Frustrated with Calibration Costs on Old Scopes

In my experience, calibrating an old oscilloscope can be a real pain. Your mileage may vary, but the gear is so expensive, and renting isn't always easy to find. What do you guys do to keep costs down?

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3 Comments

jordan_young7mo ago

Used to think you had to get the whole thing done every year no matter what. Changed my mind after talking to an old timer at a ham radio meet. He showed me how to check the basic specs myself with a cheap signal generator. Now I only pay for cal on the parts that actually matter for my work, like timebase and offset accuracy. Saves a ton and the scope is plenty good for my bench. I mean, it's not lab grade but it doesn't need to be.

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nelson.rowan7mo ago

Yeah, that's a common thing. We often do more than needed because it's the norm. Figuring out what's essential saves resources.

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young.mia7mo ago

That trick with the cheap signal generator? Total lifesaver for DIY calibration on my bench.

4