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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: ariek on October 23, 2017, 06:59:18 pm

Title: oscilloscope pm3260-e or hitachi v-212 (beginner scope)
Post by: ariek on October 23, 2017, 06:59:18 pm
I am a newb and looking for a oscilloscope
While checking out Dave's video on an oscilloscope under $50 I locally found two
1) Hitachi V-212
2) A philips pm3260-e

Both are in great condition with probes and all. But I know to little to make a good choice.

specs (as found on  ebay)
philips
Frequency range: 10 Hz-120 Mhz, rise time 3 ns;
2 channel, C.R.T 80x100 mm P31 phosphor, acceleration voltage 20 kV;
Y-axis deflection factor: 5 mV/DIV - 2 V/DIV;
X-axis 1 s/DIV - 50 ns/DIV

I think the specs of the V-212 are already known

Can you help me out with advice
Title: Re: oscilloscope pm3260-e or hitachi v-212 (beginner scope)
Post by: David Hess on October 24, 2017, 04:19:31 am
Things I would consider:

1. The PM3260 has a much higher CRT acceleration voltage to support its higher bandwidth which will make its CRT brighter and sharper.  (20kV versus 2kV)
2. Which one has the most or at least complete service documentation?
3. How common are each model?  This has an impact on any spare parts which might be needed.
4. The PM3260 had a dual delayed timebase so it is more complex to maintain.
Title: Re: oscilloscope pm3260-e or hitachi v-212 (beginner scope)
Post by: ariek on October 28, 2017, 09:23:25 am
Hi David

Thanks for your response. I just bought both and testing them both at this moment.
They are in great condition and all the documentation is supplied

Title: Re: oscilloscope pm3260-e or hitachi v-212 (beginner scope)
Post by: oldway on October 28, 2017, 10:01:25 am
Philips oscilloscopes typically used reed relays in the input attenuators, which never gave problems of bad contact.
On the other hand, the PM326x series does not use reed relays and has huge problems of bad contacts in the input attenuators.

In addition, at least the PM3264 (4 channels) has a lot of problems with high voltage (leaks, corona effect) because the high voltage is very high.