Pro - small and cheaper, multi-functional
Con - ties up a computer, requires software updates as Microsoft changes the OS so potential to become unsupported.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
Depends on what you're looking for.
If you're analyzing a single audio signal, you can download any number of free programs that use the PC's microphone jack to display a signal on your monitor. They're not good for signals over 22kHz, though. And they don't tell you how to make a decent probe.
Most of the sub-$300 single-channel PC scopes do less then 5MHz and are woefully lacking in resolution and memory storage.
By the time you find a dual-channel PC scope that can do 60MHz or more (I consider 60 the minimum for processor work), with good resolution and adequate storage space, and math features, and reliable triggering on many possible inputs, you are at and over $1000. Now you need a PC with a Pentium 4, fast clock, and USB 2.0 to use it to full advantage. So, you have an expensive box plugged into a heavy, clunky, expensive PC, taking up your bench top. And if what I've read recently about scope characteristics is true, they probably lack the proper signal conditioning and filtering of the name brand scopes.
Used name brand portable scopes are offered on Ebay on a regular basis. They can still get pricey. And some of these defy the label "portable". But they'll do the top end work for less than the cost of a PC scope mated to a screamin' P4 PC. And you can easily carry them to the job at hand. And a few even have battery capability, making them truly portable. The dark side is, most are old, sold as-is by people who don't know how they work, have no manuals or probes, and the calibration is long overdue.
You can do a Google for used refurbished equipment. Many test equipment renters retire their inventory after a couple of years and sell it off at reduced prices. These are offered with all the manuals and probes, and recalibrated by their staff before going on the block. They're still expensive, though, just not painfully so. Probably more expensive than the PC scope/Wintel combination.
In a nutshell: The results of a PC scope are fairly reliable, maybe even as good as full low-end name brand scopes. The more resolution, features and dependability you want or need, the more expensive it gets.The top end ones offer math functions, like phase, frequency/period, FFT, rise/fall-time, dB of power, measuring cursors...the list gets long. In the end , all of them offer more than adequate visual displays. The quality differs in the controls they present on screen. Most are usable out of the box, with the rare exception of one that makes you buy their probes seperately. And of course you have to have an adequate PC at hand.
If you are patient there ARE deals to be found on ebay. I recently won an HP 54111D oscope. Color screen, 500Mhz bandwidth, 1Giga-sample/sec, two channels for $316+$60.
Now if everything works when I get it it will be a really bargin(says it passes self-test). I've been looking for months before I got this one.
Bean.
Sterling
Posts: 51
Comments
Con - ties up a computer, requires software updates as Microsoft changes the OS so potential to become unsupported.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
If you're analyzing a single audio signal, you can download any number of free programs that use the PC's microphone jack to display a signal on your monitor. They're not good for signals over 22kHz, though. And they don't tell you how to make a decent probe.
Most of the sub-$300 single-channel PC scopes do less then 5MHz and are woefully lacking in resolution and memory storage.
By the time you find a dual-channel PC scope that can do 60MHz or more (I consider 60 the minimum for processor work), with good resolution and adequate storage space, and math features, and reliable triggering on many possible inputs, you are at and over $1000. Now you need a PC with a Pentium 4, fast clock, and USB 2.0 to use it to full advantage. So, you have an expensive box plugged into a heavy, clunky, expensive PC, taking up your bench top. And if what I've read recently about scope characteristics is true, they probably lack the proper signal conditioning and filtering of the name brand scopes.
Used name brand portable scopes are offered on Ebay on a regular basis. They can still get pricey. And some of these defy the label "portable". But they'll do the top end work for less than the cost of a PC scope mated to a screamin' P4 PC. And you can easily carry them to the job at hand. And a few even have battery capability, making them truly portable. The dark side is, most are old, sold as-is by people who don't know how they work, have no manuals or probes, and the calibration is long overdue.
You can do a Google for used refurbished equipment. Many test equipment renters retire their inventory after a couple of years and sell it off at reduced prices. These are offered with all the manuals and probes, and recalibrated by their staff before going on the block. They're still expensive, though, just not painfully so. Probably more expensive than the PC scope/Wintel combination.
In a nutshell: The results of a PC scope are fairly reliable, maybe even as good as full low-end name brand scopes. The more resolution, features and dependability you want or need, the more expensive it gets.The top end ones offer math functions, like phase, frequency/period, FFT, rise/fall-time, dB of power, measuring cursors...the list gets long. In the end , all of them offer more than adequate visual displays. The quality differs in the controls they present on screen. Most are usable out of the box, with the rare exception of one that makes you buy their probes seperately. And of course you have to have an adequate PC at hand.
Hope that helped,
kenjj
Now if everything works when I get it it will be a really bargin(says it passes self-test). I've been looking for months before I got this one.
Bean.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"SX-Video·Module"·available from Parallax for only $28.95 http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012
"SX-Video OSD module"·available·for only·$49.95·www.sxvm.com
Available now! Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com
"I reject your reality, and substitute my own." Mythbusters
·
Post Edited (Sterling) : 4/23/2006 6:47:00 PM GMT
I had replied to this post, but decided to delete it in favour of a new topic "Used Scopes For Sale"
Cheers,
Peter (pjv)