LosOjos Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I'm about to start a basic robotics/embedded computing course with edX (https://www.edx.org/course/electronic-interfaces-bridging-physical-uc-berkeleyx-ee40lx#.VHOLXUZOUcg) One of the requirements is access to an oscilloscope, which I don't have. I've looked at my options, and there seem to be 3 open to me: - DIY solution. Using an Arduino. Lots of Instructables on this, but I'm unsure how good they are having never used an oscilloscope. This will be free, as I have all the parts required. - USB. These obviously require a PC to use, but that's no problem as I'll be working at this at home and have a netbook I can use should portability become a requirement. They're cheap, too (<£100) - Traditional/CRT. These are majorly expensive, but if they're the only suitable option then I'll just have to bite the bullet and buy one. Anybody have any recommendations? I want to spend as little money as possible here but I also want something that will get the job done, so if I have to spend the cash, then so be it.
Oaktech Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I used to have a PC based one, a 20mhz Hantek and it was perfectly fine... I've got one of these now so I can easily use it under the bonnet of a car. UNI-T UTD1050CL Handheld Oscilloscope/Multimeter (50MHz) 1
steve Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 One of the labs at the university I work in has a number of PicoScope (https://www.picotech.com/) devices. They don't have any traditional ones at all anymore. I'm no specialist when it comes to choosing / using which type, but the software and device are pretty straight forward and robust. Never had a problem setting one up. 1
LosOjos Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 I used to have a PC based one, a 20mhz Hantek and it was perfectly fine... I've got one of these now so I can easily use it under the bonnet of a car. UNI-T UTD1050CL Handheld Oscilloscope/Multimeter (50MHz) Sounds like the same Hantek one I've been looking at. Did you find it was lacking anything important? I haven't used an oscilloscope since I was at school so have absolutely zero idea what to look out for!
difinity Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I have a cheap DS201, it's very basic and limited compared to say a proper Rigol but it's been ok the couple of jobs i have needed it. (Detecting a signal going to the sound chip, and checking a BIOS chip was receiving a signal.) 1
Oaktech Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 The only thing I found with the Hantek was it was too slow sometimes for accurately checking the operation of some circuits as it was only 20mhz rather than the 50 that most people were using. It only happened a couple of times that it was an issue - usually checking that sampling circuits were actually doing what they were supposed to be doing. 1
LosOjos Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 I have a cheap DS201, it's very basic and limited compared to say a proper Rigol but it's been ok the couple of jobs i have needed it. (Detecting a signal going to the sound chip, and checking a BIOS chip was receiving a signal.) One of these? http://www.amazon.co.uk/RioRand-DS201-PRO-Portable-Handheld-Oscilloscope/dp/B00JRO7BUW
LosOjos Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 The only thing I found with the Hantek was it was too slow sometimes for accurately checking the operation of some circuits as it was only 20mhz rather than the 50 that most people were using. It only happened a couple of times that it was an issue - usually checking that sampling circuits were actually doing what they were supposed to be doing. Hmmm that could potentially be a problem, going to be using it to debug microprocessors (I assume!) so if it's too slow to pick up the signal that could rule it out... again though, as I know nothing about them, I don't know if that statement even makes sense!
Oaktech Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 Depends what microprocessor you are using... If your only using basic stuff like the Z80 or PIC chips it'll be fine because they are only running at 10-15mhz. I'd speak to whoever is running the course and check whether they think 20 is good enough. 1
pcstru Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 (edited) For what you will probably need it for - a DIY arduino should be fine. After that you might try hacking your sound card. After that I'd start looking at dual channel 20/40Mhz USB scopes (£40-£60). In the last 12 years of doing everything from Microchip, Picaxe, Arduino, Pi etc, I've rarely had to resort to using my scope and in those rare cases, any of the above would have done (generally I've just needed to confirm that some device was bit-banging on a line, rather than actually being able to look at the content of the signal). But then again, you might just need something a little more sexy. Edited January 20, 2015 by pcstru 1
LosOjos Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 For what you will probably need it for - a DIY arduino should be fine. After that you might try [hacking]Hacking a laser cutter using an Arduino | MAKE your sound card[/url]. After that I'd start looking at dual channel 20/40Mhz USB scopes (£40-£60). In the last 12 years of doing everything from Microchip, Picaxe, Arduino, Pi etc, I've rarely had to resort to using my scope and in those rare cases, any of the above would have done (generally I've just needed to confirm that some device was bit-banging on a line, rather than actually being able to look at the content of the signal). But then again, you might just need something a little more sexy. Really like the look of the soundcard oscope, do you think that'll have a faster sampling rate than an Arduino?
pcstru Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I think it should. A rubbishy soundcard should be able to do CD quality which is a 44kHz sample rate. I think the max you can get an Arduino sampling on an ADC is just under 10kHz. 1
LosOjos Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 I think it should. A rubbishy soundcard should be able to do CD quality which is a 44kHz sample rate. I think the max you can get an Arduino sampling on an ADC is just under 10kHz. Makes sense - gonna go for that then to start with and buy one of those Hantek USB oscopes later if I need to generate signals - though thinking about it, I wouldn't have thought it was too difficult to use a soundcard to generate a signal too... potential project!
peterp Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 Just purchased a Siglent SDS1102CML for £260. (cheaper ones include the 1102dl but I always end up over speccing on what I need :-) For a starting scope these are meant to be really really good. (100Mhz 1Gigasamples/s Long storage memory, lots of capture options etc) 1
LosOjos Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 Just purchased a Siglent SDS1102CML for £260. (cheaper ones include the 1102dl but I always end up over speccing on what I need :-) For a starting scope these are meant to be really really good. (100Mhz 1Gigasamples/s Long storage memory, lots of capture options etc) Looks great, but £260 is way beyond my budget (as close to free as possible)! I'm a serial GAS sufferer, so I dare say I'll buy something similar before the year is out, but money's too tight to mention at the moment.
LosOjos Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 Err .... GAS? Gear Acquisition Syndrome - usually in the context of photography, however I seem to suffer it in all my hobbies!
southhamster Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 @Galway +1 that. I was a repair tech in a past life too. Textronix and Hameg were my favourites. Don't know if older scopes are around on ebay but the crt type wont like being yodelled for delivery... Ive used pico electronics gear and its ok
LosOjos Posted January 21, 2015 Author Posted January 21, 2015 I have 2 scopes. Worked at a large multinational electronics company, before I got into IT, fixing plasma screens and digiboxes. Once you have a used a real scope the others are a cheap annoyance. @Galway +1 that. I was a repair tech in a past life too. Textronix and Hameg were my favourites. Don't know if older scopes are around on ebay but the crt type wont like being yodelled for delivery... Ive used pico electronics gear and its ok Well fortunately, I've never used one! (not since school anyway) I literally LOL'ed at "won't like being Yodelled" - don't think the CRT could cope with the 6ft drop over the garden fence then? 1
LosOjos Posted January 22, 2015 Author Posted January 22, 2015 Went and did some more reading and I think the soundcard oscope will be good enough for me for the time being. Just ordered the parts I was missing to make this and case it - can't stand loose circuits, it's untidy!
LosOjos Posted January 26, 2015 Author Posted January 26, 2015 Just to update anyone who is interested, Friday night I successfully made a soundcard oscilloscope (very, very simple circuit!). I decided to put on a proper stereo jack and banana plugs for the test leads to tidy it up and mount nicely in an enclosure. Unfortunately, I way overestimated the size of the enclosure I ordered! I'll have to order a bigger one to mount it all in (memo to self; always sketch a scale drawing first!):
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