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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: Mesozoic on May 11, 2015, 10:45:50 pm

Title: Replacing busted old handheld scope
Post by: Mesozoic on May 11, 2015, 10:45:50 pm
This is my 1st post, so I'll provide a bit of introduction.  I'm a professional software engineer, having spent 10 years in the video game industry, now working mainly with embedded systems on fuel injection and autopilots.  I bought my first scope in 2008 to help debug issues found in automotive and motorcycle fuel injection systems.  It is a Protek 860 60 MHz handheld unit.  While it has performed admirably when it's been functional, it's not always been very reliable.  The screen died after 1 year's use and after $350 USD and 8 months of wait time, I finally got it back from Protek's repair facility in Korea.  It functioned well until just a few weeks ago... the screen has died AGAIN.

I'm interested in replacing it with a more reliable unit and there's quite a few new offerings on the market today.  I'm on a budget (need the scope for personal use), so anything over $2000 USD is out of the question and something in the sub-$1000 USD pricepoint is ideal. 

The Instek GDS-210 (http://www.tequipment.net/Instek/GDS-210/Digital-Oscilloscopes/ (http://www.tequipment.net/Instek/GDS-210/Digital-Oscilloscopes/)) looks interesting, as does the BK Precision 2512 (http://www.tequipment.net/BK/2512/ (http://www.tequipment.net/BK/2512/), although it does not have isolated inputs.  Are isolated inputs worth doubling the price of a scope?
Title: Re: Replacing busted old handheld scope
Post by: tautech on May 11, 2015, 11:03:13 pm
Welcome to the forum.

Have a look at the Siglent SHS series, the 800 range having common BNC's and the 1000 range has isolated inputs.
http://www.siglentamerica.com/pd.aspx?tid=2&T=1 (http://www.siglentamerica.com/pd.aspx?tid=2&T=1)

In the couple of decades that isolated inputs have been available in DSO's they have always been much dearer, but it's a great feature IMO, not needing Differential probes to ensure channel reference isolation.
Title: Re: Replacing busted old handheld scope
Post by: Muxr on May 11, 2015, 11:22:25 pm
Perhaps outdated a bit but Mike did a review on the Owon HDS3102M-N while back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6td9kVKWGFw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6td9kVKWGFw)
Title: Re: Replacing busted old handheld scope
Post by: R_G_B_ on May 12, 2015, 10:32:45 pm
Tektronix ths720 is a good hand held scope it has isolated channels and 100Mhz bandwidth. Or fluke 199 or 200 series second hand.
Title: Re: Replacing busted old handheld scope
Post by: Mesozoic on May 13, 2015, 06:30:45 pm
The Owon review seems to indicate that it's not a complete steaming pile, which is interesting because it's Chinese! 

I'm seeing that Protek has been absorbed by GSI and is now GSI-Protek.  They are listing an attractively priced and updated handheld scope, but of course, I'm unsure of whether anyone has any reviews for it: http://www.gsi-protek.com/# (http://www.gsi-protek.com/#)!1000s/c1tfv
Title: Re: Replacing busted old handheld scope
Post by: Howardlong on May 13, 2015, 07:18:55 pm
The Protek 1000 series is the same as the Hantek DSO1000B series I believe. I did a brief comparison between the Owon And the Hantek here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/owon-hds3102m-n-handheld-scope-review-teardown/msg639550/#msg639550 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/owon-hds3102m-n-handheld-scope-review-teardown/msg639550/#msg639550)
Title: Re: Replacing busted old handheld scope
Post by: Mesozoic on May 13, 2015, 10:34:48 pm
Thank you so much!