Transformer Ratio Meter

[Mark Hennessy]

I haven't got a 'scope but I know how to use one, one day maybe I'll get one.....Now then...Digital or analogue  

If buying second-hand, stick with analogue.

If buying new, you'll struggle to find analogue 'scopes, and those that exist are from obscure brands that cater for the educational market. And probably NOS these days. For less money, a second-hand unit would be better.

So new would be digital. In which case: http://www.rigol-uk.co.uk/Rigol-DS1054Z-...s1054z.htm

There is nothing at this price point that gets anywhere close to it. It is absolutely staggering. Just two stand-outs: it has 4 channels, and it has analogue-like intensity grading (unheard of at this price).

But for a laugh, I've just ordered one of these: http://www.banggood.com/DIY-Digital-Osci...?bid=12658

OK, it's obviously a toy, but it might be a bit of fun

Anyways this is what I like about analogue meters when it comes to servicing radios etc...The intermittent varying voltage/pulse bit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1UVd3dBRq0

Unfortunately, that video did nothing to convince me of the advantages of analogue meters. It does demonstrate how good the Fluke 87V is - once Martin remembers to use manual ranging mode (notice that he forgot to switch it off for later in the video?). And it's reminded me how bad analogue meters are for measuring resistance - it's easy to forget just how cramped and horrible the non-linear resistance scales are.

It's really important to remember that different analogue meters have different "ballistics" - rise and fall times - and these really affect the observations. Honestly, for a time-varying signal, a meter is not the tool, but if the 'scope isn't warmed up, I'd choose a DVM with a good bargraph over an analogue meter every time.

But each to their own - we are all different. When I was still at school, I worked with an engineer who would *never* fire up the Hameg because he was trained to get by with an Avo. It frustrated me because even at this age (16), I had a 'scope at home, and was using it all the time. He missed ripple on power supply rails and all sorts of similar problems because of this approach.