Help me choose my first scope

[dano12]

I'm getting far enough along in my building skills and understanding of general theory that I'd really like to add a scope to my bench. (Plus my birthday is in a few weeks

If I am working generally with analog circuits, can you folks make some general recommendations as to what to look for in a decent (sub $300) price range?

[twabelljr]

I'd like to add a question if I may. What is the minimum scope bandwith recommended for effects and amps? I've seen some 10MHz for really low prices, but is that enough bandwidth?

[Sir H C]

I am a huge fan of the Tektronix 453 and 454.  The latter is somewhat faster (150MHz), but both are 2 channel affairs.  You can find them dirt cheap on the bay, way under $300.  Use discrete parts, no weird ICs or the like so if it goes bad it is possible to fix.

[Peter Snowberg]

Some info courtesy of Paul on the Tek 453: http://www.diyguitarist.com/TestEquipment/Tektronix453.htm

When it comes to bandwidth, we're sitting fairly close to DC with our needs around here. I'll stretch to say the 99.99% of scopes have more than enough bandwidth for effects.

There are a bunch of scope threads if you search.

Get a dual trace scope and chances are great that it will take care of everything you need.

[dano12]

Thanks much for the pointers (I did search first, but had no real luck with phrases I used:)

Off to ebay and google.

This is kind of cool, I feel like I am moving from kindergarten to first grade.

[Peter Snowberg]

I tried a bunch of searches and lucked out too. 

Hmmmmm.....

Well, post links to anything you find and you'll get lots of opinions.

[Hal]

I "just" got a 15mhz scope for $40 off craig's list.  The guy even threw in a guitar effect (he fixed amps).  dual trace might have been nice, but whatever, this was cheap.  You really don't need to spend $300 on a scope - I would recomend spending something like $100 on a nice used scope, and you can easily drop the last $200 on a nice DMM, function generator, and power supply :-D.

Or maybe some parts.

[brett]

Hi.
A really simple option would be on of the Vellemans hand-held scopes.  5MHz and 10MHz and single trace only, but they are very compact (same size as a multimeter).  After my full-size scope died, I bought one cheap, thinking that if I didn't like it I re-sell it.  But I like it better than my old scope.  It does some cool stuff like auto-ranging, frequency and true RMS voltage calculations.
cheers

[freak scene]

I "just" got a 15mhz scope for $40 off craig's list.  The guy even threw in a guitar effect (he fixed amps).  dual trace might have been nice, but whatever, this was cheap.  You really don't need to spend $300 on a scope - I would recomend spending something like $100 on a nice used scope, and you can easily drop the last $200 on a nice DMM, function generator, and power supply :-D.

Or maybe some parts.

yeah, but if you get a 50 dollar soldering iron from circuit specialist and then put the code in for the free dmm, then download some wave generation programs off of download.com you will save a ton.  then score a cheap oscilloscope (i traded an old speaker for mine).

(just wish i had known about the free dmm sooner)

[jrem]

10mhz is faster than you'll need . . .  I have a tech922 that's 15mhz and I haven't needed top speed for anything analog or digital that I've fussed with.  It was $50 on ebay seven years ago or so.  Dual trace is close to necessary so you can compare the input signal with what you're looking at, i.e., reference.

Those hand held ones are nice though . . .    a capture feature would be nice too . . .