Buying an Oscilloscope: is this one any good? (DSE content).

[brad]

I'm getting a tax cheque for $150, and I'm thinking it's about time to buy a cheap oscilloscope!  Australian eBay doesn't have much to choose from so my only options look like the electronics stores Dick Smith and Jaycar.

This is the DSE option: http://tinyurl.com/ncyjq

This is the Jaycar option: http://tinyurl.com/pbn2k

I don't know anything about features, but at least the DSE model is more petite than its refridgerator-esque cousin at Jaycar!    (The CRT is only 48mm x 60mm compared to the other's 70mm x 70mm though).

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

They look pretty much the same to me.
If space is the problem, then the Jaycar is the one to get, because it's the FOOTPRINT that matters.

[Peter Snowberg]

As Paul just said, they're almost the same unit, but there are some minor differences. I would go with the Dick Smith unit because:

- DSE unit comes with 1:1 / 10:1 switchable probe
- DSE unit show X-Y mode capability
- DSE unit has a 20% larger screen
- I like the toggle selections on the DSE over the multi-pushbutton on the Jaycar unit

[gez]

You couldn't save up for a little longer and buy a dual-channel scope?  Once you get into using them, and as you advance, you'll probably kick yourself you didn't. 

Anything's better than nothing though, got to love scopes...

[brad]

Thanks or the replies guys. Good to hear they're comparable on most features. The Jaycar one doesn't say if it comes with a probe, and that's an extra $30 or so if it doesn't...so perhaps the DSE one is the best value.

As much as I'd like to spend more on a scope, I'm pretty much limited to the size of my tax cheque Gez!  I can go to both stores to eyeball each unit since they're only 10 minutes drive away...however the DSE staff wouldn't know anything about scopes -think RadioShack.

Do you guys find oscilloscopes helpful? 

[Hal]

You couldn't save up for a little longer and buy a dual-channel scope?  Once you get into using them, and as you advance, you'll probably kick yourself you didn't. 

Anything's better than nothing though, got to love scopes...

big +1.  I'm kicking myself now :-D.  But the differance is that I spent $40, not $120.  Look to see if you can find one used - you can sometimes get HUGE savings on used scopes.  But then again, I had never seen a new one for under like $250 before this thread.

[brad]

What's the benefit of a dual-channel that makes it so much better?

(ack!  The DSE link has reverted to the homepage.  It's their $128 model.)

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

The Jaycar one does come with a probe, according to the link.
It's handy to have two channels so that you can watch the signal go in and come out at the same time!
but, havign ONE channel is a huge advance on NONE!
Australia is a particularly bad country for secondhand scopes. My 'best' scope is a 465B Tektronix which I swapped a synth for! (the synth was here in Australia, the scpe was in USA..)

[gez]

As Paul said, with a dual channel scope you can compare how a signal behaves in one part of a circuit with how it behaves in another.  Useful for measuring phase shift, comparing a slow moving voltage with a faster one, comparing different outputs of a LFO...the list goes on.

When I first got my scope I barely used it, now it's on as much as my amplifier.  Great things, you learn to love them.

[brad]

Thanks for all your help folks!  I'm now the proud owner of an oscilloscope!  I went to both stores today and checked out each one in person.  Knowing that they both had similar specs was really helpful, because I ended up basing my choice on how sturdy each model felt.  The Jaycar oscilliscope had a real "plasticy" look about the front panel, and the controls were really flimsy feeling.  The DSE model on the other hand actually felt like a proper technical instrument and had sturdy controls -even though the screen is slightly smaller.  So I bought the DSE one!   

I looked at some dual channel scopes but they were all around $400 so I'll have to leave them for another day.

[Peter Snowberg]

Congratuations! 

I'm surprised by the screen. I thought the DSE unit had 6mm grid spacing while the Jaycar unit was only 5mm.

Welcome to being able to see the music.