Too_Many_Tools wrote:
Hi Jim,

As I said before, I do appreciate your comments.

I agree with you on this. If any company does not want to carry parts,
that it is their right but not to provide the intellectual property
(schematics, part parameters, calibration procedures, etc.) to allow
long term support is in my opinion inexcusable and is done for only
one reason...to force the marketplace to buy new product. If my
experience is any indication, the majority of old scopes are still in
the inventory of companies. It is very common to see 20 to 30 year old
scopes still in use today in a range of industries. While it is their
right to attempt to manipulate the market, it is also the customer's
right to buy from whoever provides the best value. For my money, that
includes long term reliability and maintainability.

Again, I am interested in hearing from anyone who has recommendations
for digital scopes that have demonstrated a good track record of
maintainability and repairability. Also, any other place I should post
this question?

TIA

TMT



Jim Yanik wrote in message ...

(Too_Many_Tools) wrote in
.com:


Jim,

I appreciate your comments but a scope is either repairable or it is
not.

Product loyalty works both ways. When the user is held to the mercy of
when the manufacturer will decide whether or not it is convenient for
them to have parts on hand and schematics avaiable, then that user
should shop with price being the number one consideration. When a
product becomes a commodity item as scopes are becoming, brand name
means nothing if the product is to be purchased with a throwaway
mentality in mind. If I am forced to buy a scope that has an effective
lifetime of several years, then I will shop for price first and
performance second.

The time a company will carry parts is driven by the quantity of their
last time buy on components for that product. If they considered
reliability important (and customer loyalty), they would make
provisions for long time support through third party sources.

As for TDS power supplies, when the schematics themselves are not even
available then that tells you how little Tektronix cares about its
customer base. Something I will keep in mind when I plan for our
company's next bench upgrade.

Back when the world was controlled by engineers, life was good.
When the bean counters took over Tektronix, they had only one goal.
Make money. Old reliable scopes do not make money. Only shiny new
scopes that need to be replaced regularly make money.

Go find a schematic for that shiny TFT flat panel display you're sitting
in front of.
Go find a schematic for the computer in that shiny new SUV in your driveway.
Go find a schematic for that cable tv box that entertains you.

It's not like Tektronix is the only bad guy on the block. You're just
spoiled 'cause it usta be better.

It's better for everybody...except maybe you and me...to throw away the
broken one and get a new one. Welcome to the 21st century.
mike




--
Return address is VALID.
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
Toshiba & Compaq LiIon Batteries, Test Equipment
Yaesu FTV901R Transverter, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/