User Interface of Major Oscilliscope Brands? 281
teddaw152 writes "I've been tasked with ordering an oscilloscope and a logic analyzer for use in a university physics lab, and have found several models that will likely suit our technical needs from the major manufacturers (Agilent, Tektronix, and LeCroy). However, I personally have only used legacy HP scopes, and thus I have no idea what modern features are must haves and which brand's user interface is the most intuitive. Is there anyone out there that has used modern Tektronix/Agilent/LeCroy scopes side by side and can comment on their thoughts from the purely subjective side?"
Most important feature (Score:5, Funny)
The most important feature, and I cannot stress this enough, is that the oscilloscope be able to display wavy lines. I once got a discount oscilloscope from a back alley dealer, and all it could display was straight diagonal lines. It was an unmitigated disaster.
Please... (Score:5, Funny)
Not another scopes trial!
Re:Ask your local amateur radio club (Score:5, Funny)
True. They can probably even spell oscilloscope.
Re:Ask your local amateur radio club (Score:5, Funny)
Use a high power radio jammer, and that HAM club will find you.
Modern oscilloscopes == no heat (Score:5, Funny)
I think its hard to go wrong with modern oscilloscopes.
Well, at my University, about 25 years ago, they started a energy saving plan, and turned off the heat in the classrooms and labs at night. Being that computer/electronics geeks tend to be nocturnal, we were freezing our balls off. So we scrounged up every available big old Tektronix honkers, vintage HP wave generators, anything with TUBES gathering dust in corners somewhere in the department.
We had the place up to sauna temperature.
So, do not neglect the tube factor. Plus, audiophiles claim that tubes are better anyway.
And plan to spend more for your connecting cables, as for the oscilloscope. Big, fat, "Monster" ones, made out of iridium, platinum tipped.
I think I really miss those old Tektronix tubies ... they made a real *whack* when you turned them on, and you could look through the perforated cover to see the tubes light up.
Re:Please... (Score:5, Funny)
Stop monkeying around!
No Need for Oscilloscopes (Score:3, Funny)
Do what my TA's do. Create a Wheatstone bridge and have your students ride an exercise bike until current balances out. The speed's your curve.
Re:Please... (Score:4, Funny)
but what if it was intelligently designed that way?
Re:Most important feature (Score:3, Funny)
...are called Lissajous figures. ...but known colloquially as "Lazy Jesus Patterns".