One man's 'scope is another man's scrap ?
Nigel Goodwin said:
I've currently got two a 20MHz, and a 30MHz (I gave a 10MHz one away yesterday)
My "best" oscilloscope is a 15MHz Telequipment D65 :!: [1970's technology I think? - not sure, don't care]
A service manual is a good idea - see if one is available for your proposed purchase, the main disadvantage to using old gear is the fact that they may need more TLC than something brand new.
This is one of those issues that if you ask 20 people you will almosy certainly get 20 different answers.
Whilst I will agree that the better your gear is the more future proof it will be; I use my tiny Thandar SC110A almost weekly because it is so convenient (an obsolite 10MHz battery-powered 'scope with a 1.5 inch screen). Do you need a storage 'scope? could you be better off with a storage adapter if/when you finally find a use for that sort of thing?
My only fear of EBay-type purchases is you could be buying a lemon; if you are willing to take the risk and can scrap or repair whatever arrives then great! - and don't trust its calibration, you don't know who has played with it - at least give it a check with a few known signals, better still go through the service manual's set-up procedure.
The old 'scopes have lasted this long without failing and they are really cheap -- £30 ? (or free if you know Nigel :wink: )
I would rather have a real oscilloscope than some sort of computer plug-in if only because it can be connected up to an experiment for weeks (the sort of things I do) keeping my laptop free for more 'office-type' duties (and 'scopes stack better).