HF station monitor

[AE1PT]

If you go for a surplus Tektronix 2465, 2465A, 2465B, or 2467; be sure that the scope CRT still displays normal traces. Like many advanced oscilloscopes, they use custom ICs. On the scopes mentioned, there is a Horizontal Output chip that statistically experiences a greater than normal failure rate, causing loss of CRT traces (or greatly reduced trace length). Google "Tektronix U800" and you can read more about the failure problem. If this chip has gone bad, the scope is useless and you will have a very difficult time finding a replacement for it.

Thank you for pointing that out. There is a lot of formerly high end lab gear out there that one with patience can acquire for a reasonable price. But unless one's game is repair and calibration of old lab gear--and is prepared to sift through enough junk to find high failure unobtainium LSIC OEM replacement components--it's best to stick to the common stuff that can be had very cheap.

[N8YX]

Thank you for pointing that out. There is a lot of formerly high end lab gear out there that one with patience can acquire for a reasonable price. But unless one's game is repair and calibration of old lab gear--and is prepared to sift through enough junk to find high failure unobtainium LSIC OEM replacement components--it's best to stick to the common stuff that can be had very cheap.

For all things Tek I recommend Tucker Electronics in Texas, QService in Greece or Barry Electronics in Canada. Ebay occasionally lists working custom Tek ICs for sale and I've refurbed a few pieces of gear by finding needed parts there.

Sad that one of their nicer scopes has this problem. Makes me feel better about my 7000 stuff, and there's so much of it available as surplus I doubt I'll ever run out of parts.

[XE1/N5AL]

I've bought items from QService before and was pleased with the purchases. When I was in high school, in the mid-70's, I used to go over to Tucker Electronics often. A few years later, my first job out of college was right across the street from Tucker Electronics, at a place called E-Systems (now part of Raytheon). I've seen Barry Electronics advertisements for decades, but I haven't bought anything from them ...at least not yet!