Donate an Oscilloscpe?

[n0b]

Hello Forum members. I read and use information from this forum and the eevblog channel a lot. I am a beginner and am wondering if anyone can send me a 2 channel analog calibrated oscilloscope.A Mhz range from 20-100 Mhz, I really don't care. Thank you so much. -Mr.Clark

P.S

If it isn't 2 channel or calibrated please still let me know I would be very happy to even get a broken old oscilloscope. Thanks.

[ataradov]

Why do you need a scope?

[retrolefty]

What State/City are you in? Might make it easier if it's a local gift with no shipping costs involved.

[n0b]

I live in Idaho Falls Idaho, zip code 83404.

[n0b]

ataradov, I need a scope to begin to tinker around and learn electronics.

[Dave]

You don't need a scope for that.

[EEVblog]

You don't need a scope for that.

Yeah, but he wants a scope, it'll open his electronic eyes.

[ataradov]

ataradov, I need a scope to begin to tinker around and learn electronics.

You really don't. And you won't have much use for it until you are able to re-phrase "I don't really care what mhz." in a way that makes sense and technically correct.

Also, why do you need calibrated scope for tinkering?

[n0b]

Dave Jones! I watched your video that said to ask on the forum for a scope, and I guess that isn't a very good piece of advice, because even though I asked it in a nice way I end up getting dumped on.

I want a scope to start off in electronics and learn electronics.

Thanks.

-Mr.Clark

[ataradov]

because even though I asked it in a nice way I end up getting dumped on.

The advice was to ask if you have a specific problem (or project) that you think you can't solve without a scope. Or you fee like you are at the level where scope will make a difference.

Asking just because you want one will appear rude. Especially specifying number of channels and requirement for calibration.

Lots of people have started without a scope and made a good progress.

Also, look on Craigslist.

[n0b]

Sorry if my intentions came out wrong, I guess I don't really care if it is calibrated, even if it doesn't work, that would be a nice project within itself.

I am sorry.

But I just watch Dave a lot and he often uses an oscilloscope and recommends getting one.

[ataradov]

But I just watch Dave a lot and he often uses an oscilloscope and recommends getting one.

Dave has 30+ years of industry experience, so he knows why he needs a scope.

In any case, even if you manage to get something for free, the shipping fees will kill you (even within the US).

If you are just starting out, then start without a scope, you'll be fine. Cheap Harbor-Freight multimeter (that everyone likes to dump on) is not a bad investment if you are on a tight budget. Just don't stick into mains

[ataradov]

And $20 will buy you UNI-T UT136B, which is a very nice multimeter that I personally use as a daily driver despite having much more expensive meters.

[n0b]

I am going to get a UNI-T UT61E for Christmas.

http://www.amazon.com/UNI-T-Multimeters-Capacitance-Measurement-Connection/dp/B007THZMWI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447209027&sr=8-2&keywords=UNI-T+UT61e

[ataradov]

I am going to get a UNI-T UT61E for Christmas.

Well, there you go. That would be plenty for a lot of electronics-related stuff.

[n0b]

Would I have to have the same Mhz probes as I do Mhz on my oscilloscope?

[ataradov]

Would I have to have the same Mhz probes as I do Mhz on my oscilloscope?

"Mhz probes" and "Mhz on my oscilloscope" are nonsense phrases. You will know that by the time you really need a scope.

And no, they are completely independent  parameters, but you need to know how different combinations will affect the result you observe.

[mtdoc]

Jeez, give the guy a break. Nothing wrong with wanting an old, low bandwidth scope to use (or fix) as one is first learning. Not everyone needs to "walk five miles through the snow, uphill, to get to school" just because you may have started out that way. It's not like he's asking which $3,000 scope to buy...

As Dave implied, being able to visualize voltage/time relationships will facilitate his learning - even when just starting out.

To answer your question nOb, the probes rated bandwidth should be greater or equal to the scope bandwidth. The inexpensive eBay p6100 scope probes  - usually $10 - $20 a pair are a good value and adequate for any sub 100 MHz scope.

[Dave]

Fixing an old scope is definitely not something a beginner should attempt. The voltages used for driving a cathode ray tube are lethal and shouldn't be poked by someone who has no clue what they are doing.

By the way he worded his first message, it appeared as if he wanted a scope just to have a scope, because the Aussie said it's a good tool. If he started off by saying "I'm experimenting with this and that and would like to see how the circuit is behaving vs time", I'm sure he wouldn't get the response that he just got.

[mtdoc]

Fixing an old scope is definitely not something a beginner should attempt.

Well yes and no - it depends on how-broke it is... In any case, plenty to learn by trying, even if unsuccessfull. I've seen beginners come on the Tek scopes forum with a "broken" Classic tek scope get walked through troubleshooting and repair and learn a ton in the process.
 

voltages used for driving a cathode ray tube are lethal and shouldn't be poked by someone who has no clue what they are doing.

Well you can't protect people from stupidity. Just because someone is new to electronics, doesn't mean they're clueless about the dangers of high voltages or too illiterate to read the warning stickers on the CRT.

But, i do agree that all things considered , it's best if a rank beginner starts with a working scope. If nothing else because it often takes a scope to fix a scope.

[ataradov]

In order to fix a scope you need to know how said scope is supposed to work in a first place. And if your questions is whether "MHz" on the scope must match "MHz" on the probe, you clearly don't know that.

[mtdoc]

In order to fix a scope you need to know how said scope is supposed to work in a first place.

And having a 30 year old scope sitting in front of you, turning knobs and not being able to find a trace "it's broken!" And then turning to this or another forum or elsewhere for help, asking questions, etc is one path towards gaining that knowledge - a path many have taken, even if it isn't the one you took.  There's more than one "right" way to learn electronics.

[Shock]

In order to fix a scope you need to know how said scope is supposed to work in a first place.

And having a 30 year old scope sitting in front of you, turning knobs and not being able to find a trace "it's broken!" And then turning to this or another forum or elsewhere for help, asking questions, etc is one path towards gaining that knowledge - a path many have taken, even if it isn't the one you took.  There's more than one "right" way to learn electronics.

In a perfect world that would happen, the reality is people come across that video and think oh cool I need one of those to do electronics. The scope sits in front of them and does nothing for a few weeks and they leave the forum just like all the majority of others that asked for free gear.

Most people are not self starters they are whimsical. I think it's much healthier to save up and buy a kit that will get your feet wet and show you what electronics is really like such as this. The bonus is after assembly you actually made something.

http://bit.ly/1RzsbiM DSO138 DIY Digital Oscilloscope Kit Electronic Learning Kit

If you don't have $30 to spend then hobby electronics is probably not for you, but you can still get a taste of it without spending any money at all, this circuit simulator combined with some of the links for education found on the net will teach you more about electronics than any old or broken oscilloscope will.

http://www.falstad.com/circuit/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/electronics-primers-course-material-and-books/

[Shock]

Another thing I'll add, you don't necessarily need a calibrated or "in calibration" instrument especially as a beginner, but a secondhand instrument that has recently been calibrated is a bonus.

Most electronics troubleshooting is about "go, no go" testing, so in the case of an oscilloscope seeing a signal or the correct type of signal is more important than absolute accuracy.

The most used and useful piece of test equipment I would say is the multimeter, followed by a variable bench power supply and I'd encourage you to focus your attention there.

Once you have those and a soldering iron and a little experience seeing if the hobby is for you, save up a few hundred dollars and go straight for an entry level DSO (digital storage oscilloscope) such as the Rigol DS1054Z for $375 with free shipping (tequipment.net).

Throwing any money into any old oscilloscope (which includes shipping them around) is dead money.

[crispy_tofu]

Have you tried looking at your local Craigslist or on eBay? There might be some cheap analogue scopes...