[Test-Equipment] Advice about used scopes

[David DiGiacomo]

Commenting on 2 different messages:

>From: wb6fly at arrl.net (Eric Lemmon)

>Be cautious about buying a used 'scope, especially on eBay where you
>probably don't have the option of a 30-day trial like many used-equipment
>vendors offer.  There may be an obscure malfunction that is costly to
>repair, and you may not find this out for days or weeks.  After all, if it
>is such a great scope, why did the owner want to sell it?

Because the seller is a test equipment dealer, or bought 10 scopes at an
auction, or has upgraded, or just has way too many scopes?

There are many eBay sellers who stand behind their auctions (and many who
don't).

>Before you spend some serious money for a used scope, look at some of the
>new models being sold by Hameg, B&K Precision, Leader, Instek, and others.
>You can buy a new 100 MHz, dual-trace, digital-storage oscilloscope that is
>loaded with features that you might not find on an older unit, and many of
>these current models are reasonably priced.

I have to say that this is really bad advice for the OP.  I couldn't
disagree more strongly.

- You can get a great Tek analog scope for under $200 that will run rings
around the best model from any of the companies you mention.

- You can't get schematic level service manuals for those new scopes, so
once the warranty is over, even a minor failure renders them useless.

>Do you really need 100 MHz bandwidth?  There is a significant
>price difference between a scope that is in the 20/25 MHz range and one that
>reaches 100 MHz.

Who cares, when a 100MHz 2235/2236/2246 (or a 300MHz 2465) is so cheap
these days?

================

>From: k2cby at optonline.net (Miles B. Anderson, K2CBY)

>I bought the military model of the TEK 465, known as a 465M on e-bay
>several months ago and could not have been more pleased with it. Apart from
>everything else, the service manuals are readily available. It is also
>easier to service than the civilian versions.

Sorry if I'm being pedantic, but the 465M is the military version of the
455.  It doesn't have much in common with the 465.

Also, most people think it's a bit harder to service than the 455 or 465,
unless you have a stock of modules to swap in.