deciding on an oscilloscope
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hey everyone,
could someone give me some advice on buying an oscilloscope? I
would like to know what features may be present/missing from
different price ranges/models and which features are important (for
instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
debugging digital and analog projects in which basic stamps/PICMicros
are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price. Thank you
for any help you could give!!
could someone give me some advice on buying an oscilloscope? I
would like to know what features may be present/missing from
different price ranges/models and which features are important (for
instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
debugging digital and analog projects in which basic stamps/PICMicros
are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price. Thank you
for any help you could give!!
Comments
hey everyone,
could someone give me some advice on buying an oscilloscope? I
would like to know what features may be present/missing from
different price ranges/models and which features are important (for
instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
debugging digital and analog projects in which basic stamps/PICMicros
are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price. Thank you
for any help you could give!!
the optiscope hooked up to your computer looks like the best bet. it'll handle
one shot readings and a lot more. Circuit Specialists has it for $169.00,
www.web-tronics.com.
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but they're vary expensive, as are analog scopes, but less so. You might be
able to find a used one (I have a Tektronix 2 channel, 100 MHz scope that I
bought used for $35! I'm also in the Navy, and we have a calibration lab
that I was able to use a favor to get it re-calibrated.
If you want a cheap handheld (pretty useful), look at
www.allelectronics.com. I bought one there for only $160! It doesn't
interface to a computer, but it does have a hold feature, as well as a slow
speed scrolling trace. It's advertized as a 50 MHz scope, but the low
resolution seems to cause problems at higher frequencies. It comes with a
good probe, though, switchable from 1x to 10x with a calibration adjustment.
It's not the best thing in the world, but for $160 and portability, it's
great!
Steve
Original Message
From: "Sam" <hard-on@t...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 10:49 PM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] deciding on an oscilloscope
> hey everyone,
>
> could someone give me some advice on buying an oscilloscope? I
> would like to know what features may be present/missing from
> different price ranges/models and which features are important (for
> instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
> debugging digital and analog projects in which basic stamps/PICMicros
> are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price. Thank you
> for any help you could give!!
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
seems the PC/soundcard scope was slow.
and the other feature I really wanted was digital storage.
figure your main needs and that should narrow the search quite a bit.
Dave
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, al cooke <alcooke508@y...> wrote:
>
>
> Sam <hard-on@t...> wrote:
> hey everyone,
>
> could someone give me some advice on buying an oscilloscope? I
> would like to know what features may be present/missing from
> different price ranges/models and which features are important (for
> instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
> debugging digital and analog projects in which basic
stamps/PICMicros
> are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price. Thank
you
> for any help you could give!!
>
>
> the optiscope hooked up to your computer looks like the best bet.
it'll handle one shot readings and a lot more. Circuit Specialists
has it for $169.00, www.web-tronics.com.
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM).
>
> [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
1. very erratic to trigger I have not learned yet how to trigger
realiably.
2. Input impedance is low, the probes loads the measuring circuits.
In the industry, the standard Input impedance is about 1Megohms.
digital scopes -- these are super for working on Stamp stuff. However,
they can be complicated to operate and not cheap to fix. You can
probably find some deals on analog scopes too, although you need to
shoot for 20 mHz or better. If you want new, there are some $250-300
scopes out there that will work reasonably well for the hobbyist.
In any case, if you haven't used a scope before it would be wise to take
a class or get a book on instruments and measurements so you at least
know how to use it properly and not tear it up.
> Optascope seems to work fine when it works. Two annoying things:
> 1. very erratic to trigger I have not learned yet how to trigger
> realiably.
> 2. Input impedance is low, the probes loads the measuring circuits.
> In the industry, the standard Input impedance is about 1Megohms.
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I have the same problem. Also, it isn't very good for finding resonant
frequencis. It is good for watching serial communications though. I have a
Tek 465M that I got cheap on e-bay. Great for lots of stuff, and has the mil
spec self calibration feature, good if you have no easy way to check like
me. Tough too. Has survived Tesla coils, all sorts of nonsense.
Jonathan
www.madlabs.info
Original Message
From: "acatano2002" <acatano2002@y...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2003 8:13 AM
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] deciding on an oscilloscope
> Optascope seems to work fine when it works. Two annoying things:
> 1. very erratic to trigger I have not learned yet how to trigger
> realiably.
> 2. Input impedance is low, the probes loads the measuring circuits.
> In the industry, the standard Input impedance is about 1Megohms.
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
$250 US is just under $500 NZ.
I recently bought a scope for $430 NZ.
For that price, you can expect a single trace 10MHz Scope, or a
Portable Hand Held Scope ("Velleman" brand - what I opted for
in the end).
For a lot of things, that will suit me fine, but I will be looking at
spending double that amount of money to get a dual trace
20MHz Scope in the future.
The portable Scope also works when your switch board goes up
in flames... :-) (as mine has just done - got to it before the
house was in danger). Am with out power until the Electrician
comes back in the morning, thank God for battieries, and laptops
with back up dail in connection... :-)
Cheers,
Ben.
Windy Wellington, New Zealand.
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Sam" <hard-on@t...>
wrote:
> hey everyone,
>
> could someone give me some advice on buying an
oscilloscope? I
> would like to know what features may be present/missing from
> different price ranges/models and which features are
important (for
> instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
> debugging digital and analog projects in which basic
stamps/PICMicros
> are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price. Thank
you
> for any help you could give!!
$250-300 US and one with an added signal generator for about $100 more.
They are pretty decent and they come with a couple of x10 probes. Seems
to me that stuff ought to be cheap there as you can throw a rock and
almost hit the factory.
> $250 US is just under $500 NZ.
>
> I recently bought a scope for $430 NZ.
>
> For that price, you can expect a single trace 10MHz Scope, or a
> Portable Hand Held Scope ("Velleman" brand - what I opted for
> in the end).
>
> For a lot of things, that will suit me fine, but I will be looking at
> spending double that amount of money to get a dual trace
> 20MHz Scope in the future.
>
> The portable Scope also works when your switch board goes up
> in flames... :-) (as mine has just done - got to it before the
> house was in danger). Am with out power until the Electrician
> comes back in the morning, thank God for battieries, and laptops
> with back up dail in connection... :-)
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Ben.
> Windy Wellington, New Zealand.
> --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Sam" <hard-on@t...>
> wrote:
> > hey everyone,
> >
> > could someone give me some advice on buying an
> oscilloscope? I
> > would like to know what features may be present/missing from
> > different price ranges/models and which features are
> important (for
> > instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
> > debugging digital and analog projects in which basic
> stamps/PICMicros
> > are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price. Thank
> you
> > for any help you could give!!
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
none of them make Scopes.
The cheapest 20MHz dual trace I can get in NZ via Dick Smith or
Jaycar, is around $830 NZ (~$415 US). Comes with the probes,
too.
Dual 40MHz, is about $1200 NZ.
But, still, I'm very pleased with my Velleman HPS10.
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Bill Boyer
<daweasel@s...> wrote:
> Beats me. You should be able to snag an LG 20 mHz
dual-trace scope for
> $250-300 US and one with an added signal generator for
about $100 more.
> They are pretty decent and they come with a couple of x10
probes. Seems
> to me that stuff ought to be cheap there as you can throw a rock
and
> almost hit the factory.
>
> > $250 US is just under $500 NZ.
> >
> > I recently bought a scope for $430 NZ.
> >
> > For that price, you can expect a single trace 10MHz Scope, or
a
> > Portable Hand Held Scope ("Velleman" brand - what I opted
for
> > in the end).
> >
> > For a lot of things, that will suit me fine, but I will be looking at
> > spending double that amount of money to get a dual trace
> > 20MHz Scope in the future.
> >
> > The portable Scope also works when your switch board goes
up
> > in flames... :-) (as mine has just done - got to it before the
> > house was in danger). Am with out power until the
Electrician
> > comes back in the morning, thank God for battieries, and
laptops
> > with back up dail in connection... :-)
> >
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Ben.
> > Windy Wellington, New Zealand.
> > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Sam"
<hard-on@t...>
> > wrote:
> > > hey everyone,
> > >
> > > could someone give me some advice on buying an
> > oscilloscope? I
> > > would like to know what features may be present/missing
from
> > > different price ranges/models and which features are
> > important (for
> > > instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
> > > debugging digital and analog projects in which basic
> > stamps/PICMicros
> > > are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price.
Thank
> > you
> > > for any help you could give!!
> >
> >
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in
the Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
none of them make Scopes.
The cheapest 20MHz dual trace I can get in NZ via Dick Smith or
Jaycar, is around $830 NZ (~$415 US). Comes with the probes,
too.
Dual 40MHz, is about $1200 NZ.
But, still, I'm very pleased with my Velleman HPS10.
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Bill Boyer
<daweasel@s...> wrote:
> Beats me. You should be able to snag an LG 20 mHz
dual-trace scope for
> $250-300 US and one with an added signal generator for
about $100 more.
> They are pretty decent and they come with a couple of x10
probes. Seems
> to me that stuff ought to be cheap there as you can throw a rock
and
> almost hit the factory.
>
> > $250 US is just under $500 NZ.
> >
> > I recently bought a scope for $430 NZ.
> >
> > For that price, you can expect a single trace 10MHz Scope, or
a
> > Portable Hand Held Scope ("Velleman" brand - what I opted
for
> > in the end).
> >
> > For a lot of things, that will suit me fine, but I will be looking at
> > spending double that amount of money to get a dual trace
> > 20MHz Scope in the future.
> >
> > The portable Scope also works when your switch board goes
up
> > in flames... :-) (as mine has just done - got to it before the
> > house was in danger). Am with out power until the
Electrician
> > comes back in the morning, thank God for battieries, and
laptops
> > with back up dail in connection... :-)
> >
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Ben.
> > Windy Wellington, New Zealand.
> > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Sam"
<hard-on@t...>
> > wrote:
> > > hey everyone,
> > >
> > > could someone give me some advice on buying an
> > oscilloscope? I
> > > would like to know what features may be present/missing
from
> > > different price ranges/models and which features are
> > important (for
> > > instance, multiple traces, etc)... I would like to use it in
> > > debugging digital and analog projects in which basic
> > stamps/PICMicros
> > > are used. I will probably want to stay under a $250 price.
Thank
> > you
> > > for any help you could give!!
> >
> >
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in
the Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
(web-tronics.com)
They have a dual channel 60 Mhz scope for less than $400. So far I have not
seen anyone able to beat this deal!
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]