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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Tektronix scope

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Local Farnell has the Tektronix TBS1052B oscilloscope on sale for the equivalent of 460USD.

That's a *very* good price by local standards. For the sake of comparison the Rigol DS1052E that sells for 370USD on DX usually costs >700USD here.

I don't know much about oscilloscopes but I've been wanting one to do laser, Tesla Coil and general electronics. Hobby only.

My only alternative to this would be to buy the Rigol from China, which has a reasonable chance of incurring import taxes (and if it does the cost will be doubled).

Does anyone know if the Tektronix TBS1052B is good? How would it compare to the Rigol DS1052E?

I noticed it has 2.5k storage vs. 1M for the Rigol. How does this affect usage?


Here's what I managed to find about it:
Tektronix TBS1052B 50 MHz, 2-Ch, 1 GS/s Digital Storage Oscilloscope - at the Test Equipment Depot
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/tektronix/pdf/tbs1000b-series_datasheet.pdf
TBS1000 Series vs. Rigol DS1000E Series | Tektronix
 
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Tektronix doesn't make ANYTHING that isn't GOOD. The question is "is it good enough for what you need/want to do with it?". The answer to that is most likely yes. A 1052 will do anything you'll ever require as a LASER hobbiest. Cann't say as far as tesla circuits (it aint much good at high voltage). You just need to be ready to buy the right probes.
 
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Thanks for the feedback!

To clarify - I don't intend to use it on the HV side of the TC circuits, just to monitor/debug the low voltage feedback/interrupter/gate signals on solid state tesla coils. A coil of mine kept exploding MOSFETs and I'd like to find out why.

Do you think this is a better purchase than the Rigol, then?
 
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Ouch on the cost of that rigol ,

I not much use with info on scopes but I got a 100Mhz Rigol scope over here in the UK andit cost me around 400 USD , I mainly use mine for tesla coil stuff and haven't had any problems
 
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djQUAN

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More storage (IIRC) means when you stop a scope image and you zoom into it, you can see more detail. Pretty important if you want to see fast rise times or current/voltage spikes.

edit: and also you can see more detail before the trigger event.
 
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ARG

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I use Tek scopes all the time at school. I prefer the Rigol UI, but the Tek scopes are easier to learn. The PC interface for my Rigol scope is pretty bad, Tek can't do any worse so I'll assume it's better. ;)

Just make sure it has the firmware you want on it. Some of the Tek scopes here don't have the option to save to a USB drive, even though they have the hardware to do so.
 
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http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/tektronix/pdf/tbs1000b-series_datasheet.pdf

That datasheet says it can save to USB drives up to 64GB and record for days. I'm guessing that means the small internal storage isn't going to be a problem (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Two things from the datasheet have been nagging me...

On page 5 it says the bandwidth is 50MHz and then it lists
Bandwidth limit: 20MHz
So, is it 50MHz or 20MHz? What is a "bandwidth limit"?

Maximum input voltage: 300 Vrms CAT II; derated at 20 dB/decade above 100 kHz to 13 Vp-p AC at 3MHz and above
I figured that means it can stand less voltage at higher frequency, but I have no idea what "derated at 20 dB/decade" means. I need to find out the voltage it can stand at ~500kHz for SSTC debugging.
Are those ratings with the included 10X probe or not?

Sorry for asking a lot of questions, I'm new to scopes and need to decide quickly.
 
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The Rigol is a better scope, but it's very expensive there. If you don't plan on saving up for it then get the Tek, it's still good for any <1MHz coil work.

Btw bandwidth limit means that above that point input signals appear weaker than 50% true. A 50Mhz signal would be barely detectable on the highest sensitivity when input voltage is the maximum allowable by the scope. A rule of thumb is 1:10 MHz ratio of signal to scope rating for analog scopes. For digital you need to use the Nyquist theorem to determine optimal bandwidth, but generally speaking you want 10-50 samples per cycle of input signal. From that 50:1 reduction ratio you see why I recommend 1mhz maximum working signal for a 50mhz scope.
 
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I'm not sure if it still works but there was a hack to turn the 50MHz Rigol scope into a 100MHz one since it was software limited. I've been considering getting that scope for when I build my tesla coil this winter.
 
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Lt, I remember reading something about a firmware update that prevents the hack. I don't know if it is still possible. You might have to downgrade firmware to apply the hack if it is still doable.

I'm still kicking it on an old 40MHz CRO, so I don't stay in touch with DSO/MDO info as intently. I spent a lot of money getting this old monster, I don't know I'll ever be able to afford a modern DSO.
 
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Ask yourself first: do you really need a scope? I ponied up for a scope from DealExtreme, and it sits here on the shelf barely used. It's a useful tool if you're really doing signal analysis, but if you're really not...? Maybe it isn't worth $350 or whatever the price. Knowing what I know now, I'd probably not have purchased the scope because I just don't need to see time-based signals.
 
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I know atomic has been doing some TC work which definitely requires a scope for proper troubleshooting, and he's planning on making a DRSSTC eventually, and you REALLY need a scope for that. Amplifiers and oscillators are the bread and butter of scope work.
 
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Thanks for the help, guys!

I know I won't use it every day but it really sucked trying to debug the SSTC Sig mentioned without a scope. I'd like to be better prepared next time and this might be a unique opportunity ;)


I did some more searching and found Farnell also has the Agilent DSO1072B, which is slightly cheaper than the Tek. Any opinions on that one? Some online reviews say it's just a rebranded Rigol and not worth the money.
 

ARG

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Ask yourself first: do you really need a scope? I ponied up for a scope from DealExtreme, and it sits here on the shelf barely used. It's a useful tool if you're really doing signal analysis, but if you're really not...? Maybe it isn't worth $350 or whatever the price. Knowing what I know now, I'd probably not have purchased the scope because I just don't need to see time-based signals.

I've found mine to be immensely useful, I've used it with every project I've worked on after I got it.

I'm not sure if it still works but there was a hack to turn the 50MHz Rigol scope into a 100MHz one since it was software limited. I've been considering getting that scope for when I build my tesla coil this winter.

The newer ones have different firmware that prevents this.
 
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Well my comment was more to just do a deep evaluation of your needs to see if you do need something like a scope. When I got mine, I was of the mindset that it would be a great tool when I needed it (and it is), and it would be good to have just in case. In the end, however, the projects I've been involved in never really made much use of the scope, and I probably could've gotten by with something like a multimeter, or even just a cheaper scope.
 
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Only one thing preventing me from pulling the trigger on the Tek scope (have until monday morning to decide):
300 Vrms CAT II; derated at 20 dB/decade above 100 kHz to 13 Vp-p AC at 3MHz and above

Does anyone know if that 13 Vp-p is considering the 10x probe (as in I won't be able to measure higher voltages at higher frequencies at all) or with the probe would it go to 130Vp-p?
 




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