Hi everyone.
After having used my ok Gould - Advance Instr. 10 mhz analog scope for around 5 years, which served me ok for most stuff (there were times I wish I had a more capable machine, around digital Ics and clock), i’ve decided to upgrade, because now it’s quite unreliable (not unfixable in anyway) and anyway it’s not that good. I ‘ll gift it to a friend that has none. I learnt my way around it.

I think for my use (music and audio devices mainly analog - amps, synths etc) it might be better value (since there are more affordable good choices) to remain in the older analog domain (50mhz +) since I need a good clean trace even in very low frequencies (for low freq osc etc) but occasionally would like to be able to test on and around (older) digital chips in audio devices (synths - dsp - dac- clock etc). Also older devices are build to last and stay stable on the bench and that really matters to me.

I want something as good as possible and straightforward to operate (not that I’m scared of menu diving, but who needs it), reliable and repairable ( my main reasons to avoid cheap modern dso and prefer simpler devices).

So I’ve made a short list of some good value oscilloscopes I can find in the EU market between 70- 150 euros which is my max budget.

My short list is:

Tektronix 2225
Tektronix 2215 - 2215a
Tektronix 2213A
Tektronix TDS 340 - tds 320 (digital old? Bad era for digital maybe?)
Tektronix TDS 1012 (digital older single colour screen - bad reviews)
Hameg hm 605 (604 can be found too)
Philips Pm 3050 ( are they fluke? analog-digital? Bad era for digital maybe?)
Kikusui Cos 6150 (6100 can be found too)
Rigol 5062c (digital old?)
Gould DSO 465 (digital old?)

I didn’t include any hp models since it seems like they are either prone to malfunction or hard to operate and maintain.

I would like experienced (more than a couple of devices) analog scope users (that deal with digital too) opinions and advice if they have any work experience on any of the models i include. Or advice on similar models.

Thing I would like to avoid
a) cheap digital or usb devices (1052-1062-1072-2052 etc), since longevity and ease of maintenance is a serious issue for me and I can’t afford buying expensive toys frequently (unless I found one for free),
b) stuff out of my budget (I know that there is good but expensive stuff) .

Thanks in advance

 

Modern and repairable are opposites. You are more likely to be able to repair an older analog oscilloscope than a new digital, MCU driven model.

From my personal experience I would choose the following:
Tektronix 2213/2215/2225 - all analog

My goto oscilloscope is a digital Tektronix TDS 220 (100 MHz). I have been using it for many decades and it has never failed me yet.
The TDS 210 (60 MHz) would be another option (second choice).

 

Modern and repairable are opposites. You are more likely to be able to repair an older analog oscilloscope than a new digital, MCU driven model.

Thanks Mr Chips for the quick reply. Exactly what I also believe. I will keep your advice (and also the tds 220 - expensive for me) in mind.

 

Thanks Mr Chips for the quick reply. Exactly what I also believe. I will keep your advice (and also the tds 220 - expensive for me) in mind.

Several of the TDS models have their particular issues, 200 models can suffer from broken BNC's resulting from poor design and abuse.
Others have issues from the bad cap days and cap leakage can damage PCB's beyond repair.
A 1000 model I was given had no display, traced back to a failed backlight inverter and its primary push-pull bipolar stage and its RC that set its operating frequency. The C had drifted into the pF region.

Instead you should save up to get something newer and more reliable.

 

Several of the TDS models have their particular issues,
…… ..
Instead you should save up to get something newer and more reliable.

Thanks for the advice which clarifies things about the Tds (not a series I exclusively care about - other people also said about the bncs that were attached on the board etc)
I have many other brands and models (mainly analog ones) included in my list that I would prefer to focus exclusively on them or similar. No disrespect on your advice. But I’ve made up my mind and I just need to clarify things on this list (or similar) only.

 

Thanks for the advice which clarifies things about the Tds (not a series I exclusively care about - other people also said about the bncs that were attached on the board etc)
I have many other brands and models (mainly analog ones) included in my list that I would prefer to focus exclusively on them or similar. No disrespect on your advice. But I’ve made up my mind and I just need to clarify things on this list (or similar) only.

As I did 15yrs ago and went exclusively to LCD display DSO's.

We each make our own bed to lie in, good luck with yours.
BTW with old scopes be sure to have 2, the 2nd to help fix the other when it dies.....been there, done that and earned the Tee shirt.

 

Instead you should save up to get something newer and more reliable.

I know you made up your mind, but I have both types of equipment and would echo the same as Tautech here. Although I really like my older phosphor oscilloscopes (Tektronix 222A, 465 and a Kenwoood CS4025), a more modern digital oscilloscope with excellent phosphor-like persistence is much more advantageous in almost all the tasks - X-Y mode tends to be worse, at least on the digital models I have used.

You mentioned repairability and longevity: sure the entry level oscilloscopes are much less repairable and the older transistor-based models, but I have friends with 15 year-old Rigol DS1052E in operation to this day (I had a DS1102E but used only for a limited time). My Rigol DS4014 is ten years old and glitch free and its youger sibling (a DS1202Z-E) is too young to count (four or five years), but it is an excellent option as well - a good quality brand such as Rigol or Siglent that implements phosphor-like persistence and has a solid set of features will make your hobby easier.

Oh, and make sure you have more than one oscilloscope as well, as Tautech said.

BTW with old scopes be sure to have 2, the 2nd to help fix the other when it dies.....been there, done that and earned the Tee shirt.

 

Careful - I bought a Tektronix scope and loved it for nearly 20 years, then it developed problems and after sending it to Tektronix they said the replacement part is no longer available

 

I use a Tek 2465. It's good.

 

Thanks all for your replies and great input.
Things are much clearer now. As soon as I find a good analog bargain I’ll grab it. Cheap DSOs will always be there, will become better and cheaper. Will meet some of you again in here in the near future.
Thanks again

 

Thanks all for your replies and great input.
Things are much clearer now. As soon as I find a good analog bargain I’ll grab it. Cheap DSOs will always be there, will become better and cheaper. Will meet some of you again in here in the near future.
Thanks again

I think it depends on what you need. Like cheap anolog scopes works great for continuous signals. Digital might be more useful for finding transients. Also the portable digital scopes are useful for hot chassis.

 

I have a TDS-340. This series was the last CRT-based scope Tek made. It is a good scope, although having a CRT, it is deep and takes a lot of room on the bench. It has some nice features like FFT, but some (now) useless features such as floppy disc waveform storage.

On the negative side - forget parts support from Tektronix. Mine has a bad channel (probably from a high voltage transient; my fault). I have the service manual, but no individual part numbers for ICs or components, only for entire boards. Tek does not offer any parts or support on any product over 10 years old (mine died after about 11 years). When I really need one, I will get a modern DSO. Smaller, quieter, more capable. They are also less expensive than classic used Tek.

Don't sell the HP scopes short. They made some VERY nice oscilloscopes. I always found them reliable and straight-forward in their operation.