[Amps] Advice on instruments for ham use

[Bill Weinel]

carl seyersdahl wrote:

> So, I ll try again a little shorter .!! If anyone has a scope that's better
>than my old "an/usm-117 (a real antique) Please let me know. I used several
>HP's in the late 50's early 60's in govt work, but I don't recall the
>no's.!!
> they were pretty big, mounted on carts, and we used them mostly for RTTY
>adjustments, etc.
>   I'm not a beggar , but I have a few things I woul;d part with if I find
>the right scope.!!! (but time is short)
> 
>  
>
Hi Carl,

I don't know if I can help out in the scope area as my 465Ms are not for 
sale. (...they are in daily use here in the shop fixing radios! :-) I do 
have a Hewlett Packard 120b scope available... However, I have not 
checked it out throughly and know only that it produces a trace when you 
power it up. (If  your in real dire need, I'd consider parting with it 
for the right item....  )

But I suspect that you would be better off looking for a good used Tek 
465 or 465M. I see them all the time on the auction sites going for 
$25-$100 each. Someone here earlier recommended a Tek 7000 series. I'd 
have to second that recommendation. The 7000 series is very reliable and 
also easily repairable. Plug-ins are readily available. If you don't 
need portability and only plan on using it on the bench, a 7000 would 
make an excellent shop scope. I've seen 7000 mainframes available on the 
usual auction sites as cheap as $10 each  ....all though they usually 
fetch more like $30-$75 if in good condition. Plugins vary from $10-$100 
each depending on model/quanity/condition. The other advantage to the 
7000 series is that with the right plug-ins it can do duty as many 
different instruments. Check around on the web at the usual 
auction/surplus sites. Someones always moving out a bunch of scopes at a 
reasonable price somewhere. You just have to find 'where'. :-)

73 Bill W4WHW