hello all I am going to be going to school for mems and micro electronics degree. I have ipc solder certification and 4 years hands on flat screen tv repair. just don't know the book part of electronics. I can identify components, test components using multi meter. just never even used or seen a oscilloscope . I'm wanting to buy one to learn to use so i can at least be ahead of my class when I goto school. I have some LCD tvs I will be using to practice on with my scope. can anyone tell me what specs or anythint what type of cheap scope I can buy? I just want something that works that I can use for practice I just don't know what I'm looking for. thansk

 

There are two types.
Analog and digital storage types.
Digital ones are expensive.

Try a search on ebay for analog scopes.
The bandwidth will vary from 20Mhz or so and goes higher.
The higher the bandwidth the better but expensive than lower ones

But to study I thing an 2 channel Analog one with 20Mhz bandwidth will suffice.
If you can spare the money buy a better one like this. You will benefit in the long run

 

These are fairly portable and handy, especially if you have a lap-top PC.
I have one as well as a regular Tektronix 'scope.
http://www.syscompdesign.com/CGM-101_ep_56-1.html
It acts as a storage/save also.
Max.

 

But to study I thing an 2 channel Analog one with 20Mhz bandwidth will suffice.
If you can spare the money buy a better one like this. You will benefit in the long run

But that's a digital scope.

 

But that's a digital scope.

Yup ! I said if OP can spare the money. A better scope is a keeper.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hantek-DSO4...a642b18&pid=100623&rk=4&rkt=6&sd=201544663388

 

I'm wanting to buy one to learn to use so i can at least be ahead of my class when I goto school.

There's not really much to learn. I think you'd be better off waiting until you needed one and buy something that exceeds your requirements by a bit.

I went for decades doing electronics as a hobby before buying a scope.