DIY project turns an oscilloscope into a clock

While the highly-regarded Pong clock has long held the crown for most intriguing DIY clock, it looks like the leaderboard could be seeing a change. Frank Techniek's interesting oscilloscope conversion is yet another prime example of turning vintage (or otherwise idiosyncratic) kit into a modern day gadget, and the 20MHz TRIO that once read signal voltages for a living is now enjoying an unusually time consuming (ahem) retirement. Per usual, this expert-minded endeavor involved more circuitry, soldering, resistors, and time off than we have room to explain, but if you're interested in propping one of these up in your den, be sure to hit the read link for the nicely detailed bill of materials and assembly instructions.

[Via MAKE]

[Q @ Apr 11th 2007 3:48AM]

you may be a geek if...

[Tom @ Apr 11th 2007 4:29AM]

We had to make something similar as a University Electonic Engineering Project - A drawing programme on an Oscilloscope

[spam_from_engadget @ Apr 11th 2007 5:37AM]

I prefer this one:

http://www.cathodecorner.com/sc100.html

It uses some analog sine/cosine stuff to draw real circular curve segments to form its digits, which looks really great.

[Sinbios @ Apr 11th 2007 6:56AM]

You know what'd be more impressive? Turning a clock into an oscilloscope.

[taeken @ Apr 11th 2007 7:50AM]

I'd give up a finger or and ear lobe just to be able to afford a scope like that to actually use as a scope. I wish I could live somewhere where this sort of equipment is this disposable...

[spam_from_engadget @ Apr 11th 2007 8:41AM]

taeken wrote:
> I'd give up a finger or and ear lobe just to be able to afford a
> scope like that to actually use as a scope. I wish I could live
> somewhere where this sort of equipment is this disposable...

It's a 20 MHz 2-channel analogue scope. I guess that it's 20 years old. On ebay.co.uk they go for about £20 - £60.

Taeken, I don't know where you are in the world, but maybe there's a business opportunity there for you to import second-hand test equipment? Right now, the price of digital storage scopes is falling (they are now being sold directly by Chinese companies like Rigol, not just the expensive western brands like Tektronics) so people are selling off the analogue scopes that they are replacing very cheaply.

[taeken @ Apr 11th 2007 6:36PM]

A working scope 2 channel 20Mhz in this condition in New Zealand (where I live) would sell for about 500.00 NZD or about 370 USD. The price is due to the high demand for test equipment in NZ secondhand scopes are very sought after. To put that into perspective as a student my income in about $200 a week. I know someone who attempted to import secondhand test equipment from the US but it would either arrive damaged in transit or quite often not as it was described in the sale.

[Stephan @ Apr 11th 2007 11:08AM]

Damn talk about an energy consuming clock, they better hope Steorn is telling the truth!