Tektronix MSO2024 [Design]

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From: Joerg on 9 Dec 2008 20:49

Jim wrote:
> In article <493e50a8$0$56772$edfadb0f(a)dtext02.news.tele.dk>, Frithiof
> Jensen <frithiof.jensen(a)diespammerdie.jensen.tdcadsl.dk> wrote:
>
>> I have a little too much cash leftover for the year-end and nowhere to
>> invest it; so I was thinking of investing in myself by getting some better
>> measurement equipment.
>>
>> Is the Tektronix MSO2024 a good buy or good bye (to your money;-)
>>
> I like Tek scopes, and almost jumped on this one until I saw the screen
> specs. It's quarter VGA - something like 300+ x 240 pixels. Wide yes,
> but still QVGA. Try doing anything with 4 traces, some logic (there are
> up to 16 channels) and some menus, all in 240 pixels. Each trace gets
> about 10 pixels of height to show its stuff.
> I'm looking at the Agilent scopes now. The screens are something like
> 6", but I'm pretty sure they were 1024x768, and they'll drive an
> external monitor if your eyes are getting weak like mine.
> If you ignore the toy screen, I'd say the rest of that Tek scope looks
> pretty sweet.
>

I use the Instek GDS-2204. The screen resolution isn't that stellar
either but that thing is super bright. If I crank it up at night the
whole lab turns blue and bonbon-color. Since my eyes are probably
similar to yours I run it a lot through the USB and into a computer.
Then I don't need to switch glasses, can just peek over the rims of my
SMT glasses.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.

From: David L. Jones on 9 Dec 2008 20:56

On Dec 9, 10:04 pm, "Frithiof Jensen"
<frithiof.jen...(a)diespammerdie.jensen.tdcadsl.dk> wrote:
> I have a little too much cash leftover for the year-end and nowhere to
> invest it; so I was thinking of investing in myself by getting some better
> measurement equipment.
>
> Is the Tektronix MSO2024 a good buy or good bye (to your money;-)

Lets see what you get for your $5000:
4 channels of 200MHz bandwidth = terrific
16 digital channels = very handy
1GS/s on all 4 channels = not that great for a 200MHz bandwidth scope.
only 500MS/s on digital channels 8-16 = not so good.
480 horizontal x 234 vertical pixels (WQVGA) display = pretty bad for
the price

Basically you are paying for the analog bandwidth, 4 channels, large
memory, and mixed signal capability. *if* you need *all* those things
then it may be good value for money.

What will you be using it for?
If your bandwidth requirements are modest, there are much cheaper
options with the same memory and mixed signal capability.

If you value a large detailed screen then you'll be annoyed with this
scope.

If you have high bandwidth requirements then you may prefer to drop
the mixed signal capability or 4 channels for extra bandwidth.

You need to tell us more about your expected usage...

Dave.

From: David L. Jones on 9 Dec 2008 21:10

From: Frithiof Jensen on 10 Dec 2008 09:38

"David L. Jones" <altzone(a)gmail.com> skrev i meddelelsen
news:1ce4fec2-7c84-4b82-a9ef-93448c215754(a)w39g2000prb.googlegroups.com...

> If you have high bandwidth requirements then you may prefer to drop
> the mixed signal capability or 4 channels for extra bandwidth.
>
> You need to tell us more about your expected usage...
>
> Dave

I will use it for switch mode power supplies mostly and some more-or-less
uncritical analogue/digital "glue" stuff. Well below 10Mhz BUT one needs to
see tiny "needles" and oscillations from reverse recovery e.t.c. I liked the
ability to decode serial buses because they tend to get thrown in there as
well.

The used stuff seems to be HP/Agilent. Maybe I should consider those too ->
(except that I still carry a grudge from that HP-brand pseudo-4-channel
PC-Look&Feel model that could not trigger properly ... and maybe the ones
are on sale because they can't trigger either ;).

From: David L. Jones on 10 Dec 2008 15:40

On Dec 11, 12:38 am, "Frithiof Jensen"
<frithiof.jen...(a)diespammerdie.jensen.tdcadsl.dk> wrote:
> "David L. Jones" <altz...(a)gmail.com> skrev i meddelelsennews:1ce4fec2-7c84-4b82-a9ef-93448c215754(a)w39g2000prb.googlegroups.com...
>
> > If you have high bandwidth requirements then you may prefer to drop
> > the mixed signal capability or 4 channels for extra bandwidth.
>
> > You need to tell us more about your expected usage...
>
> > Dave
>
> I will use it for switch mode power supplies mostly and some more-or-less
> uncritical analogue/digital "glue" stuff. Well below 10Mhz BUT one needs to
> see tiny "needles" and oscillations from reverse recovery e.t.c.

In that case you I'd suggest you save your money and only look at
100MHz models. You pay a lot extra for the jump to 200MHz.
A big sample memory is important here. Get at least 1MB.

> I liked the
> ability to decode serial buses because they tend to get thrown in there as
> well.

That's par for the course these days. Beware of used scopes that
aren't strong in this area.

> The used stuff seems to be HP/Agilent. Maybe I should consider those too ->

Normally I'd say yes, but you have a decent amount of money to spend
and you don't save much by buying a 2nd hand digital scope. You just
end up with features you don't want, like small memory or sample rate
etc. Analog scopes are completely different of course, you'd be crazy
to buy one new.
New digital scopes like the Rigol and Goodwill are superb value for
money.

Dave.

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