Opinion about GOLDSTAR OS-5020P Oscilloscope

[Menticol]

Hello guys

I read that an oscilloscope is a must for any serious electronics enthusiast, so I started a quest to get one.

I found an ad of a GOLDSTAR OS-5020P, 20 Mhz, without probes. It costs $280.000 COP or 280 USD* I understand that getting an used oscilloscope on a first world country is extremely easy, but here the options aren't so extensive.

- Do you think that it would be a good choice for a beginner?

- What do you think about Goldstar construction quality?

- The Ad says it's non calibrated. Is the calibration process something that the user can do, or require specialized personnel and equipment?





Talking about oscilloscopes, I found this post very inspiring
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/tektronix-465-repair-and-restoration/

An this one very Uninspiring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=J2guzKTBFdg&t=228

Thank you!

*(Note that 280.000 COP in reality is 147 USD, but given cost-of-living of this country and the fact that I earn my salary in colombian pesos, then the figure of 280K cop = 280 USD would be accurate.)

 

[audioguru]

I worked with Goldstar business telephone systems (made in S. Korea) in the early '80ies. The quality was the worst I have ever seen. They had terrible soldering.
They changed their name to LG Electronics and now their quality is excellent.

I do not know how old is the oscilloscope.

 

[JimB]

- Do you think that it would be a good choice for a beginner?

Yes, maybe.
It has all the basic things for a two channel scope.

- What do you think about Goldstar construction quality?

I cannot comment, I have no experience of Goldstar.

- The Ad says it's non calibrated. Is the calibration process something that the user can do, or require specialized personnel and equipment?

"Not calibrated" could have two rather different meanings:

1 It is working correctly and is within the manufacturers specification, but it has not been "proved" correct in a certified calibration laboratory.

2 It is working, but the calibration is way off. Either because something is worn out or failed, or the local idiot has had a play with it.

If it is 1 then no problem. None of my equipment* is formally calibrated.

If it is 2 then it is a problem unless it is very cheap.

As for calibrating it yourself, for most hobby purposes the voltage ranges can be checked using a stable power supply and a known good DVM.
To check the timebase, you need an accurate time or frequency source.

JimB

* Except my frequency counter.
I have an accurate frequency source which locks to a standard frequency radio transmission.
But this would still not be acceptable as a traceable standard in an industrial environment.

 

[Menticol]

Thank you by your advices JimB and Audioguru!

I'll ask the seller about the calibration issue.

 

[dr pepper]

Looks reasonable and I think it'd be good for a noob.
In this country that is too expensive, maybe not where you live.