First Scope Purchase

[Fungus]

As I said before, for someone who's short on cash short on cash my recommendation is to ask around and try to find an analog scope (aim for $50 or less, and with some patience you can often find them for free), or failing that better save a bit longer until the money buys you a decent tool.

Yep.

Also: Learning to "ask around" is a valuable skill in its own right. Not everything can be done online.

[nctnico]

I've watched over and over people getting these DSO's and being overwhelmed in their use

I'm not buying that for an instant. Basic use of a DSO is exactly the same as an Analog scope. The front panel has knobs for vertical scale, vertical position, timebase and trigger level.

The values are shown on a screen instead of being marked on the dial? Not going to confuse anybody these days. Almost everything we use in daily life uses on-screen menus.

I couldn't agree more! It is insane to recommend an analog scope nowadays. After all nobody uses a model-T Ford for their daily commute!

[OldSchoolTechCorner]

I've watched over and over people getting these DSO's and being overwhelmed in their use

I'm not buying that for an instant. Basic use of a DSO is exactly the same as an Analog scope. The front panel has knobs for vertical scale, vertical position, timebase and trigger level.

The values are shown on a screen instead of being marked on the dial? Not going to confuse anybody these days. Almost everything we use in daily life uses on-screen menus.

I couldn't agree more! It is insane to recommend an analog scope nowadays. After all nobody uses a model-T Ford for their daily commute!

Yes DSO has the same controls, but also easier for people to cheat and hit the auto set button, instead of using the manually controls, Vertical, horizontal and trigger level controls and the fact that they can easily hit the measure and won't do the math on their own. So learning on a old crow forces you to learn the basics. Not saying it can't be learned on a digital scope, as have taught plenty of people on a DSO.

No I won't pay over $100 buck for a old analog one ether, due to age, hours on it and the fact you can get a decent DSO for right at $400 bucks. You can also get a working analog scope for usually around $50 bucks, or even for free, if you look out for one and wait. Only reason I even recommend a analog scope was due to his budget and no chance to save up soon as he stated himself earlier. So it not insane if that all his budget allows for and that what I was going off of.   

[Fungus]

Yes DSO has the same controls, but also easier for people to cheat and hit the auto set button, instead of using the manually controls, Vertical, horizontal and trigger level controls and the fact that they can easily hit the measure and won't do the math on their own.

Yes, that's why we invent newer tools - to make things easier!

Can't say I ever use the 'auto' button myself, it's very slow.

Numbers on screen to two decimal places instead of counting squares...? Give me more of those!

PS: Yes, I know how to use a slide rule, I just never use one in real life. Not since Casio.

[vk6zgo]

Yes DSO has the same controls, but also easier for people to cheat and hit the auto set button, instead of using the manually controls, Vertical, horizontal and trigger level controls and the fact that they can easily hit the measure and won't do the math on their own.

Yes, that's why we invent newer tools - to make things easier!

Can't say I ever use the 'auto' button myself, it's very slow.

Numbers on screen to two decimal places instead of counting squares...? Give me more of those!

PS: Yes, I know how to use a slide rule, I just never use one in real life. Not since Casio.

I was never any good with a slide rule--I could use log tables OK,though!
I have used calculators since the '70s.

What I can't believe is how people will fire up their laptop,look for the calculator application,wasting time,when they could just use a real calculator or work it out in their heads.

Many times when troubleshooting a circuit with a 'scope,you don't give a damn  about "two decimal places"----------If I'm looking for "5 volts" it doesn't really matter if it is really 4.9 v,4.95 v,or even 5.2v!

[Fungus]

What I can't believe is how people will fire up their laptop,look for the calculator application,wasting time,when they could just use a real calculator or work it out in their heads.

What's even worse is when you point out to them it's an easy sum and they say, oh, yes.... it's 42! They were reaching for the calculator when they don't need to.

Many times when troubleshooting a circuit with a 'scope,you don't give a damn  about "two decimal places"----------If I'm looking for "5 volts" it doesn't really matter if it is really 4.9 v,4.95 v,or even 5.2v!

Sure...but quite often the voltage is already on screen and having two decimal places might save you from reaching for the vertical control to set 1V/division so you can see how close it is to 'five squares'.

[tec5c]

I thought the whole reason for sticky threads was to avoid these types of threads being created weekly, inevitably always ending in a difference of opinion...

[Alex Eisenhut]

There should be a Uber for oscilloscopes. Noob downloads the Uber Scope app, puts in a request, local dude shows up with a scope. Noob uses it, thinks about it, then either pays for the rental/travel or buys the thing.

[tec5c]

There should be a Uber for oscilloscopes. Noob downloads the Uber Scope app, puts in a request, local dude shows up with a scope. Noob uses it, thinks about it, then either pays for the rental/travel or buys the thing.

Patent pending!! 

[crispy_tofu]

There should be a Uber for oscilloscopes. Noob downloads the Uber Scope app, puts in a request, local dude shows up with a scope. Noob uses it, thinks about it, then either pays for the rental/travel or buys the thing.

Eek, hopefully it doesn't come with the multitude of legal issues and 'uncompetitive practices' 

[Fungus]

There should be a Uber for oscilloscopes. Noob downloads the Uber Scope app, puts in a request, local dude shows up with a scope. Noob uses it, thinks about it, then either pays for the rental/travel or buys the thing.

Yeah, Riglent would never spam such a network...

[SeanB]

I am getting lazy and might pull up a calculator app, or an actual calculator, though often I just use paper and a pen for a lot of the time for simple things. Vat I often do using simple addition, as it is easy to add the 5 sets of numbers  by hand, after doing the 2 right shifts to get the division side done.

[SLJ]

 

OK, I'm almost out of popcorn so I'll chime in.
It's a tough choice and it really depends on what he's going to do with the scope.  I have a 465 (and I love it).  I also have a Rigol DS1102E.  If I'm working on lets say a power supply or tracing a signal through a circuit or I really need to see a clear waveform, the 465 is my go to scope. The digital Rigol is OK but the resolution is poor so I find myself just using it as an overgrown meter/frequency counter mostly. Still the 465 (which is my favorite Tek scope) will not help him learn about storage scopes.  If he's going to use it for mainly digital work then I'd recommend a entry level digital storage scope. If not then a 465 would be my choice for an analog.

If he's going to be using it for anything over the basics and be his only scope the Rigol DS1054Z is the least I'd start with in digital.  That's out of his price range so I'd say the best bet for a learning tool for scope basics would be the 465. The problem is the 465's are getting up there in age so he has to be careful as the chances of getting one thats going to work with no problems and keep working for a few years is slim.   I'm replacing my Rigol DS1102E with a DS1074Z in hopes I'll like the display better.