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?

3 comments

3 Comments

jordan_young1mo 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.

nelson.rowan1mo 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.

young.mia1mo ago

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