Larry, I think you have that backwards. The digital yields precision and accuracy while the analog shows "real time" fluctuations. I too cut my teeth on a Simpson 260, but in that era, "electronics" was transistors and 1/4 watt carbon wound resistors with 10% (and worse) tolerances. The usefulness and accuracy of the venerable 260 waned rapidly after the advent of laser trimmed resistors with 1% (and better) precision. It was soon replaced by the FET VOM, which in turn was replaced by the DVM. With that said..... I still carry an old Triplett FET right next to my Fluke. Because as you pointed out, there are still __some__ (or maybe I sould say __a few__) cases where analog is the better tool. It just depends on the D.U.T. and the type of problem. In the mid-seventies I worked on industrial systems that employed Emitter Coupled Logic. Only a 'scope with a memory was fast enough to deal with ECL. Jim Meagher ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry" <[log in to unmask]> > Kenneth Alan Boyd Ramsay wrote: > <snipped> > > Digital meters tend to be more precise than analog. > > Perhaps I'm just in a nit-picky mood or just want to argue but > I disagree. Analog meters are just as precise as digital, if not more so. > > I learned the electronics trade on the old Simpson 260 analog multimeter. > I have used both digital and analog and can see where digital has its > advantages, but in electronics troubleshooting, analog is better because > you can watch the changing value. With digital, you watch the numbers change > too fast to follow, or too slow (sample rate) to know what's happening. > > Watching the needle move in exact time with the measured voltage is > a better troubleshooting aid than simply reading an end result, in some > situations. > > Better digital meters have bar-graph indicators which simulate the > needle movement of analog meters but the slow sample rate still screws > up the exact measurement. > > Digital meters are for electricians and hobbyists. Analog meters are > for technicians who seek precise measurements. Do you want to signoff PCBUILD or just change to Digest mode - visit our web site: http://nospin.com/pc/pcbuild.html