Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 8 replies
  • Subscribers 460 subscribers
  • Views 447 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Oscilloscope from the cold war era; post yours

Catwell

At my job there is only one oscilloscope. This scope is so old that to do an edge capture requires an externally triggered camera to be pointed at the scope’s screen.

 

I don't know why, but the upper echelon of the company seems to believe that an old scope with imperceptible screen and broken controls is the best, and only, tool several high paid engineers will ever need. Despite my encouragement to get inexpensive USB o-scopes for every engineer's workstation, we are still using this POS.

 

image

The company o-scope, circa 1962

 

 

 

Post your day job's embarrassing equipment that appears to originate from behind the iron veil.

  • Dear Catwell,

     

    Don't worry. You have company.

    This reminds me of my college days during the Electronics practicals in the Physics Lab, we had age-old Oscilloscopes with knobs that turn endlessly, non-functional selector switches,defective probes etc. Our kind professor used to assure us that we would be provided with new Oscilloscopes from the Master's Grade Lab for Examinations, and that was adhered to.

    Back-end, the difficulty was insufficient grant/funds received by our college, a major share of which used to go to the Chemistry department to buy costly chemicals/reagents. At that time we sympathized with our professor.

    With the freedom bestowed on us to use the available resources the way we wanted, we learnt to fix equipments our own way. This changed our mindset, and in the bargain we also learnt more than what was in the syllabus. Always, thankful to our supportive professors and our college.

    It is said, 'necessity is the mother of invention'.

    Go ahead, and find ways to overcome the situation.

    Good Luck...

  • Looks a lot like the scopes I was forced to use at university
  • in reply to Thomas

    It's a good thing we engineers are resourceful, otherwise they would give us better equipment.

     

     

     

     

     

    Every job I have had, it's the same story. When the management responds to your project updates, "Hey, I'm not a sparky. Tell me in english," it is time to seek employment elsewhere.

     

     

     

     

    Post your ancient lab equipement here.

     

    Catwell

  • in reply to Catwell

    If I have got you right, you said it right. This is one of saying 'we cannot meet your expectations'.

    It is either the management do not have the budget, or do not want to increase spending.

    Whichever way,.... "Get going".

  • in reply to Catwell

    Here is the oldest O-scope I ever used. It has a wooden cabinet.

    image

  • in reply to Catwell

    Hi Cabe,

    It seems to be in working condition. Good to see a working antique.

    On a personal note. It also gives some clue that you are a very senior person. Have you retired.

  • Not a cold war scope, but you mentioned USB scopes and it does involve a commumist country. I had this cheapo USB scope awhile back that when I installed it Microsoft gave all sorts of horrible warnings.  I installed it and it worked fine, but after awhile I noticed that some of my control panel dialogue boxes were in Chinese.

  • Wait that scopes not 1962 era, more like early 1980's. I have one & it was good in its time though I never use it anymore. You can get a good digital scope quite inexpensively these days, how does your management expect you to produce anything competitive if they won't get good tools? As someone else said - time to look for another job. Betting their company cars are not 1980's era?

     

    R