Oscilloscopes

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Buying an Oscilloscope

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Oscilloscope

If your need is to repair, design or to manufacture electronic equipment, then the oscilloscope is a necessary piece of equipment. For those that do not know how to use an oscilloscope, it is a device or a scope that creates a visible two dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences. These uses of oscilloscope   measurements allow engineers to effectively measure and then manage electrical output. Consider the oscilloscope to be a camera that doesn't take photos but captures signal images that can then be looked at and interpreted.

There are several things to consider when it comes to the purchase of an oscilloscope though. For many individuals, these products will indefinitely alter their ability to perform accurately so it is important that the proper, most accurate devices be used to do so. So, when it comes to oscilloscopes, you?ll want to consider the following elements:

Bandwidth
Rise Time
Sample rate
Waveform Capture Rate
Record Length
Vertical Sensitivity
Sweep Speed
Gain Accuracy
Triggering Capabilities
Effective Bits
Horizontal Accuracy
Resolution
Frequency Response

The comparison of these elements in the oscilloscope will mean several things. First, the more advanced the technology, the more accurate, easy to use and the more reliable the usb oscilloscope  device will be. These features each have various abilities and they each can make a significant difference in the quality of information that is provided. Yet, we do have to consider that the oscilloscope has several very high tech features which can make digital storage oscilloscopes  expensive. Lesser expensive options are available in used oscilloscope but the proper balance of features and price will undoubtedly deliver the best possible product for you.

According to the research firm Frost & Sullivan, the estimated size of the North American used test and measurement equipment market was $446.4 million in 2004 and is estimated to grow to $654.5 million by 2011. For over 50 years, companies and governments have procured used test and measurement instruments in order to realize a number of benefits including the need to:

- reduce equipment acquisition costs,
- replace discontinued testing instruments,
- circumvent lengthy new product delivery times, and
- conform to legacy standards and specifications.

Although there are many considerations when purchasing used test and measurement instruments, the quality of the instrument and reliability of the vendor should be at the top of the list. Used test equipment pc based oscilloscope  vendors deploy a number of bywords that represent the equipment they sell, including "refurbished", "remarketed", "reconditioned", "rebuilt" and, the obvious, "used".

"Used" or "Remarketed" equipment often describes products sold with an "as-is" supposition. You might purchase used tektronix equipment from an end-user organization or auction company that is selling surplus assets. Products sold as "used" should be priced at the lower scale of the market spectrum and it is not uncommon for quality issues to arise with "used" equipment. It is likely that the instruments have not been tested and have an uncertain history. It is only prudent to purchase "Used" equipment if you have the in-house repair and calibration facilities/expertise and are able to procure the item at a cost low enough that the added expense of repair and calibration remains to be a positive, economical outcome.

"Refurbished and Reconditioned" are akin and are the most common presentment of used equipment from equipment dealers. Refurbished equipment is fully tested and calibrated to NIST standards to assure that they meet the original manufacturers' specifications. Refurbished equipment should come with all standard accessories and operating manuals. Malfunctioning internal components will have been replaced or repaired and the product will have been cosmetically cared for including painting and the replacing of face plates, button and knobs. Refurbished equipment is typically sold with a 30-90 day parts/labor warranty and is priced in the middle to high-end of the market spectrum.

Finally, some vendors advertised "Rebuilt" test equipment. Many instrument options are field-installable and can be built-to-order according to the customer's requirements. Some products can even be converted from one generation or version to the next by adding various components. There is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing rebuilt equipment and, in fact, if you can not find the exact product configuration you are sourcing, you should ask qualified vendors about the possibility adding those options. As with used and refurbished equipment, always exercise caution in choosing a vendor. Assure that the vendor is qualified or uses a qualified electronics laboratory to repair, calibrate and rebuild the products you seek.

Purchasing used, refurbished or rebuilt electronic test equipment is a great way for organizations to save 30-70% on their asset acquisition costs. Warranties and guarantees from used test equipment vendors are formidable. In select product groups, the original equipment manufacturers offer extended warranties in partnership with the vendors that are the selling those products.

Oscilloscope demo

BK Precision Oscilloscope, Analog, 2190B, 100 MHz, 2 Chan BK Precision Oscilloscope, Analog, 2190B, 100 MHz, 2 Chan
List Price: $1,599.00
Sale Price: $1,195.00

B+K Precision Model 2190B is one of the most economical 100 MHz analog oscilloscopes on the market, yet it has all of the high performance features needed for most applications, including delayed time base, bandwidth limiter, and Y axis output...

BK Precision Oscilloscope,Dual Trace, 2120B, 30 MHz, 2 Chan BK Precision Oscilloscope,Dual Trace, 2120B, 30 MHz, 2 Chan
Sale Price: $395.00

B+K Precision's model 2120B is a dual trace oscilloscope that offers high performance at a low price. Most competitor's entry level oscilloscopes have a 20 MHz bandwidth, while B+K Precision's models 2120B has a bandwidth of 30 MHz...

Hand Held Digital Oscilloscope-10MHz Hand Held Digital Oscilloscope-10MHz
Sale Price: $174.00

Weve all seen different models of portable scopes, meters, and scope/meters. Weve also seen the price tag! Unless you were a field tech with a good sized test equipment budget, they were out of the question...

USB 2 Channel PC Oscilloscope USB 2 Channel PC Oscilloscope
Sale Price: $369.95

This versatile and powerful 'scope harnesses the power of your pc or laptop to drive its software, eliminating the need for bulky stand-alone oscilloscopes, analyzers, and transient recorders! Just attach it to your laptop for easy troubleshooting readings in the field, or set it up on your workbench at home or the office...

BK Precision 25 MHz Digital Storage Oscilloscope BK Precision 25 MHz Digital Storage Oscilloscope
Sale Price: $499.00

Delivers essential features and reliable performance at an economical price. Analog style knobs and controls combine with Autoset functions make oscilloscope easy-to-use. Advanced triggering, automatic measurements and FFT functions allow debugging of circuits...

Fluke 123/003 Scopemeter Oscilloscope,20 MHz, 2 Channel Fluke 123/003 Scopemeter Oscilloscope,20 MHz, 2 Channel
List Price: $1,353.00
Sale Price: $1,190.00

The compact Scopemeter 123 is the rugged solution for industrial troubleshooting and installation applications. It's a truly integrated test tool, with oscilloscope, multimeter and 'paperless' recorder in one affordable, easy-to-use instrument...

Tektronix Digital Oscilloscope 200 MHz, 4 Channel, TDS2024B Tektronix Digital Oscilloscope 200 MHz, 4 Channel, TDS2024B
List Price: $2,410.00
Sale Price: $2,410.00

Features: Color LCD Display Assigns a different color for each trace and its related readouts so viewing complex signals on multiple channels is easier. Simple User Interface Classic analog-style controls give you instant front-panel access to functions you use most...

Tektronix Digital Oscilloscope 40 MHz, 2 Ch., B&W, TDS1001B Tektronix Digital Oscilloscope 40 MHz, 2 Ch., B&W, TDS1001B
Sale Price: $900.00

Features: Simple User Interface Classic Analog-Style Controls Give You Instant Front-Panel Access to Functions You Use Most. Your Learning Time Goes Down and Your Efficiency Goes Up! Autoset Menu with Waveform Selection You get automatic detection of sine waves, square waves, video lines and fields, FFT and video signals-including rising and falling edges...

Tektronix Digital Oscilloscope, 100 MHz, 2 Ch, Color, TDS2012B Tektronix Digital Oscilloscope, 100 MHz, 2 Ch, Color, TDS2012B
List Price: $1,610.00
Sale Price: $1,610.00

Features: Color LCD Display Assigns a different color for each trace and its related readouts so viewing complex signals on multiple channels is easier. Simple User Interface Classic analog-style controls give you instant front-panel access to functions you use most...

Velleman HPS40 - 12MHz Personal Scope 40MS/s Velleman HPS40 - 12MHz Personal Scope 40MS/s
Sale Price: $238.00

Both novices and professional users will admire the fast and fully automatic setup function, allowing them to perform measurements without physically touching the unit. Low noise, high sensitivity, modest weight, a backlit LCD and a choice between regular batteries or rechargeable ones make this unit indispensable.

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Written by admin

January 20th, 2010 at 10:25 am

Posted in Uncategorized

One Response to 'Buying an Oscilloscope'

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  1. “Are you looking for a spectrum analyzer that is just limited to frequencies below 20 Hz? If so, do you want something like a 1 Hz resolution? There would be a little more than 1 second of delay for this implementation.

    As the software is written now, the bins are spaced about 19 Hz apart from one another. Finer resolution would require more samples which would, in turn, cause a noticeable delay between the input and what is seen on the LCD.”

    BrianNelson123

    2 Feb 10 at 8:08 pm

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