Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Digital oscilloscope vs pc usb oscilloscope — Parallax Forums

Digital oscilloscope vs pc usb oscilloscope

jknightandkarrjknightandkarr Posts: 234
in General Discussion
Is there a functional difference between a cheap digital oscilloscope and a usb oscilloscope? I will be needing one, and i noticed on ebay and amazon that the usb ones tend to be cheaper. I'd like some input on this so i know what todo. I am going to start online collage here soon for electronics engineering soon and will probly be needing one.

Joe

Comments

  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    Electrical differences should be in the specs, but there is a difference in how you use them.
    PC Scopes are simple, and suited to compact work-spaces, but there are benefits of a good separate waveform display. - no flipping and resizing screens for example.
    PC scopes tend to have more mouse-focused controls, which can help with cursor measurements, and they typically have more analysis drop-downs.
    Stand alone scopes have more classic knob interfaces, and the better ones include good Multimeter and Frequency Counter.

    Depends also on what sort of work you intend to use it for ?
    There are even Sound Card oscilloscopes that can be useful.
    eg http://www.daqarta.com/ has a demo mode, and you can use a HC4060 to make a higher frequency counter for timing checks.
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    Just re-read your original post and wiped out everything I wrote. Don't buy anything until you start the course or have been supplied a list of required stuff for completing the labs. Schools / departments usually have their own preferences for what they want you to have and usually at a significant student discount in the school book store or from the source with proof of student status over just buying it. Many schools prefer the Analog Discovery 2 with a pre-selected analog parts kit for all of their expected labs. I got mine on from a student that sold his at a big discount, including the parts kit which had been greatly expanded from the initial purchase for his EE courses.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    Analog Devices has a new product out that is almost 1/3 the price of the Discovery 2 kit:
    https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/analog-devices-inc/ADALM2000/ADALM2000-ND/7019661&?gclid=Cj0KCQjwitPnBRCQARIsAA5n84kXDq-NpKi-rlUS9DhgUKuZJgicPyWinJPDSyryB1pZzdDKxa-BvagaAlWkEALw_wcB

    They offer a parts kit that would probably cost three times as much if you were to purchase parts separately:
    https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/analog-devices-inc/ADALP2000/ADALP2000-ND/5125379

    The full course is presented here:
    https://wiki.analog.com/university/tools/adalm2000/users
  • RickBRickB Posts: 395
    Any of you order the ADALM2000? Digikey sold out their local stock of it. Combined with the open source python software, there is much more to that unassuming little box than meets the eye.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    RickB wrote: »
    Any of you order the ADALM2000? Digikey sold out their local stock of it. Combined with the open source python software, there is much more to that unassuming little box than meets the eye.

    Mouser has over 200 available:
    https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Analog-Devices/ADALM2000?qs=xbccQsLEe0e03sUxIHWPSw==

    The parts kit is a good value to go along with the ADALM2000.

    I have both, (waited for 1-1/2 years for it). Just printed out the curriculum, (had to print every chapter separately, no entire PDF available). Not sure they are set up for full academic push as was promised 2 years ago.

    With two weeks with Scopy, it seems pretty solid, but I have not stressed it any.
Sign In or Register to comment.