Ok so I used to have a lot of gear and when I first got out of the hobby around 2001 or 2003 it just sit in my basement. It was all 1980's gear. Had flood damage lost the home around that time as well.
So I have been looking around a lot. I decided at this point even though I know Tektronix analog scopes really well I do not want to go that route. I do not want to have to replace every cap and resistor and still not know what else might go like a power supply or crt. It would be different if I could find something local check it out etc......
So I am going to be buying a new entry-level digital scope. Since I am thinking about getting my amatuer ticket punched I am looking at 200Mhz scopes. 99.9% of the time I have used a scope I have seldom used more than 1 channel. My triggering needs where never that complex and I do not do logic probing/debugging. If I was going to do a lot of logic work I would not use a scope for it.
So while a lot of people seem to think a 4ch scope is the only way to go I do not think I need 4ch. No way could I afford 4ch and 200Mhz. In fact I am looking at the Siglent SDS 1202X-E as my front-runner 2 ch 200Mhz and comes standard with all the things you need to hack or pay big money for from other companies. To get a 4ch in my price range I would have to jump down 50Mhz and then attempt software hack to get up to 100Mhz to stay under $400.On top of that, the 4ch scopes under $400 do not have as many functions and capabilities as the Siglent 2ch I am looking at. Obviously, 50Mhz is plenty to work on CB radio's but I doubt it would take care of me once I start working on and building amatuer gear?
Is there a compelling reason to absolutely lean towards 4ch at lower bandwidth for RF radio and amp hobby work?
I do not think I need MOS or built-in DMM or Sig Gen.
I am getting ready to pull the trigger and just want to listen to other opinions before I paint myself into a corner.
Thanks guys!
So I have been looking around a lot. I decided at this point even though I know Tektronix analog scopes really well I do not want to go that route. I do not want to have to replace every cap and resistor and still not know what else might go like a power supply or crt. It would be different if I could find something local check it out etc......
So I am going to be buying a new entry-level digital scope. Since I am thinking about getting my amatuer ticket punched I am looking at 200Mhz scopes. 99.9% of the time I have used a scope I have seldom used more than 1 channel. My triggering needs where never that complex and I do not do logic probing/debugging. If I was going to do a lot of logic work I would not use a scope for it.
So while a lot of people seem to think a 4ch scope is the only way to go I do not think I need 4ch. No way could I afford 4ch and 200Mhz. In fact I am looking at the Siglent SDS 1202X-E as my front-runner 2 ch 200Mhz and comes standard with all the things you need to hack or pay big money for from other companies. To get a 4ch in my price range I would have to jump down 50Mhz and then attempt software hack to get up to 100Mhz to stay under $400.On top of that, the 4ch scopes under $400 do not have as many functions and capabilities as the Siglent 2ch I am looking at. Obviously, 50Mhz is plenty to work on CB radio's but I doubt it would take care of me once I start working on and building amatuer gear?
Is there a compelling reason to absolutely lean towards 4ch at lower bandwidth for RF radio and amp hobby work?
I do not think I need MOS or built-in DMM or Sig Gen.
I am getting ready to pull the trigger and just want to listen to other opinions before I paint myself into a corner.
Thanks guys!