[Boatanchors] Inexpensive Scope Probes

[Bob Macklin]

I bought mine from Pomona. since I only have 35MHz scopes they work very 
well.

I have been thinking of making a VHF/UHF converter to use ahead of the 35MHz 
scopes so I use the scopes on  VHF and UHF gear.

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Seattle, Wa.
"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "rbethman" <rbethman at comcast.net>
To: "BOATANCHORS" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Inexpensive Scope Probes


>I don't know how long it has been since you were in the Navy.  If you
> are like a large number of us, it has been a couple or more decades
> since we left the military.
>
> I would "normally" agree that non-spec items are to be shied away from.
>
> I went ahead and bought the same ones that are being offered currently.
> (It is 2011 now....)
>
> I attached these new ones to the dual channel inputs, along with an
> Honest to goodness Tektronix Probe.
>
> Both got fed a 38.8 MHz PLL circuit test point.
>
> I swapped them back and forth from ch1 to ch2.  Running my hands over
> them, and even twisting them around each other resulted NO CHANGE in
> waveform.  The same result even when wrapped under the chassis of the
> mainframe of the Tek 5440.
>
> They also compensate very well.
>
> Since I'm savings significantly, I'll go ahead an use them.  *IF* there
> is an "unseen" difference on traces, when one is laid over the other, it
> has got to be about 1% or less.
>
> I think they are more than usable for Amateur Radio.  The larger number
> of us are working on our own equipment.  We don't have a need for NIST
> traceability.
>
> You'll find the nuts and bolts you buy are loaded with "forgeries", and
> that they will NOT hold the same torques.  I worry more about that when
> I start to bolt together 400 pound or greater pieces of gear.
>
> YMMV.
>
> Enjoy,
> Bob - N0DGN
>
> On 2/8/2011 11:25 PM, Glenn Little WB4UIV wrote:
>> While in the navy, we ordered a Tektronix scope probe.
>> Due to competitive bids and "specs" we received a knock off probe.
>> When I attempted to measure a clock waveform in a computer with the
>> prescribed scope and this probe, the waveform would change depending
>> on where along the lead you placed your hand or the position of the
>> lead relative to the chassis of the computer.
>> The next order was specified "do not substitute" and we did receive a
>> genuine Tektronix probe.
>> There was no problem measuring the clock waveform with this probe.
>>
>> Buyer be ware with cheap probes.
>> Probably useable for audio, but very questionable above a few MegaHertz.
>>
>> It all depends on how much you want to trust the waveform displayed
>> on the scope to be an accurate representation of the measured circuit.
>>
>> Just my experience.
>> I will only use quality probes.
>>
>> 73
>> Glenn
>> WB4UIV
>
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