for free stuff. But some people simply don't mind. Can't blame the boy, I guess (maybe?) this has todo with upbringing? My mother would slap me around, pretty sure.

@Stonecold I do wish you success! But, if I could give you once peace of advice, try to manage on your own (meaning: don't depend on gifts). The reward will be much greater (and you will enjoy it much longer). Promise.

// off topic
It would make law enforcement pretty simple (and its not) if you could distinguish bad crowds just based wetter you would be asking for stuff on some forum. Plenty scammers online. I don't think this would be a indication of anything. 

There are gang-members that are "keen" to join the US army, not help, but to learn. And these guys, once they are coming back (after service), have no intention to use what they learned for the greater good. In the contrary. My point? Being keen on learning stuff, says nothing about the (true) motivation.

[hermit]

Why did you buy it?

That's answered in the post.  But to add, my 1MHz tube based, rack mount scope is starting to have issues.  At $35 I figured it was worth the gamble.  But mainly, at $35 I'd probably buy a second just based on price if it became available.

[mtdoc]

I don't think you need a license to cut grass, wash a few cars,

you're assuming he lives in the suburbs.

shine some shoes?

that would have been good advice ....50 years ago...

I don't know if the O.P. is a scam or not -but I think the odds are high that it is legit.  He didn't take me up on my offer to send him money via Paypal but there could be lots of reasons for that. I do know that if it is legit, the cynicism and hostility directed at him by some of the adults in this thread is enough to scare off most 13 year olds and perhaps even drive them away from electronics for good.

[MK14]

I don't think you need a license to cut grass, wash a few cars,

you're assuming he lives in the suburbs.

shine some shoes?

that would have been good advice ....50 years ago...

I don't know if the O.P. is a scam or not -but I think the odds are high that it is legit.  He didn't take me up on my offer to send him money via Paypal but there could be lots of reasons for that. I do know that if it is legit, the cynicism and hostility directed at him by some of the adults in this thread is enough to scare off most 13 year olds and perhaps even drive them away from electronics for good.

I feel that it would have tended to be better. If the OP, had built up a number of posts, over a period of time on this forum. Showing his advances and adventures, as a beginner in Electronics. E.g. 50 posts.
He could have then created a thread, explaining that he is being held back in some of his projects (which he can detail in the thread), apparently because of a lack of an oscilloscope capability.

We could have then helped him choose the best solutions, for him to solve that problem.

A decent analogue oscilloscope (if he has enough space), which can sometimes be obtained free. If he had been an active member for a while, built up some kind of posting history, and was politely asking if anyone had a usable analogue oscilloscope available at a low cost, for an upcoming beginner.

Although on the one hand I agree with you, putting young beginners at Electronics off is a bad thing. To just go onto a forum, with a very low post count (at the time of the OP), and just say "Give me $500". When they can't even bother to spell oscilloscope properly in the gofundme title. Can't that surprisingly get claims of "it might be a scam" and/or it is too much like begging.

[onesixright]

I don't think you need a license to cut grass, wash a few cars,

you're assuming he lives in the suburbs.

shine some shoes?

that would have been good advice ....50 years ago...

I don't know if the O.P. is a scam or not -but I think the odds are high that it is legit.  He didn't take me up on my offer to send him money via Paypal but there could be lots of reasons for that. I do know that if it is legit, the cynicism and hostility directed at him by some of the adults in this thread is enough to scare off most 13 year olds and perhaps even drive them away from electronics for good.

You can nitpick on examples I gave. But the point is he can do some chores for some reward. On top, going outside wouldn't hurt! ;-)

All I'm trying to say is: he doesn't need to apply for a job, to make a few bucks.

I also feel with others that said: he has no track record here. Thats not per-se wrong, but yeah well 

[EHT]

This is all quite amusing

Stonecold, you might get some more comical advice if you say what you're going to do with this machine!

Do you already have a DMM? If not then my advice is a get a cheap reliable DMM first. You can fix a lot of stuff up with that before you need a scope. That, and get some second hand text books on electrical engineering and make sure you understand basics such as Ohm's law, the function of common discrete components and common circuits. If you haven't already done this, you'll get many suggestions here on which books to look for. I'm sure you will find old copies available very cheaply.

You will get a more methodical introduction if you go through making some simple circuits rather than trying to fix up old equipment which of course can be very complex: old stuff, hard to get parts; new stuff, hard to repair, no diagrams, tiny parts. Get a soldering iron with a fine chiseled tip and learn to solder well.

How about simple stuff attached to arduino etc. Cheap and easy. If you also learn programming alongside you will find this easily leads you to more $$$.

[buck converter]

Hi Stonecold, I see that you want an oscilloscope. here is a link to buy an analog oscilloscope from ebay. It is not every day a working oscilloscope is being sold for 60 bucks.eBay auction: #282528453265. Get it before it is taken!

[WastelandTek]

^ those Hitachis are actually pretty nice, really sharp trace

[Brumby]

I still have my V152B.  It has a few battle scars, but it is still working - and the trace is still excellent.  I'm not sure about calibration, but the vertical doesn't look too far off and the horizontal appears to be quite OK.

... and we're talking about a scope that's around 40 years old.

[buck converter]

Despite what this forum claims, it is getting harder and harder to get a guaranteed working analog oscilloscope off of eBay, at least in the US. This Hitachi is a once-a-month oppurtunity.

[Novanoid]

Here is a decent one and it is only $25 : https://cleveland.craigslist.org/ele/d/oscilloscope-model/6242849563.html

[Inverted18650]

I've got a bunch and I'll GIVE you one. Message me and I'll delivery it. If you are in fact a young kid just getting into EE, I drive up and drop it off.

This is not a joke, I bought a large lot Tek gear a few months back and I have one that is perfect for you. Again, if your not just trying to hustle up cash and your actually a kid, it's free. Just message me and we'll set it up. No I won't let your uncle, friend, etc pick it up, I want to see the kid - you - and talk a little about EE to make sure your legit...maybe get ya started with some other cool little projects too.

Edit: if your just a full time scam artist, I'm sure you'll have an excuse as to why you can't accept this free scope and need the cash instead. Guess we will see soon enough..

[WastelandTek]

brilliant

[Rbastler]

Indeed brilliant. That'll show OPs true intentions.
From what I read here on this thread and on bis gofundme page, I'll have to assume he's a scamer looking for money. Might be true he is 13 years old.
If he isn't a scamer despite of "evidence" pointing towards it, I wish OP all the best with bis new scope.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[gnavigator1007]

Nothing creepier than demanding someone prove themselves a 13 year old on the internet. Also, I thought he made a video for Dave's giveaway that seemed to show he was legitimately a young hobbyist.

[mtdoc]

Yes, he did make a very nice video.

Good luck Brett. My offer still stands.

[vk6zgo]

I've got a bunch and I'll GIVE you one. Message me and I'll delivery it. If you are in fact a young kid just getting into EE, I drive up and drop it off.

This is not a joke, I bought a large lot Tek gear a few months back and I have one that is perfect for you. Again, if your not just trying to hustle up cash and your actually a kid, it's free. Just message me and we'll set it up. No I won't let your uncle, friend, etc pick it up, I want to see the kid - you - and talk a little about EE to make sure your legit...maybe get ya started with some other cool little projects too.

Edit: if your just a full time scam artist, I'm sure you'll have an excuse as to why you can't accept this free scope and need the cash instead. Guess we will see soon enough..

Don't see the kid alone---- make sure the mother is there.
I was going to send a 'scope Interstate to a 12 year old, but he seemed cagey about getting his parents to verify that he could have it, so I "pulled the plug" on the offer!

The thought of Mum or Dad going mad  that some "weirdo on the Internet" had sent a box of "Electronics stuff" to their precious "Chee-ild", & setting the  Federal cops onto me was not very pleasing.

[Rbastler]

Nothing creepier than demanding someone prove themselves a 13 year old on the internet. Also, I thought he made a video for Dave's giveaway that seemed to show he was legitimately a young hobbyist.

No need for OP to be there alone. In fact, I woudnt bring him the scope, without his Patents beeing with him. So you can verify he isnt a scamer and the parents are hopefully cool with some one helping a young electronics Enthusiast out.
Im not into law and all that, but there could very well be one that permits no online "sales" to minors. So having the parents  with him, its always good.


Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[Inverted18650]

Didn't know about a video that was made by the kid... hope he's legit and there is NO chance I'd meet him alone. But that makes me remember Bill Burr's comedy routine about kids...never thought I'd laugh about pedafiles, but he made it funny.

I figured that if it was legit, it would be a feel good story for the page. We will take some pics and send them in...maybe call the local news channel, make a big deal about some EE website helping local needy kids learn and all the bells and whistles. 

[MK14]

The OP doesn't seem to have posted/responded to this thread, for a rather long time.

Not that it would be ESSENTIAL to do it. They also haven't posted in or created any other threads, as regards, Electronics (e.g. as a hobbyist). Apart from the recent Oscilloscope competition, and its associated thread.

I.e. If they are that keen on "our" forum, Oscilloscopes and Electronics. Why nothing ?

[PlainName]

I.e. If they are that keen on "our" forum, Oscilloscopes and Electronics. Why nothing ?

Maybe the reception he got put him off this place.

[Rbastler]

I.e. If they are that keen on "our" forum, Oscilloscopes and Electronics. Why nothing ?

Maybe the reception he got put him off this place.

He did present himself rather poorly I'd say. To bad that the video he made came up late.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[MK14]

I.e. If they are that keen on "our" forum, Oscilloscopes and Electronics. Why nothing ?

Maybe the reception he got put him off this place.

Is there any Electronics (and related) Forums. Where you can make an initial post (or 2nd or 3rd post). Basically saying "Donate $500, ossiliscope needed. gofundme-here.". Then within 30 minutes, you get your $500 ?

(Mostly a Rhetorical question).

EDIT:
But on the other hand, at a rather young age (hence lacking experience), and perhaps with too little parental involvement (hinted at by OP), it is maybe fair/understandable enough that such a person, can end up making poor judgements.
Hence why this thread, turned out the way it did.

EDIT2:
The rules on gofundme, are apparently a bit vague and wishywashy (when I quickly looked at it). But apparently, someone aged above (something like), 18 years old and above. Should have authorized (or SOMETHING, I just can't quickly understand it) the gofundme page.
To an extent, I CAN'T make out, from the rather long and difficult to understand, terms and conditions etc of gofundme.
There is some mention of 13 being the youngest age, but also it mentions someone of "legal age" or something. I.e. >= 18 years old.

[PlainName]

Is there any Electronics (and related) Forums. Where you can...

Don't know but shouldn't think so.

I am not casting blame, just supplying a possible answer. Like many, I was skeptical at the start for the reasons you give: first post, wants, no history, etc. The responses to that seem entirely reasonable to me, but from his point of view they would be pretty off-putting. Gosh, they would be for me and I've been around a bit . Hardly any surprise if he just didn't bother coming back.

Presentation counts for a lot since it's the only thing we have to go on. But if that video he did appeared at the start of this thread I bet it would have made a vast difference.

[MK14]

Don't know but shouldn't think so.

I am not casting blame, just supplying a possible answer. Like many, I was skeptical at the start for the reasons you give: first post, wants, no history, etc. The responses to that seem entirely reasonable to me, but from his point of view they would be pretty off-putting. Gosh, they would be for me and I've been around a bit . Hardly any surprise if he just didn't bother coming back.

Presentation counts for a lot since it's the only thing we have to go on. But if that video he did appeared at the start of this thread I bet it would have made a vast difference.

That does make sense. Looking at it from their point of view. They may feel that we have been hostile, and so have effectively left, out of frustration with us (as regards making further posts), the forum.

I'm convinced that Dave (EEVblog), needs to have some kind of rule in all further competitions. Whereby the entrant needs to either be at least some age (probably 18 years old) or have permission from a parent or guardian (who is at least 18 years old).

Almost all other competitions seem to have such a rule (age 18 and over). I think it has got some to do with the law (legality), but I DON'T know much about it. So it would be best, to get the answer/advice from someone who does.

E.g. If a competition for a soldering iron is held by a forum. No age restrictions. A young person enters it and wins the soldering iron. The forum owners then post it to them, without any age 18 requirements or asking the parents or guardians. I presume if the young person hurts themselves with the soldering iron, then the forum owners could get into trouble.

The fact that this is a world wide platform, also really complicates matters. Especially as regards the law.

[Inverted18650]

Well, no word from the kid. Probably just lost the charging cable to his iPad.

[BBBbbb]

Well, no word from the kid. Probably just lost the charging cable to his iPad.

Nope, he's been online in the meantime. Probably searching your name through the known sex offenders database 

Jokes aside, I do believe he is a real kid and wanted a scope, but I am also pretty sure he doesn't get it's functionality completely, nor how much you could accomplish without one. I've seen guys do fantastic projects w/o a scope. Looks like the kid has just started exploring electronics as a hobby, read on a few sites how cool a scope can be, and decided he needs one. Therefore, he's not quite able to explain why he needs one.

[Novanoid]

I just don't get why he can't use a sound card oscilloscope eg. Winscope. Even if he doesn't have a windows computer, I'm sure they make apps for the Ipad that have the same functionality as Winscope. I myself have used Winscope for nearly two years, and it works just fine for low voltages.

[hermit]

He said he built something like a wave form generator and had no way to see if it worked.  The scope offer could be PM'd to see if he still reads the site.   If he is that interested in electronics he would/should still be doing lots of reading here.  Since he says he's built some stuff the input adapter for the Winscope should be right up his alley too.

[NivagSwerdna]

My 2c...

The kid is genuine, he has an interest in electronics.  That interest could be nurtured, he needs a mentor and environment to do electronics.

However, the setting in the video is staged.  e.g. No soldering iron (and several projects are soldered on prototype board), nothing in cupboard apart from neatly arranged past projects.

I would speculate that either there is more stuff somewhere else in the house or more likely that his mentor is no longer around due to family or other circumstances.  I feel sorry for the kid.

Given the poor start I would suggest he creates a new Forum Id and starts again.  In terms of equipment I think he would be much better sticking to digital (blinking lights, simple sensors, LCD displays etc) until he gets access to better help and equipment (which probably means some personal commitment to travel as he gets a bit older)

The internet is a harsh mistress; that's probably been a valuable although unpleasant lesson!

[BradC]

Given the poor start I would suggest he creates a new Forum Id and starts again.

Oh hell no. The best way to show you've learned from a mistake is to own it, not run away from it.

[NivagSwerdna]

Given the poor start I would suggest he creates a new Forum Id and starts again.

Oh hell no. The best way to show you've learned from a mistake is to own it, not run away from it.

OK... I see where you are coming from.  The least he should do is delete his begging page on givemethecash.com

[jacklee]

Hi boy, maybe you could try get start from a cheap one like this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DSO138-Oscilloscope-screen/32777588244.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.1.8aCovp&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10066_10152_10065_10151_10068_5400013_10307_10137_10060_10155_10154_10056_10055_5370013_10054_10059_100031_10099_5380013_10103_10102_5410013_5430013_10052_10053_10142_10107_10050_10051_10084_10083_10080_10082_10081_10110_5390013_10111_10112_10113_10114_10179_10312_10313_10314_10315_10078_10079_10073_5420013,searchweb201603_5,ppcSwitch_5&btsid=240f24ca-8a71-41c6-a4fb-1d00d7cae5a6&algo_expid=38733db2-9c1e-445b-8acc-cf7feb1a6f8f-0&algo_pvid=38733db2-9c1e-445b-8acc-cf7feb1a6f8f

[Brumby]

I got one of those for a bit of fun and an SMD assembly exercise.

While it does work, it is nowhere near as easy to use as a traditional scope - and it's limitations will soon frustrate.... IMHO.

I would not suggest this if you wanted to get any part of serious in using a scope.



Having said that, it is better than nothing.