New Style Vs. Older CRT Oscilloscopes

[GothGirl]

Howdy! (Tips hat)
So I am considering buying my first oscilloscope and have read a number of past postings on types and specs and brands etc. A lot of folks seem to prefer the older CRT style scopes used due to price and maybe just the ambiance of the CRT? It seems you can get a funky fresh new one for almost the same price (I'm looking at a 100mhz and 2 channels) as an older one. If I was going to spend say 250-ish on one, would it make sense just to buy a new one? What am I missing on by not getting an older one?
Happy Hunting!

 

[jacklick]

MHO with limited experience.

I have an older analog scope and like it but you wouldn't be missing anything by buying a new digital one. Honestly, it is likely more difficult to use an analog scope vs a newer digital scope that does a bunch of measurements, triggering, etc for you. Some people like having both.

Analog scopes are nice for looking at vector displays with x/y and z inputs. Newer digital scopes have to digitize that analog signal but it still works. << layman explanation.

 

[andrewb]

Just get a new Rigol DS1054z. I paid $315 shipped new for mine, with a discount coupon. Search around for the cheapest price.

A new digital scope will give you more total capability for the money. And you won't need to worry about it breaking, or needing to repair it.

Analog scopes have their place. But if you're new to scopes, you'll be better off with a digital. They are more powerful overall, and easier to use.

 

[parism]

Just get a new Rigol DS1054z. I paid $315 shipped new for mine, with a discount coupon. Search around for the cheapest price.

A new digital scope will give you more total capability for the money. And you won't need to worry about it breaking, or needing to repair it.

Analog scopes have their place. But if you're new to scopes, you'll be better off with a digital. They are more powerful overall, and easier to use.

/\ This

But remember the 1054 is 50mhz. There is a hack to make it 100mhz but you might as well look at 100mhz ones to save you the hassle.

The 1102E is $299 at Rigol.

p

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

It depends on what you are using it for.

I picked up a nice analog scope which is perfect for vector monitors. It has an X, Y and even Z input (I have just used the X & Y) to see if my boards are working within reasonable limits before I hook them up to the CRT.

You can do this with the scopes noted above, but the retrace lines come through much brighter. That isn't a fatal flaw, it just is a vestige of the newer technology.

Digital scopes also give you a lot more in terms of capture capacity and storage than the old analog ones.

So, what is your target for the scope?

General game repairs, want to look at logic and pulses - digital scope.

Hard vector repairs, checking the screens and the above - analog or digital scope.

The newer scopes do hold up better. Some of the older scopes (like the Tectronics 465B I used to have) were very heavy and not as easy to use.

 

[andrewb]

/\ This

But remember the 1054 is 50mhz. There is a hack to make it 100mhz but you might as well look at 100mhz ones to save you the hassle.

The 1102E is $299 at Rigol.

p

Sure, but the 1102E is only two channel.

I also think the 1054 is shipping with the 'hack' already installed. And it isn't really a hack, as much as just removing the software lock that limits it to 50MHz. The hardware is already 100MHz, they just limit it in software. (And this is how most scopes work today, even high-end ones. Shitty, but true.)

Regardless, you aren't likely to need more than 50MHz anyway, for arcade stuff. But worst case doing the unlock yourself is trivial, it's well documented online.

 

[braedel]

Another vote for the 4 channel Rigol. I've used tons of different scopes over the years and really hard to match for the features, especially if only using on 80's/90's arcade games.



~Brad

 

[jacklick]

Another vote for the 4 channel Rigol. I've used tons of different scopes over the years and really hard to match for the features, especially if only using on 80's/90's arcade games.

View attachment 536399

~Brad

I need a reference card holder like that. Hook me up with a better pic

 

[andrewb]

I need a reference card holder like that. Hook me up with a better pic

Or do what I did and take a piece of 1" thick foam (that's maybe 3" x 15"), that was just some junk packing material I had laying around, and cut slots in it with an exacto. Sorta like the foam he has his TTL chips in, but thicker and longer.) Then you can stick the cards in, and the foam holds them in. It works well.

 

[thegleek]

...aren't those just reference cards for individual 74LSxxx IC's for the HP 10529a logic comparator?

 

[braedel]

I need a reference card holder like that. Hook me up with a better pic

I designed and 3D print them! Made it so they fall into place and the IC doesn't touch the card in front of it.. Happy to share STL.. HERE. They take a while to print..lol

 

[swood]

I hate to buck the trend here, but I prefer analog 90% of the time.

I have the same 4 channel Rigol pictured above, and I have a 40 year old Techtronics, and I far prefer the old scope.
It's hard to explain, but there is a direct feeling to using analog, where as the digital seems to be in control by someone else.