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Advice on a Oscilloscope?

post #1 of 6
5/4/10 at 8:45pm
Thread Starter 
There's been one locally for sale for $25 and I'm wondering if it's a good buy or not. It's listed as "Heathkit Oscilloscope model 10-12 with original manual". From what I understand they're sold as kits and thus build quality and whatnot can vary. I think it would be something fun to have to play with and test a thing or two occasionally. I do a little solder work but nothing full-on DIY (yet). Is it a good deal? If so, is it a worthwhile device or should I spend my money elsewhere?

P.S. I do know this isn't really audio but I figured a lot of you DIY'ers mess with oscilloscopes frequently and wouldn't mind giving a bit of advice. Thanks!
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post #2 of 6
5/5/10 at 5:58am
Such a scope probably makes more sense for someone who already has a scope, or at least knows how to use one.

If your message didn't hint that $25 is enough money to you that it's worth debating over, I'd suggest it might be worth that much just for a neat conversation piece, even if it doesn't run. It'd make a beautiful bookend.

An analog scope like this won't be of any use in digital electronics, and it's no use in analog without a signal source. You can press a PC sound card or CD player into use as an audio frequency signal source, but at such slow speeds you're not really using a scope to its full potential, even an ancient one.
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post #3 of 6
5/5/10 at 9:32pm
Thread Starter 

Ah, ok. Thanks for the advice without insult :) The $25 is probably better spent in other areas. I don't even know if it works or not lol.

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post #4 of 6
5/7/10 at 5:59am

I've been looking for a budget USB scope,  that may be an option for you.  Unfortunately I haven't found one with a 100x probe to use with tube amps,  so I'm still scopeless (damnit.)  Space is the main issue for me,   I hate to own a big piece of equipment that I use a few times a year.

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post #5 of 6
5/8/10 at 6:50pm

You're giving up more than just volume when you go to a PC scope.  Search the archives to collect a litany of problems.

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post #6 of 6
5/11/10 at 6:38am

yeah mate, forget the USB scobe. certainly as your only scope. bandwidth and speed are limited and then you have the noise from USB AND the computer to deal with. I just dont think its where it should be just yet. certainly not for any money even approaching what you could get a decent regular non-USB scope for. cool for taking snapshots though I guess

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