--- In [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > On 26 Feb 2008 at 22:14, i2phd wrote: > > > --- In [email protected], "rosswebmail" <rosswebmail@> wrote: > > > > > > Hi, all. > > > > > > I need to restock my lab bench with test equipment, and I have a couple > > > of questions. What minimum bandwidth o-scope should I get to test the > > > subcomponents of the Softrock 40 & 20/30 kits? Also, is there an > > > inexpensive way to do spectral analysis? Some of those analyzers are > > > quite expensive. > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > > > Ross > > > AE5GL > > > > Ross, > > > > a good used oscilloscope is the Tektronix 2465 or 2465B. 300 MHz > > bandwidth the first, 400 the second. May be a bit of overkill for > > working at 14 MHz, but sooner or later you will need that bandwidth. > > And the digital readouts on the screen are very handy. > > > > There is just now an auction on eBay for a 2465 with a Buy-it-Now > > price of 299.99 USD. Item # 160212313580 > > > > 73 Alberto I2PHD > > > I bought a 2465 on EBay last year and it was one of the best purchases I > ever made for the shop. I also was able to download the manuals. Don't > forget the high freq. probes. > > Dave - WB6DHW > <http://wb6dhw.com> >
The price difference between the 2465 & 2465B isn't much. Go for the 2465B if you're doing RF work. I bought a 2465B on ebaY a couple of years ago, like new - less than 200 hours on it. I Love it for high frequency & RF work. Remember, the 2465B is an analog scope. Good for RF work. But if you do a lot of computer and/or protocol work, you might be happier with a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO). Also, like all Tek analog scopes, the 2465B can't plot over GPIB. If you want a DSO and still want enough bandwidth for some RF work, have a look at the 300MHz/500Msps Tektronix 2440. They can be had for prices similar to a good 2465B. Operating a 2440 takes a bit of getting used to. Make sure you can get a manual. Dave is right, you need good probes to get the bandwidth out of the 2465B. Tektronix P6137 probes are good, but they cost a lot of money around $80 to $100 each, even used. The cheaper P6137's are usually beat up and/or missing accessories. Another item that's hard to find for the 2465's is the snap on plastic front cover. Don't forget to get a scope cart too. The Tektronix K212 scope cart can be bought used for $100 or less. Buying oscilloscopes on ebaY can be risky. Often the pictures don't tell the whole story. Missing knobs, screen burn-in etc. are common. Make sure you get a decent right of return period and/or warranty. Ask the seller to use the menu system to tell you the number of hours on the scope. You might want to try dealing with Alex at Oscilloscopes Etc., [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1-925-706-0177 (San Fransisco). His primary business is selling, calibrating, and repairing Tektronix CRT oscilloscopes. In my experience, you can trust what you get from him and the price is right. Let us know what you decide upon... Regards, David
