What's your favorite test instrument?
Many engineers have a favorite test instrument. It could be a trusty DMM or oscilloscope. What do you like about your favorite or favorites? If your favorite is no longer in production, why do you keep using it? I’d bet it’s because it does something to a newer instrument might not do or do as well as your old one. Tell us your stories.
You may have a different favorite at home and at work.Let’s hear about both
Larry commented:
I like my TEK TDS2014. I've been using scopes for general electronic engineering work since 1968. Frankly this little digital lunch box guy is easily the best yet.
Yes analog scopes do have a few advantages at times but frankly if I had this scope in 68 I would have been 10X more productive!
Phil commented:
1689 DigiBridge.
Chascode commented:
My three Tek 7603's with lots of plug-ins, and my Pico Tech ADC216 scope/spectrum analyzer, for audio testing.
Dave McGuire commented:
My Tek 2465A and 7904A oscilloscopes. Yes I have some fancy digitizing scopes (the Tek 222 is very handy on the road!) but nothing beats an analog scope for fast transients...analog and digital scopes are completely different instruments. Are you listening, Tektronix and Agilent?
David Danielson commented:
My favorite instrument is my LeCroy oscilloscope. I've owned several and my current model is a Waverunner 44Xi. If you just want to see a waveform or capture one for a report, any modern scope will do. But if you want to analyze the signal you need a LeCroy. You can multiply your voltage probe by your current probe and read the calculated values and cursor position in Watts. You can integrate the power and it reads in Joules. You can convert a motor encoder frequency or PWM pulse width to a time correlated analog waveform of the frequency data so that you can visualize what is going on in your control loop. No one else has this.
Johnetta commented:
This piece was a lifejacket that saved me from dorwning.
Joe S. commented:
What do I reach for first or what is/was my all time favorite? All time favorite was the HP8566 Spectrum Analyzer. Nothing else compares for ease-of-use.
William K.etel commented:
For many years my favored instrument was a Radio Shack 30,000 ohms per volt multimeter. Not only was it able to do all kinds of continuity, and "sort of continuity" checks with it's low ohms scale, but the very low voltage 0.6 volts full scale range was good for evaluating small voltage drops in connections and connectors.
Now my favorites and my old Beckman 4 1/2 digit digital multimetr, and my very well worn Fluke "77" multimeter. Despite having one failed segment on the display and a range selector switch that no longer has any stops, it still serves very well, and has survived falls that I might not have walked away from.
solder blob commented:
Tektronix handheld THS720A scope the batteries don't work and it needs a tap ( thump ) to get it on but with its built in DMM and two channels what's not to like
ddefroy commented:
Firstly my Fluke model 87 handheld DMM I would'nt be able to do my job without it. Also General Resistance Dial-A-Source another oldie but well used workhorse in our lab. HP 34401A DMM small footprint and high accuracy what a deal!
Lodekka commented:
The Marconi TF 2017, a large but lovely quiet cavity tuned sig Gen from the early '80s.
Bit of a laboratory beast but great to use..
BobL commented:
The two Tek 7904 oscilloscopes that I have managed to keep around my company. Transients are sometimes impossible to see with a digital scope, but analog display is great.
Dean Frees commented:
I am a fan of most of the units mentioned above. My favorites are the HP 3560 series it is a great unit and it does alot compared to today's models. The 8562A and the 8560 series is always a great seller. It is very reliable and easy to use. These are great tools and that is what Valuetronics was founded on. Visit us to see what we have for refurbished equipment.
Bill commented:
The HP35665A analyzer is the best for audio frequency measurements. My Tektronix RM564 scipe is still the best way to observe real time signals.
Poole commented:
the HP 8562 series of spectrum analyzer, wish I had one of my own.
Opcom commented:
The analog, CRT-based oscilloscope. I use two Tektronix 7904's. Lets face it, digital ones update sloppily and nothing is as good looking as an electrostatic deflection CRT. Digital scopes are useful for many things but the trace on a CRT can be interpreted in more ways than the digitzed LCD image.
Suzie B. commented:
Two DMM's that I've used for years: Keithley 197. This meter has never been out of tolerance in 20+ years. And the original Fluke 8060A's. Though we have higher resolution and more accurate meters today, these meters have proven their reliability over the years.
6py77 commented:
Hp3562a --There is nothing made today that comes close.
Earl McCune commented:
Hands down the Tek 576 curve tracer, which tells me more about how logic pins and RF amplifier MMICs behave than often I really want to know. Oh, and transistors too. Why there isn't a more modern version of this 1975 jewel really amazes me...!
A_Miner_Hokie commented:
I like the Tek TDS2042C scope I've owned for about 8 months. 200 MHz and 2 GS/s is adequate for what I do at home. Although it doesn't have a battery power option, it's very light and small and requires only 30 Watts power (I've run it off 12V automotive power with a small inverter). It didn't cost much either: I won it via an online Tektronix drawing.
Ken Herrick commented:
Easy: The Tek 547 'scope, the Cadillac of its day. I owned a rack model; you could pull the whole heavy thing out & tip it up or down on its very serious slides. Also, the General Radio 805A "Standard Signal Generator", a boat-anchor today along with the 547. I still own the 805 but only to admire its innards.
Steve Lindberg commented:
Like Mr Rako, my Tek 2465BDV has the most capability. I also like my HP 3456A DMM's. Why do I like this stuff? Because they perform very well, but cost me very little money used and needing repair. I also like the other 350 instruments in my lab, for the same reason.
W2SI commented:
It may be cheating a bit, but my HP 100MHz analog storage scope with DMM can handle pretty much any signal analysis task I throw at it, analog or digital. I would include the model numbers, but I don't have the scope in front of me because it's on loan to a fellow engineer whose fancy new DSO couldn't find a tricky transient!
1's n 0's commented:
The Tektronix 1241 was an incredible logic analyzer. It had a revolutionary color shutter display and a knob that offered smooth scrolling of data. It offered outstanding triggering with timers and counters and allowed you to “ping-pong” between the fast async and sync cards. Overall, a great bug catcher.
Paul Rako commented:
For a single choice, I whould have to say my Tek 3465B 400MHz analog scope. After that, the HP/Agilent 3577A network anayizer, and lets not forget our trusty Fluke hand-held meters. I also have a nice LeCroy digital scope for slow events and fast one-shot events.
Max The Magnificent commented:
I always say that you can't go wrong with a Doctor Who-type Sonic Screwdriver :-)
Ron Silver commented:
The HP 180 series of scopes is probably my favoite scope. It uses the Same CRT as the 1740. After that I like the Simpson 260. I have a Series 2 a Series 4 and a Series 5. They are a very reliable transistor testor with a 1 meg resistor
AFPTestEng commented:
The Rohde and Schwarz FSMR Measurement Receiver. Its one of the most versatile instruments available for communication test. Its an integral part of our production line test stations.
Jon Titus commented:
Tek 465B scope. An oldie but goodie. After than, my Simpson 260 Series 3 VOM.
RosinSmoked commented:
Has to be the crisp turquoise blue CRTs on the HP 1740-series o'scopes.
Buzz commented:
I like the analog display of the Tektronix 2714/2715 Spectrum Analyzers for most RF signals, When analyzing QAM I like the Sunrise Telecom AT2500rqv, and for 8VSB I use a Rohde Schwarz FSH3 with a DVM-400 Digital Video Measurement System. A Triveni MT-40 supplements the DVM-400.
