Hi guys,

So today I answered an ad about some equipment once owned by an electrical engineer that recently passed away. Looking at the pictures I spotted an O-scope which I had been looking to get for the longest time (not this particular one, but just one in general).

The family was asking $300 which I didn't think was too bad (ebay had it listed for $1000, give or take a few hundred)

After returning from withdrawing the money, the family asked if there was anything else that I wanted. I expressed interest in the function generator and multimeter but wouldn't be able to afford anything else until next payday.

They were adament about ensuring that the equipment go to good use rather than them having to scrap it. They tried donating it but no one would accept it. So they said go ahead and just take the meter, the function generator and another o-scope that was sitting in the shed collecting dust. (they didn't know that it was another o-scope until I explained it to them and told them how much they could probably get for it).

After reading some reviews it seems that the portable Tektronix TDS 2014 isn't all that great and the Tektronix 485 is a bit dated. So I'm wondering what some of you think about the quality of these scopes and if this was a good deal or should I start looking for something better.

Items that I received:
Tektronix TDS 2014
Tektronix 485
HP 3435A Digital Multimeter
Circuitmate Function Generator FG2
A whole bookshelf of books on Electronics Engineering

some pics:

 

TDS2014 for $300!
I'll take it.

 

The TDS 2014 is in great condition. I found all the books and software for it and the probes that came with it still in it's wrapping. The 485 was a bit dusty and the front screen is cracked. It seems to be working fine on initial inspection but I'll have to fiddle with it more to ensure it's working properly.

 

I'm not a big fan of Tek's early digital scopes, too much attitude between the input and the display. But their later ones are ok once you learn how to interpret their images. The 485, OTOH, is a gem. It is the successor to the 465, one of the greatest scopes in Tek's history. The HP meter is excellent. You got a great deal.

ak

 

Thanks AK, good to know about the 485. It even came with a nifty stand!

 

Congrats on your Tek scope deal; like the phosphor color on the 485. I use my 100 and 200 MHz analog Tek scopes more than I do my 1GS/S HP digital. When I want to use a digital scope, I put a 7d20 plug-in in one of my 7000 series mainframes. But I still prefer analog and they're easier to work on...

It doesn't seem to be a good time to buy Tek scopes on eBay. It goes in cycles and sellers seem to be asking unreasonable prices now. Asking several hundred for parts scopes...

 

they didn't know that it was another o-scope until I explained it to them and told them how much they could probably get for it

That'll be a gold star for @drbenne!!!

And, it seems, you've verified 'Karma' to wit: IMNSHO a TDS2014 in good condition is a "snip" at twice the price!

Best regards
HP

 

Thanks AK, good to know about the 485. It even came with a nifty stand!

You paid for the stand and stole everything else.

ak

 

Sure, some of the equipment may be a bit dated, but as long as it's still in spec you got a heck of a deal! I paid $300 for a Rigol 2-channel scope, so you practically stole the rest! Great work! Make sure you thank the people who "sold" you the goods! They just gave up $1500+ (maybe even $2000+) worth of equipment for $300!

 

Indeed, you got a great deal, and so did the seller, who wanted to honor the departed's legacy by having the equipment put to good use!

But I should also say, that making a purchase, then asking whether you got a good deal, is a bit like asking friends whether your wife is pretty.

 

DerStrom8 means figuratively speaking. You don't actually want want to thank them because they will feel like fools letting you have that equipment for a fraction of what they could have gotten otherwise.

 

...as long as it's still in spec you got a heck of a deal!

It has been my experience that Tek equipment doesn't require calibration anywhere near as much as recommended. I was just checking some of my scopes that were last calibrated 10-15 years ago and they were well within specs. Many calibration items are only within 4%. I tweaked them to be much tighter; just for fun...

 

DerStrom8 means figuratively speaking. You don't actually want want to thank them because they will feel like fools letting you have that equipment for a fraction of what they could have gotten otherwise.

I would thank them for their generosity. No need to tell them how generous they were

 

I did thank them generously so no worries there. Plus they said they wanted all the stuff gone last week so there was an urgency to get the equipment to someone that would use it, otherwise it was going to scrap. Trust me, there was a ton of other stuff that I couldn't take just because of the amount of space it would take up in my small apt. Most of it was pretty old, desktops, boards, chips, components. It was pretty disheartening to see this person's life work just sitting there with no where to go.

And Roderick, I'll send you a pic of my wife

 

I'm not a big fan of Tek's early digital scopes, too much attitude between the input and the display. But their later ones are ok once you learn how to interpret their images. The 485, OTOH, is a gem. It is the successor to the 465, one of the greatest scopes in Tek's history. The HP meter is excellent. You got a great deal.

ak

Years ago I won a Tek 465 because it was dead, I patted it on the side and the trace came up - its worked fine ever since.

A manual came with it, but how to get inside still remains a mystery!

 

Hi guys,

So today I answered an ad about some equipment once owned by an electrical engineer that recently passed away. Looking at the pictures I spotted an O-scope which I had been looking to get for the longest time (not this particular one, but just one in general).

The family was asking $300 which I didn't think was too bad (ebay had it listed for $1000, give or take a few hundred)

After returning from withdrawing the money, the family asked if there was anything else that I wanted. I expressed interest in the function generator and multimeter but wouldn't be able to afford anything else until next payday.

They were adament about ensuring that the equipment go to good use rather than them having to scrap it. They tried donating it but no one would accept it. So they said go ahead and just take the meter, the function generator and another o-scope that was sitting in the shed collecting dust. (they didn't know that it was another o-scope until I explained it to them and told them how much they could probably get for it).

After reading some reviews it seems that the portable Tektronix TDS 2014 isn't all that great and the Tektronix 485 is a bit dated. So I'm wondering what some of you think about the quality of these scopes and if this was a good deal or should I start looking for something better.

Items that I received:
Tektronix TDS 2014
Tektronix 485
HP 3435A Digital Multimeter
Circuitmate Function Generator FG2
A whole bookshelf of books on Electronics Engineering

some pics:View attachment 85957 View attachment 85958

[putting on stripy jumper and face mask while reaching for flashlight and jemmy bar].

 

Years ago I won a Tek 465 because it was dead, I patted it on the side and the trace came up - its worked fine ever since.

A manual came with it, but how to get inside still remains a mystery!

I've been into a lot of gear over the years, and as a class of of designs, *nothing* can approach the obtuse complexity of Tek power supplies. Scopes, signal generators, broadcast sync gear - whatever; the internal supplies are a wonder and a bear.

ak

 

After messing around a bit in testing the functions of each piece of equipment it appears that the multimeter isn't functioning correctly and the 485 is out of calibration among other things which is probably why it was just sitting in the shed collecting dust.

Anyone have any experience in repairing these particular pieces? Obviously the first thing is to hunt down the service manuals.

For the 485, the calibration is the obvious problem. It's reading a bit high, about +1.5 V. Also, in viewing signals from the generator, a second signal appears that is out of phase and inverted from the original signal. I tested the generator on the TDS 2014 and it looked fine so I'm pretty sure it's not the generator.

The second signal is dimmer and pulses with the same amplitude and frequency. I thought it was just an inversion function that went wonky but the inversion switch is on channel 2. When I adjust the trigger level toward either peak the signals converge toward the same phase. It does it on both rising and falling slopes and on both Ch. 1 and 2.. that is until ch. 2 stopped working today altogether.

For the multimeter, it turns on but it's not giving me any readings in any range for both voltage and resistance. Haven't tested the ammeter function.


Here's a picture of the 485 with the inverted signal:

 

Don't panic. All fixable.

1) The second faint trace is a trigger issue. Easily remedied.
2) The multimeter needs a new fuse.

In future, please ask one question at a time.

 

After messing around a bit in testing the functions of each piece of equipment it appears that the multimeter isn't functioning correctly and the 485 is out of calibration among other things which is probably why it was just sitting in the shed collecting dust.

View attachment 86168

Scopes are usually out of calibration - unless it has a recent calibration sticker, its best to verify frequency and amplitude with better suited instruments.

In my workshop, the scopes are just for examining what waveforms look like.