Where to buy scopes

[JAubrey]

Greetings,

I wish to buy  a Hantek DSO4204C (preferred) or a Hantek DSO4254C but everywhere I check the shipping times are outrageous. Are there no vendors in the states?

Since I need one next week I would consider renting a scope for a few weeks if need be.

Your help appreciated.

Thanks,
Jack

[El Rubio]

Consider what happens if it needs a warranty repair. There are lots of other oscilloscopes with US distributors and service centers. Not to mention a vast used market.

[nctnico]

In the US I'd check Tequipment.net or saelig.com and buy something they have available. If you look a bit further there are probably dozens of other test equipment dealers.

[Fungus]

Browse this site:

https://www.tequipment.net/Instek/GDS-1054B/Digital-Oscilloscopes/?b=y&v=7781

Any reason for getting a Hantek? They're not known for having lots of features and being bug-free. That Instek isn't the same bandwidth as the Hantek but it's a far better 'scope all around.

[egonotto]

Hello,

I would not buy a scope with only 64 kSamples if the scope has no special properties.

Best regards
egonotto

[JAubrey]

RE: GDS-1054B

Thanks for the suggestion as it is a nice scope but I had at least three reasons to pass on it.
I want a 200 MHz scope, really need higher. But 100 MHz will do for now.
I do not see that this one has a serial protocol analyzer.
It has no function generator.

But it is a nice scope.

I like the GDS-1104B but I don't see that it has serial protocol analysis.
Thanks again,
Jack

[JAubrey]

RE: 64K samples. OK, thanks. Good point.

[JAubrey]

Regarding: vast used market

Thanks, I did a bit of looking but obviously I must not have done enough.

So used scope dealers would be much appreciated.


==========

I appreciate all the help so maybe I should revamp my wish list based upon what you have said.

1)Prefer 100MHz+
2)Strongly desire serial decode. Even though I have a logic analyzer if it is serial it's nice to see it on the scope without changing over, especially since some other signals I need to watch at the same time are much higher voltage.
3) Must be 4 channels with a separate vertical control for each channel.
4) Must be available within 10 days, not shipped from China.
5) Trying hard to get it here for < $700.00.

Used DSO or MSO would be OK.

[Fungus]

I do not see that this one has a serial protocol analyzer.

It does.

[Fungus]

1)Prefer 100MHz+
2)Strongly desire serial decode. Even though I have a logic analyzer if it is serial it's nice to see it on the scope without changing over, especially since some other signals I need to watch at the same time are much higher voltage.
3) Must be 4 channels with a separate vertical control for each channel.
4) Must be available within 10 days, not shipped from China.
5) Trying hard to get it here for < $700.00.

The cheapest 'scope that does all of that is the Rigol MSO5000.

https://www.tequipment.net/Rigol/MSO5074/Digital-Oscilloscopes/?b=y&v=7906

All optrions can be unlocked easily so you get 350Mhz, signal generator, etc. for the price of the base model.

You could get the 2 channel version and unlock the other channels but you only get two rubbish probes instead of four good ones so it's not really worth it.

Tequipment does an EEVBLOG discount which is usually about 5%. Search the forums for the secret code.

[cdev]

You'll quite possibly do better with a new scope than a used one from a "dealer".

Ebay is where I found my analog Tek 2211. Which I paid $75 for.

Which was a good price. I wouldn't pay much more for almost any analog scope. Because the CRTS are delicate and too expensive to replace.

Dave has a video on buying a used scope thats worth watching..

[nctnico]

If decoding is a requirement then you'll end up buying a relatively new or new model and given the budget that will be a scope from GW Instek, Micsig, Rigol or Siglent.

[JAubrey]

The Rigol MSO looks tempting but maybe not this payday.

It turns out that the Instek GDS-1104B does have serial decode, seems a lot of places don't mention that. No function gen but I know the good folks here can set me on the right path when the need arises.

So I have requested delivery time from TEquipment, Valuetronics, used-line.com, and Saelig.com. Prices run from $577 - $644. So if you have dirt on any of these guys please sing out.

Thanks again, everyone.

[Fungus]

It turns out that the Instek GDS-1104B does have serial decode, seems a lot of places don't mention that.

It's a long story. In the original press announcement it had it but they removed it from production models, presumably to try and sell more expensive 'scopes.

But... the Instek firmware is modular across all models so people took the decoder plugin from high end 'scopes and hacked it into the GDS1104B and had serial decode.

About a year ago the serial decoder appeared in all production models.

Result: The information on the web is a mess.

No function gen but I know the good folks here can set me on the right path when the need arises.

You can get a basic function generator for $100. The advantage of having it built into in the 'scope is that you can do bode plots.

(and some 'scopes can also control an external signal generator if you buy same-brand)