Author Topic: Tek TDS220 - is it worth a 300 mile round trip for a free one? (Read 4704 times)

SingedFingers · « **on:** February 19, 2017, 10:43:25 am »

A colleague I worked for a number of years ago is moving out of the UK Friday next week. He's got a TDS220 he doesn't have time to sell and said I can have it if I come and get it. Apparently it works and passes self tests but there are no probes. Is this worth a 300 mile round trip to grab?

I haven't used any TDS machines apart from an earlier CRT based one so I have no reference point to compare to.

I also don't actually need it but it's difficult saying no to something free.

Edit: it also has had the display replaced recently as well apparently.

technogeeky · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2017, 10:53:12 am »

edit:

Now I know I can't maths in two countries~

EEVblog · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2017, 10:57:57 am »

Nope:
Sold for £68
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TEKTRONIX-2-CHANNEL-DIGITAL-OSCILLOSCOPE-TDS-220-/272558922452?hash=item3f75c71ad4:g:M1EAAOSw4CFYpa9K

AndyC_772 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2017, 10:58:22 am »

Oh, dear.

30 miles per (imperial, not US) gallon = 6.6 miles per litre
300 mile round trip (not 600!) => 45.5 litres
Total fuel cost = 45.5 * £1.20 => £54

A TDS220 is a very basic piece of kit, but if it works and you need one, then make a day out of it and go right ahead.

Avacee · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2017, 10:58:39 am »

300 mile round trip = 300 mile total .. Reply No 1's maths is for 300 miles each way.

I'd do it, but then again, I could use it and get 65+ mpg :p

nctnico · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2017, 11:45:01 am »

Quote from: SingedFingers on February 19, 2017, 10:43:25 am

A colleague I worked for a number of years ago is moving out of the UK Friday next week. He's got a TDS220 he doesn't have time to sell and said I can have it if I come and get it. Apparently it works and passes self tests but there are no probes. Is this worth a 300 mile round trip to grab?

That depends on how much it is worth to catch up and have some laughs about good old times. As others noted the TDS220 is a very basic oscilloscope which goes for pennies even though it is a Tektronix.

capt bullshot · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2017, 11:59:48 am »

Any many others say, the TDS220 is a basic scope. In my opinion it has many positive aspects:
- it's very easy to use (one knob / button for all the main functions, only few menus)
- it boots very fast
- if you are used to TEK analog scopes, you won't notice a great difference except that it is very lightweight and small and has a "stop" button that freezes the signal :-)
- compared with TDS5xx / 7xx menu style, the 220 is simpler and quicker
- I still uses mine for quick jellybean jobs, just because it is so easy and simple
- in usability aspects, it is even better than the colored TDS2024 variants, since the software reacts pretty fast to user interaction

SingedFingers · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2017, 12:04:32 pm »

Going to skip it based on the above. Thanks for the input everyone

crazyguy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2017, 12:21:06 pm »

not worth it, TDS220 common problem is BAD LCD

my rarely use TDS220 LCD looks like this

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/equipment-tools/179721-tektronix-lcd-screen-bad.html

SingedFingers · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2017, 04:10:32 pm »

This just had a new one installed about 3 months ago apparently. You can get the displays on aliexpress for ~$60 or so.

CJay · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2017, 04:36:56 pm »

Well if he's still got it, is somewhere around or north of Birmingham and wants to give it a home where it'll be used then I'd quite like it

SingedFingers · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2017, 05:33:14 pm »

Unfortunately opposite direction - near Weymouth.

CatalinaWOW · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2017, 11:50:26 pm »

Too bad it is the wrong time of year to make this a nice little bonus on an already enjoyable road trip. Get out of the house and lab and see something you haven't seen before, or haven't seen in a while. Have a nice lunch somewhere. You get the picture.

Avacee · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2017, 12:07:17 am »

fwiw SingedFingers - entering the weight and dimensions of a Tek TDS200 into https://www.myhermes.co.uk/ results in a cost of £6.95 for a 200+ miles trip.
How many beer vouchers to persuade him to pack it and post it :p

SingedFingers · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2017, 06:33:45 am »

He hasn't got time to pack and send. Plus Hermes destroy literally everything that get sent to me.

CJay · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2017, 09:20:21 am »

Quote from: SingedFingers on February 19, 2017, 05:33:14 pm

Unfortunately opposite direction - near Weymouth.

Sadly rather a long way in the opposite direction, I've friends down there but they'd not be able to collect and I'm off holiday and back to work now or I might have considered a short break.

I hope it finds a good home.

SingedFingers · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2017, 09:24:33 am »

Indeed. Apparently he took it to work this morning and put it on his bench and sent an email around to everyone saying help yourself, first come first served and it was gone in 20 seconds flat

He's the only EE in the company so expect to see it on ebay by the end of the day ...

tszaboo · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2017, 09:29:56 am »

I would pick it up, and do something like this with it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_3886958641&feature=iv&src_vid=VZCokbsTwmQ&v=yAahT8_P-_E
I hate Craptronix TDS "I lack all the features, but companies buy me, because I have a big MHz number on the front" scopes.

SingedFingers · « **Reply #18 on:** February 20, 2017, 09:59:43 am »

Definitely junk then!

TBH I like a knackered old analogue scope to play inside. Digital scopes have no such use or appeal so are only useful for utility, not exploration and learning. When I think about it, they're a bit of a dead zone.

I got a free Telequipment S61 last year (only 10 minute drive away) which was a really primitive single trace 5MHz job but I reverse engineered the whole thing back to schematics which was a valuable exercise. Also a lesson on extreme cost cutting. Sinclair would have been proud of what they did to the inside of that!

Richard Head · « **Reply #19 on:** February 20, 2017, 03:21:28 pm »

No great loss. The TDS 220 in my opinion is a horrible scope. I would far rather use an older analogue scope than a TDS 220. Yes, it does have the digital storage facility which can sometimes be invaluable but it's still a horrible scope to use, mainly because of the LCD.

marco.van.steen · « **Reply #20 on:** February 20, 2017, 04:27:05 pm »

Quote from: SingedFingers on February 19, 2017, 10:43:25 am

A colleague I worked for a number of years ago is moving out of the UK Friday next week. He's got a TDS220 he doesn't have time to sell and said I can have it if I come and get it. Apparently it works and passes self tests but there are no probes. Is this worth a 300 mile round trip to grab?

I haven't used any TDS machines apart from an earlier CRT based one so I have no reference point to compare to.

I also don't actually need it but it's difficult saying no to something free.

Edit: it also has had the display replaced recently as well apparently.

Yes go get it! It is fast, responsive, easy to use. So much better than many colour scopes with usb etc. I have one and it's a real work horse.
For me the only downside is that the smps is sometimes visible, and a serial cable for screendumps is a little awkward.

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Author Topic: Tek TDS220 - is it worth a 300 mile round trip for a free one? (Read 4704 times)

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