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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: w2aew on June 15, 2011, 03:08:58 am

Title: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 15, 2011, 03:08:58 am
I helped teach a class on the basics of oscilloscopes to the New Jersey Antique Radio Club. This club is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of antique radios - mainly from the golden age of broadcasting. The class was geared entirely around analog scopes, since that's the type of scope that these guys would most likely come across or have access to for their radio restoration projects. We affectionately called the class "Scopes for Dopes", and it was a great success.


Fortunately, the session was videotaped. We had two projectors going - one with presentation slides, and one with a video camera feed that was focused on a few scopes on a table for demonstration.

NJARC Oscilloscope School a.k.a. "Scopes For Dopes" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZKMrzTGxLQ#ws)


To make it easier to navigate this long video - over 2 hours long, here is a list of time-stamps and the topics that begin at those timestamps. Using this "table of contents", you can easily move the youtube player location to the topic of interest.


0:00:00 Opening and Agenda
0:02:50 Brief History of Oscilloscopes – with Al Klase
0:15:00 Start of Basics of Oscilloscopes – with Alan Wolke
0:19:00 Basic Block Diagram of an Oscilloscope
0:19:50 Oscilloscope / Display Overview
0:23:00 Display Section Functions and Controls
0:28:10 Vertical Section Description
0:33:17 Vertical Scale / Coupling Controls, Input Impedance
0:38:04 Vertical Mode Controls
0:48:05 In-circuit Example of using two traces on the oscilloscope
0:52:41 Horizontal Section Description
0:53:48 Horizontal Sweep Types & Controls
1:10:15 Triggering (Synchronization) Section Description
1:13:19 Trigger Source, Mode and Coupling Controls
1:19:56 Trigger Level and Slope Controls
1:23:29 Introduction to Oscilloscope Probes
1:31:45 1X and 10X Passive Probes
1:34:00 10X Probe Compensation and Use Considerations
1:48:48 XY Mode of Operation
2:00:12 Front Panel Control Layout
2:02:20 Pop Quiz!
2:03:00 Wrap Up: Oscilloscope adds Intuitive Feel to circuit operation
2:04:45 Questions and Answers
2:13:35 Brief History of Oscilloscope Tubes

Also, if you are interested, I have a couple of other oscilloscope videos on my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/w2aew (https://www.youtube.com/w2aew)
...including a tutorial on 1X and 10X probes...
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class---Watch it!!
Post by: vk6zgo on June 15, 2011, 08:32:55 am
Unfortunately,I don't have the time to watch all of this right now,--But it is excellent!!

I highly recommend that those of you who are unfamiliar with Oscilloscopes & in fact,anyone, watch this.
It's not just a quick demonstration of somebody's bench 'scope,but a full on tutorial which you would pay real money to attend if it was held in your home town!

Just watching the first section I learned a lot of stuff I was a bit vague on about the history of these wondrous devices!

VK6ZGO
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: saturation on June 15, 2011, 10:32:42 am
Wonderful tutorial job, including indexing if you want to speed through.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: pklawit on June 15, 2011, 07:07:03 pm
Hi,

I have just watched the whole 2:20 long movie.
This is really good stuff.
For me the most interresting was the part about 10x attenuating probes
and the probes compensation.

P.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 15, 2011, 07:52:15 pm
Hi,

I have just watched the whole 2:20 long movie.
This is really good stuff.
For me the most interresting was the part about 10x attenuating probes
and the probes compensation.

P.

I actually made a separate video, just on the 1X and 10X probes.  This video is here:
Basic 1X and 10X Oscilloscope Probe tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX4HGNWBe5M#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Flavour Flave on June 16, 2011, 07:24:14 pm
Obviously sticky this! ;D
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 22, 2011, 05:09:48 pm
In addition to the very long oscilloscope training video posted at the head of this link, you might also want to check out a shorter video posted by some of the Tektronix factory guys, talking about the basics of using basic digital oscilloscope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzndcBJu-Ns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzndcBJu-Ns)

And, from time to time (and sometimes by request), I'll be adding more oscilloscope and practical measurement videos to my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/w2aew (https://www.youtube.com/user/w2aew)

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: tekfan on June 22, 2011, 05:59:21 pm
I hope everybody saw this in the tektronix contest videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqn2b1PVGfY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqn2b1PVGfY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL)

RIP Jim Williams
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ivan747 on June 23, 2011, 12:38:43 am
I have been looking for that thing since I first thought I needed a scope. I want to Master the Operation of  the Oscilloscope (sounded like a manual, right?).  Awesome. Thanks a lot!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Armin_Balija on June 27, 2011, 02:53:21 am
Thumbs up! Really really cool! I hope you can do more videos. I like your style of teaching.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 27, 2011, 02:09:22 pm
Thumbs up! Really really cool! I hope you can do more videos. I like your style of teaching.

Thank you Armin - I'm glad you enjoyed the video.  Which video did you view - the long oscilloscope class, or the 1x/10x probe video?  Or, some of the others on my YouTube channel? 

What other related topics would you like to see videos on?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Armin_Balija on June 27, 2011, 07:01:10 pm
Thumbs up! Really really cool! I hope you can do more videos. I like your style of teaching.

Thank you Armin - I'm glad you enjoyed the video.  Which video did you view - the long oscilloscope class, or the 1x/10x probe video?  Or, some of the others on my YouTube channel? 

What other related topics would you like to see videos on?

I watched the long oscilloscope class video. I really liked the humor and good energy you brought to the class room. I'd really like to see some classes on transistors and a little about yourself so we know your background. Excellent vids!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 28, 2011, 12:19:35 am

I watched the long oscilloscope class video. I really liked the humor and good energy you brought to the class room. I'd really like to see some classes on transistors and a little about yourself so we know your background. Excellent vids!

I'm glad you liked it.  My quick background - life-long ham radio operator, worked in a TV repair shop while in school for Engineering (back when people actually did component level debug and repair!).  After getting my degree in '85, I spent the first 20+ yrs as a analog design engineer, IC design engineer, application engineer, test engineer in various fields ranging from high speed fiber optics, to disk drive electronics, to RF, and a lot of stuff in between.  For the last 5 years I've been a Field Application Engineer for Tektronix.

I've got a couple of other videos in the works.  I'll add some transistor vids to my to-do list...  Keep an eye on my YouTube Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/w2aew (https://www.youtube.com/w2aew)

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Simon on June 28, 2011, 06:52:00 am
Obviously sticky this! ;D

Done
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Armin_Balija on June 28, 2011, 07:03:08 am

I watched the long oscilloscope class video. I really liked the humor and good energy you brought to the class room. I'd really like to see some classes on transistors and a little about yourself so we know your background. Excellent vids!

I'm glad you liked it.  My quick background - life-long ham radio operator, worked in a TV repair shop while in school for Engineering (back when people actually did component level debug and repair!).  After getting my degree in '85, I spent the first 20+ yrs as a analog design engineer, IC design engineer, application engineer, test engineer in various fields ranging from high speed fiber optics, to disk drive electronics, to RF, and a lot of stuff in between.  For the last 5 years I've been a Field Application Engineer for Tektronix.

I've got a couple of other videos in the works.  I'll add some transistor vids to my to-do list...  Keep an eye on my YouTube Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/w2aew (https://www.youtube.com/w2aew)

I've already subscribed! That's really great. I'm in school right now and I'm LOVING analog over digital. I'm hoping it'd be possible to do just that, debug on an analog level, but sadly, I feel as though systems have become far too complex in the last 10 years for me to be able to do that.

If I haven't already made it clear, I have a huge level of respect for you and others that have done the fantastic work you've been doing for so long. I only hope to become as half a good engineer as most of the people on these boards.

Subbed and always looking forward to more of your videos!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 28, 2011, 05:28:42 pm

I've already subscribed! That's really great. I'm in school right now and I'm LOVING analog over digital. I'm hoping it'd be possible to do just that, debug on an analog level, but sadly, I feel as though systems have become far too complex in the last 10 years for me to be able to do that.


Armin - if you are interested in analog troubleshooting, I would highly recommend the "Troubleshooting Analog Circuits" book by Robert A. Pease.  Bob Pease just recently was killed, a tremendous loss to the Analog Design community.  Thankfully, he was a prolific writer, with a regular column (Pease Porridge) in the Electronic Design magazine.

Here's a link to Bob's troubleshooting book:
http://www.amazon.com/Troubleshooting-Analog-Circuits-Design-Engineers/dp/0750694998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309281830&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Troubleshooting-Analog-Circuits-Design-Engineers/dp/0750694998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309281830&sr=8-1)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Armin_Balija on June 29, 2011, 12:32:44 am

I've already subscribed! That's really great. I'm in school right now and I'm LOVING analog over digital. I'm hoping it'd be possible to do just that, debug on an analog level, but sadly, I feel as though systems have become far too complex in the last 10 years for me to be able to do that.


Armin - if you are interested in analog troubleshooting, I would highly recommend the "Troubleshooting Analog Circuits" book by Robert A. Pease.  Bob Pease just recently was killed, a tremendous loss to the Analog Design community.  Thankfully, he was a prolific writer, with a regular column (Pease Porridge) in the Electronic Design magazine.

Here's a link to Bob's troubleshooting book:
http://www.amazon.com/Troubleshooting-Analog-Circuits-Design-Engineers/dp/0750694998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309281830&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Troubleshooting-Analog-Circuits-Design-Engineers/dp/0750694998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309281830&sr=8-1)

That cover is amazing! Look at that jumbled mess of wires! Beautiful! I will definitely check it out! Thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 30, 2011, 08:45:39 pm
FYI - I recently added another video to my YouTube channel that discusses the AC / DC Coupling control on the vertical channels of the scope - and how to get the most out of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkq-fvb5-NI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkq-fvb5-NI)

Keep an eye on my channel for other short scope and measurement topics, and let me know if there's something you'd like to see.
https://www.youtube.com/w2aew (https://www.youtube.com/w2aew)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: vk6zgo on July 01, 2011, 03:24:50 pm
Careful,w2aew,you might educate some of the people on this forum,so they can figure things out for themselves. ;D

A lot of beginners seem to think of an Oscilloscope as a Multimeter with a picture on the front, rather than the amazingly useful piece of equipment it is.
I'd like them to turn off all the additional readouts,& just learn to analyse a displayed waveform,as per your video.

73,VK6ZGO
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on July 02, 2011, 03:48:39 am
Careful,w2aew,you might educate some of the people on this forum,so they can figure things out for themselves. ;D

A lot of beginners seem to think of an Oscilloscope as a Multimeter with a picture on the front, rather than the amazingly useful piece of equipment it is.
I'd like them to turn off all the additional readouts,& just learn to analyse a displayed waveform,as per your video.

73,VK6ZGO

I hope I'm helping someone to get more out of their scope!  Here's another video that talks about the Trigger controls of an analog scope...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFGm-Pel4Hg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFGm-Pel4Hg)

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: vk6zgo on July 02, 2011, 02:21:55 pm
Seriously,though,these videos are great!

If I could have had something like that when I was a beardless youth,just learning how to drive an oscilloscope,I would have "thought all my birthdays had come at once!"

Unfortunately,I had to learn in "the School of hard knocks". ;D

They do say that experience is the best school,but the fees are very high!

VK6ZGO
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on July 03, 2011, 02:59:09 am
Seriously,though,these videos are great!

If I could have had something like that when I was a beardless youth,just learning how to drive an oscilloscope,I would have "thought all my birthdays had come at once!"

Unfortunately,I had to learn in "the School of hard knocks". ;D

They do say that experience is the best school,but the fees are very high!

VK6ZGO

Thank you - I'm glad you like them.  The ones on my Channel are just shorter topics that address questions that I received after people attended the "Scopes 4 Dopes" class I taught a few months ago to a local Antique Radio Club - or those that viewed the long video of the class (which is the video that is the first entry of this topic).

The school of hard knocks usually has the best lessons!  You know what they say - Good judgement comes from experience, but experience comes from bad judgement!

73,
Alan W2AEW
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on September 10, 2011, 06:05:08 pm
I've added a number of new videos to my YouTube channel regarding oscilloscope usage.  The two most recent additions illustrate how to properly simultaneously capture and visualize two signals that are at dramatically different frequencies.  These could be a baseband signal and it's modulated RF carrier for example (hmm, gives me another idea for a video...).

Here's the video of how it's done properly today with a modern digitizing oscilloscope first:
How to use the Oscilloscope to accurate capture 2 signals of different frequencies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LonFeZh2WL4#)

And, here's how it was done "old school" before the days of digitizing scopes using a delayed timebase:
Using Analog scope to view two signals of wildly different frequencies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk0ZSRV8zIQ#)

As always, comments and suggestions are always welcome!
Title: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Joshua on September 10, 2011, 06:20:37 pm
Just last night I was trying to find information about 1x vs 10x probes, ac vs dc coupling, and triggering. I found your channel and it was exactly what I was looking for! Great videos with great explanations! Thanks!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ToBeFrank on September 11, 2011, 01:03:54 am
I've added a number of new videos to my YouTube channel regarding oscilloscope usage.  The two most recent additions illustrate how to properly simultaneously capture and visualize two signals that are at dramatically different frequencies.  These could be a baseband signal and it's modulated RF carrier for example (hmm, gives me another idea for a video...).

Here's the video of how it's done properly today with a modern digitizing oscilloscope first:
How to use the Oscilloscope to accurate capture 2 signals of different frequencies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LonFeZh2WL4#)

Do I understand it correctly that this is what Agilent's MegaZoom technology is for?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on September 11, 2011, 01:51:09 am
Do I understand it correctly that this is what Agilent's MegaZoom technology is for?

I remember Megazoom as a memory management technology from Agilent's digital scopes from about a decade ago, like the 54600 series - to make it easy to navigate through deep record memory.  Of course, back then, 1Mpoints was considered deep memory.  Are they still using this Megazoom terminology today?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on September 11, 2011, 01:53:09 am
Just last night I was trying to find information about 1x vs 10x probes, ac vs dc coupling, and triggering. I found your channel and it was exactly what I was looking for! Great videos with great explanations! Thanks!

Joshua,
I'm glad you found the videos useful!  It's a good thing I did three videos specifically on those topics!!  Of course, please let me know if there are other similar topics that you'd like to see in the future.

Best Regards,
Alan
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ToBeFrank on September 11, 2011, 04:10:54 pm
Do I understand it correctly that this is what Agilent's MegaZoom technology is for?

I remember Megazoom as a memory management technology from Agilent's digital scopes from about a decade ago, like the 54600 series - to make it easy to navigate through deep record memory.  Of course, back then, 1Mpoints was considered deep memory.  Are they still using this Megazoom terminology today?

Yes, they are. I was really confused by your video. I couldn't figure out why your scope didn't always use all its acquisition memory. After some searching, I think this is because my scope has the MegaZoom feature. If I understand it correctly, MegaZoom allows them to always fill memory at max possible sample rate without affecting update rates. Thus, MegaZoom equipped scopes don't have a record length selection.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on September 11, 2011, 08:03:47 pm
Yes, they are. I was really confused by your video. I couldn't figure out why your scope didn't always use all its acquisition memory. After some searching, I think this is because my scope has the MegaZoom feature. If I understand it correctly, MegaZoom allows them to always fill memory at max possible sample rate without affecting update rates. Thus, MegaZoom equipped scopes don't have a record length selection.

Ok, very good, I didn't know that about the MegaZoom.  I assume that this means that you'd be able to make an accurate measurement (like a frequency measurement) on these two signals simultaneously, even though their frequencies differ by 10,000.  I know that some of the older scopes made the measurements on the displayed points, and not on the complete max-sample rate points, which would result in errors in the frequency measurement for the higher frequency signals when time/div was adjusted for the lower frequency signal.  Has this been addressed in the newer incarnations of MegaZoom?  What scope do you have?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ToBeFrank on September 11, 2011, 10:50:27 pm
I know that some of the older scopes made the measurements on the displayed points, and not on the complete max-sample rate points, which would result in errors in the frequency measurement for the higher frequency signals when time/div was adjusted for the lower frequency signal.  Has this been addressed in the newer incarnations of MegaZoom?  What scope do you have?

That's still the same on my DSOX3000 scope. You zoom in on the higher frequency signal to make the measurements.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on September 11, 2011, 11:18:59 pm
That's still the same on my DSOX3000 scope. You zoom in on the higher frequency signal to make the measurements.

Oh, OK.  I guess that's part of why the scope feels fast, because it's making its measurements on the decimated data points rather than the full set of samples.  Does it give you any indication that the displayed result may be inaccurate due to the sample decimation?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Snapcase on September 29, 2011, 10:42:55 am
This is awesome. Thanks so much!

I've got a Tektronix 2225 for cheap some time ago. But I've never learned how to use it quite well. I decided to fully go over it along this week and finally fully learn how to get the most of it. I've made some searches and found Dave's #196 video. That was a great start. He fully describes the 2225! Never heard of the EEV blog before, watched a couple of dozens of his videos and went very curious about the forum. Just joined a few minutes ago (my very first post here) and just found this. Amazing! it's been a very fruitful week!

Thanks so much, guys. You both made my day!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on October 02, 2011, 02:06:33 am
This is awesome. Thanks so much!

I've got a Tektronix 2225 for cheap some time ago. But I've never learned how to use it quite well. I decided to fully go over it along this week and finally fully learn how to get the most of it. I've made some searches and found Dave's #196 video. That was a great start. He fully describes the 2225! Never heard of the EEV blog before, watched a couple of dozens of his videos and went very curious about the forum. Just joined a few minutes ago (my very first post here) and just found this. Amazing! it's been a very fruitful week!

Thanks so much, guys. You both made my day!

Congrats on the 2225!  Be sure to ask if you have any questions.  If the loooooong "Scopes for Dopes" class video doesn't answer your questions, or any of the dozen or more videos on my youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/w2aew (https://www.youtube.com/w2aew) don't help, be sure to ask - we'll be happy to help you out.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: EEVblog on October 15, 2011, 03:48:18 am
To make it easier to navigate this long video - over 2 hours long, here is a list of time-stamps and the topics that begin at those timestamps. Using this "table of contents", you can easily move the youtube player location to the topic of interest.

0:00:00 Opening and Agenda
0:02:50 Brief History of Oscilloscopes – with Al Klase
0:15:00 Start of Basics of Oscilloscopes – with Alan Wolke
0:19:00 Basic Block Diagram of an Oscilloscope
0:19:50 Oscilloscope / Display Overview
0:23:00 Display Section Functions and Controls
0:28:10 Vertical Section Description
0:33:17 Vertical Scale / Coupling Controls, Input Impedance
0:38:04 Vertical Mode Controls
0:48:05 In-circuit Example of using two traces on the oscilloscope
0:52:41 Horizontal Section Description
0:53:48 Horizontal Sweep Types & Controls
1:10:15 Triggering (Synchronization) Section Description
1:13:19 Trigger Source, Mode and Coupling Controls
1:19:56 Trigger Level and Slope Controls
1:23:29 Introduction to Oscilloscope Probes
1:31:45 1X and 10X Passive Probes
1:34:00 10X Probe Compensation and Use Considerations
1:48:48 XY Mode of Operation
2:00:12 Front Panel Control Layout
2:02:20 Pop Quiz!
2:03:00 Wrap Up: Oscilloscope adds Intuitive Feel to circuit operation
2:04:45 Questions and Answers
2:13:35 Brief History of Oscilloscope Tubes

Awesome work.
People always keep asking me for a "simple" and "short" beginner oscilloscope tutorial, it's just not possible, there is just so much stuff to cover. I'm surprised you got it all into in a 2 hour presentation!

Dave.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on October 22, 2011, 01:10:27 am

Awesome work.
People always keep asking me for a "simple" and "short" beginner oscilloscope tutorial, it's just not possible, there is just so much stuff to cover. I'm surprised you got it all into in a 2 hour presentation!


Thanks Dave.  Of course, this only covers the basics of the old school analog scopes.  Lots more to cover on these (advanced triggering, delaying timebases, etc.), so I've tried to cover those with some of my other vids. 

Then there's a whole host of additional topics when you get into digitizing scopes, with issues such as sample rate, aliasing, memory length, automatic measurements, etc.  It hit me one day when speaking with a younger colleague about a scope, and I said something like "...now change the sweep speed...", and he stopped me and said, "What's a sweep speed?"  All he had ever seen was a Horizontal Scale control on a digital scope.  Sad.  I hate to see the genius and power of the analog scopes fade away.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Mint. on November 19, 2011, 01:01:45 am
Excellent class, however, the sound quality was very poor and hard to understand. You gotta focus real hard to hear what they say  >:(
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on November 19, 2011, 03:22:54 am
Excellent class, however, the sound quality was very poor and hard to understand. You gotta focus real hard to hear what they say  >:(

I'm sorry about the audio quality.  Unfortunately, the decision to record the class was a "last minute" decision, and thus the right equipment and setup wasn't available.  Originally, I was just going to teach the class to the group in attendance only.  I'm glad that it was recorded, but you are right, the audio isn't great.

So, if you have any questions on what was said - just ask me!  I should remember what I said... ;-)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on January 06, 2012, 01:40:30 pm
...reposted here by request...

A question I'm often asked is - how much BW do I need get with my oscilloscope.  I usually answer with - get as much as you can afford!  Even low frequency circuits can do some wacky high frequency things.  Check out my latest video for an example...
Analog Oscilloscope bandwidth considerations (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ1Dv2dVGkU#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on January 29, 2012, 09:37:19 pm
I posted another video (by request).  This on describes the function and use of some of the Vertical controls on an analog scope - specifically the ALT, CHOP, ADD and INVERT functions.
Analog oscilloscope ALT, CHOP, ADD, INVERT vertical controls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsy-pxpfB4o#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Chris Wilson on February 01, 2012, 08:37:30 pm
I believe that if an independent like yourself did a short video on choosing a `scope for automotive (engine analysis) work it would be both popular and very useful. All the ones I have found save a few by ScannerDanner on YouTube, have been by people trying to sell you their product, and I have found them couched in tech speak that hides the products weaknesses whilst extolling their (fantastic) strengths ;) Memeory depth and the ability to run a slow timebase seem essentials, but how would an analogue `scope fare, is it essential to go digital? One maker of specialist USB `scopes for automotive use says their floating inputs are essential, another very popular maker poo poos this and says it's not necessary, then a month later, on their own forum, goes into a diatribe of the risks of injudicious probing.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: sdscotto on February 11, 2012, 10:43:06 pm
I've added a number of new videos to my YouTube channel regarding oscilloscope usage.  The two most recent additions illustrate how to properly simultaneously capture and visualize two signals that are at dramatically different frequencies.

Thanks for doing these series of tutorial videos.

I have always struggled with the delayed timebase feature on my analog scopes.  I followed along in your tutorial with both a 2252 and 2232 (in analog mode), and learned that my most basic mistake was incorrectly triggering on the B sweep.

However, I found that the B trace was almost invisible at 50ns, even with max brightness/contrast.  At first I thought it was because of the age of my scopes and the possibility that the CRT was not as bright as it could be, but in reality, they are extremely bright.

Is it normal for the B sweep to be so low in contrast well within the bandwidth of the scope?  Are there certain analog scopes that are better than others for displaying delayed timebase?

Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on February 12, 2012, 01:57:29 am
Thanks for doing these series of tutorial videos.

I have always struggled with the delayed timebase feature on my analog scopes.  I followed along in your tutorial with both a 2252 and 2232 (in analog mode), and learned that my most basic mistake was incorrectly triggering on the B sweep.

However, I found that the B trace was almost invisible at 50ns, even with max brightness/contrast.  At first I thought it was because of the age of my scopes and the possibility that the CRT was not as bright as it could be, but in reality, they are extremely bright.

Is it normal for the B sweep to be so low in contrast well within the bandwidth of the scope?  Are there certain analog scopes that are better than others for displaying delayed timebase?

Thanks in advance!

The low brightness of the B sweep is most likely normal - it depends a lot on the difference between the sweep speeds of the A and B sweeps.  The larger the difference, the dimmer the B sweep will be.  Some scopes (like the 485) had a separate intensity control to help brighten up the B sweep when using high levels of "zoom" in the sweep speeds between A and B. 

A few "special" models of scopes, like the 2467, included a very special CRT - something called a Micro-channel Plate CRT.  This CRT had an electron multiplier immediately behind the CRT's face which dramatically improved the writing rate - and thus the brightness of these very fast sweeps. I show this scope in a few of the videos, like the one that shows the characterization of the RF Power Detector.

For most scopes - yours included that do not have have these special features, the intensity of the B sweep can be improved by using a smaller ratio of A:B sweep speeds when possible.  Or simply change the Horizontal Mode from ALT (alternating between A and B) to using just B only.  In other words, use ALT-A/B to properly set the delay and B sweep speed.  Then, once they're set, change the horizontal mode to B-only to just show the B sweep.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Chris Wilson on February 12, 2012, 07:40:52 pm
I think I can guess the answer, but why have most CRT type analogue and digital scopes historically had relatively tiny screens compared to say a TV? Is it something to do with cost of tube manufacture that is either accurate enough, or trace refresh fast enough, in large sizes that is / was the limiting factor? I know some of the automotive engine analysers from the likes of Sun had TV sized screens, but i guess they are being used at low refresh rates? Where there any relatively fast scopes ever made with large screen sizes? Just curious.

I am also curious as to why analogue scopes have vast amounts of set up "adjusters" inside them for calibration purposes, yet even a high end USB scope has virtually nothing obviously adjustable within them.

Great video re triggering again, the last one on auto triggering. I thank you for these.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on February 12, 2012, 08:54:43 pm
Chris - as you guessed, it all comes down to speed.  TV screens are scanned at much slower rates than even a modest analog scope.  The lower scan rates allow for magnetic deflection (coils on the outside of the neck of the tube), which would generally be incompatible with fast deflection speeds.  CRTs in analog scopes used electrostatic deflection (deflection plates inside neck of the tube), which lend themselves to much faster drive frequencies.

As for calibration adjustments in the analog scopes...  There are a lot of variables that enter into the accuracy of the analog scopes, mainly due to the multitude of circuitry between the front panel connector and the deflection plates (attenuators, preamps, amplifiers, offset control circuits, drivers, final amps for the plates, etc. - and that's just a portion of the vertical analog path).  Each of the analog circuits will have offsets, non-linearities, etc. that need to be zero'd out to calibrate the response).  Similar adjustments would be need for the horizontal and trigger circuits.

By contrast, the digital scopes are much simpler.  There is some analog conditioning circuitry between the front panel connection and the ADC (analog to digital converter).  Once the signal is sampled by the ADC, any calibrations adjustments to the signal can be applied digitally before being displayed.  Thus, ALL of the complexity of amplifying the signal to drive the deflection plates of the scope is gone.  Basically all of the calibrations and corrections are applied to the sampled data numerically after the data is sampled using calibration data installed at the factory. 
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: jahonen on February 13, 2012, 12:47:03 pm
I think that the analog CRT could be bigger with an electrostatic deflection without any sacrifice of a speed, but deflection angle of an electrostatic deflection system is usually small. Correction of non-linearities resulting from larger angle becomes more difficult considering faster sweeps.

That means if the scope screen would be bigger (keeping the deflection angle constant), then the CRT neck would become impractically long (it is already very long even with "small" scope screens). Scale that length in proportion of your desired screen size and think whether or not you would want it to your bench. TV CRT's used 90 or 110° deflection angle, thus it makes shorter tube necks possible.

Regards,
Janne
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Chris Wilson on February 13, 2012, 01:28:13 pm
I think that the analog CRT could be bigger with an electrostatic deflection without any sacrifice of a speed, but deflection angle of an electrostatic deflection system is usually small. Correction of non-linearities resulting from larger angle becomes more difficult considering faster sweeps. <SNIP>

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OSCILLOSCOPE-COUNTER-TIMER-MULTIMETER-TEKTRONIX-2236-/150757466948?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item2319d86344 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OSCILLOSCOPE-COUNTER-TIMER-MULTIMETER-TEKTRONIX-2236-/150757466948?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item2319d86344)

He obviously doesn't know this ;)

Thanks for another detailed and helpful reply, I have to say one of the nice things about my USB scope is I can be working on a vehicle and have the 17 inch laptop display show the traces, or even a 24 inch monitor or one could use a projected image. It's a big time saver being able to watch traces without coming out of the footwell, or walking upp to a tiny screen.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: tekfan on February 13, 2012, 02:41:38 pm
Somewhere I read a story about Tektronix. Sometime in the late 80's they were designing transient digitizers that used a scan converter tube. They made digitizers that could capture 4 GHz transients. The russians then invited the guys from Tek to show them their transient digitizer. While the Tek digitizer fit into a 19'' rack the russian version had a scan converter tube that was 10 feet long and worked well into the 20 GHz range.


(http://www.lampes-et-tubes.info/p/t7910a.jpg)
Quote
This tube is very similar to the Tektronix T-7912 scan converter CRT, which was capable of recording 2.5 gigahertz signals. A 'write' electron gun with traveling wave deflection system deposits charge patterns on a thin silicon wafer. These patterns are read by a low velocity 'read' electron beam from a gun mounted in the opposite end of the tube, scanning the back surface of the silicon wafer.
[From Peter A. Keller, The Cathode-Ray Tube, Palisades Press, 1991]
Total length : 57.5 cm (22.64 in)

A nice site for old tubes: http://www.lampes-et-tubes.info/p/sc.htm (http://www.lampes-et-tubes.info/p/sc.htm)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: alm on February 13, 2012, 06:55:42 pm
I think that the analog CRT could be bigger with an electrostatic deflection without any sacrifice of a speed, but deflection angle of an electrostatic deflection system is usually small. Correction of non-linearities resulting from larger angle becomes more difficult considering faster sweeps.
The voltage swing was also limited by the output transistors avaliable at that time. You may be able to do something about the plate geometry to increase deflection, but I'm not sure if this can be done without any reduction in bandwidth.

That means if the scope screen would be bigger (keeping the deflection angle constant), then the CRT neck would become impractically long (it is already very long even with "small" scope screens). Scale that length in proportion of your desired screen size and think whether or not you would want it to your bench. TV CRT's used 90 or 110° deflection angle, thus it makes shorter tube necks possible.
There's definitely a correlation between deflection angle and bandwidth. For example the 1 GHz Tektronix 519 (ca. 1959 or so, the input directly drove the vertical plates, without any amplifications/attenuation) had a very small CRT surface, only 4x2 divs or so. The low-bandwith Tektronix 5000 series, designed for biomedical experiments, had a very large CRT. Bandwidth was ultimately limited by the depth of a standard 19" rack as used by the US army (how many people do atomic bomb tests in their backyard?). I believe the USSR had a scope with a larger bandwidth, which just used an extremely long CRT. No idea if this idea ever made it into production.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: WBB on March 13, 2012, 09:19:53 pm
Thanks for the excellent videos. They have been very educational, easy to follow & understand. Excellent work that is very much appreciated.

A few questions about the coax video. Would other faults show up? eg, a hole in the shield but not a complete break? A compressed shield but not touching the center conductor and creating a short, yet? Also, is it possible to calculate the distance to a short?

Sorry for all the questions. All your videos have been great but the coax one is a subject that I am specifically interested in! Again, thanks for the great work.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 13, 2012, 09:56:31 pm
Thanks for the excellent videos. They have been very educational, easy to follow & understand. Excellent work that is very much appreciated.

A few questions about the coax video. Would other faults show up? eg, a hole in the shield but not a complete break? A compressed shield but not touching the center conductor and creating a short, yet? Also, is it possible to calculate the distance to a short?

Sorry for all the questions. All your videos have been great but the coax one is a subject that I am specifically interested in! Again, thanks for the great work.

The answer is - it depends....

- a hole in the shield without a complete break, or a compressed shield may or may not show up.  It all depends on how much of an impedance discontinuity it creates.  Impedance discontinuities cause reflections, just like the mis-termination of the end of the line (like the open circuit example I used, or the shorted example I showed).  The worse the impedance discontinuity of the defect, the easier it will be to detect.  Once observed, you can measure the round-trip delay and calculate the approximate position of the defect.

- Yes, you can determine the distance to a short (only the first short!).  You can see this at the end of the video where I dialed the pot down to zero.  You can measure the width of the pulse that's shown, and that will be the roundtrip delay from the scope to the short and back.  Calculate the distance the same way as I did for the open.

For those that missed it, here is the video that WBB is referring to:
Use a scope to measure the length and impedance of coax (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il_eju4D_TM#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: WBB on March 13, 2012, 10:24:17 pm
Thanks for the response!. Somehow I figured there would be an "it depends" in there, such is life! It does sound promising though.

Some of the stuff is easy to find. Shields like to break near connectors, or if the cable passes through trees I can pretty much bet good money a squirrel has gotten my coax mixed up with his acorns. Never knew aluminum was so tasty.

The worst for me inevitably turns out to be a couple shotgun pellets shorting out the cable. Not exactly the easiest thing to find and they NEVER radiate when you're looking for them!

What would be the maximin rise time that would be preferred in a function generator for this?

(I don't own a fc or I would have tried to answer those questions myself!)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 14, 2012, 12:02:40 am
Thanks for the response!. Somehow I figured there would be an "it depends" in there, such is life! It does sound promising though.

Some of the stuff is easy to find. Shields like to break near connectors, or if the cable passes through trees I can pretty much bet good money a squirrel has gotten my coax mixed up with his acorns. Never knew aluminum was so tasty.

The worst for me inevitably turns out to be a couple shotgun pellets shorting out the cable. Not exactly the easiest thing to find and they NEVER radiate when you're looking for them!

What would be the maximin rise time that would be preferred in a function generator for this?

(I don't own a fc or I would have tried to answer those questions myself!)

Ideally, you'd want the risetime to be a few times faster than the propagation delay through the cable of interest, so that you get a clean "plateau" between the incident edge and the reflected edge.  For typical coax with a 0.66 velocity factor, the speed of a signal is 7.79 inches per nanosecond.  Thus, a 10ns rising edge of the pulse will be spread out over about 6.5 feet of cable (i.e. the voltage 6.5 feet from the generator is just starting to move at the same time that the rising edge has finished moving at the generator).  If the pulse's risetime is slower than the roundtrip delay, then the reflection will be seen during the edge, making it much harder to accurately measure the delay.

For basic coaxial work like was shown in the video - for 10, 20, 30 feet or more of cable, a 10ns risetime is good enough. 

You might check the risetime of calibrator signal on your scope - it might be fast enough to use for this application.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: vk6zgo on March 14, 2012, 01:00:10 am
I remember using a TU-5 Pulser for this purpose,which used a tunnel diode.
In use,you connected it to the 100 volt calibrator on a 545B or similar,& the TU-5 produced a very much lower level,(but very much faster rise time) pulse which was excellent for checking the 'scope,& for TDR purposes.

I had one hanging around for years,but I don't have a 545B,or anything similar,so no high voltage calibrator.
I thought of making a vacuum tube multivibrator to produce a 100volt square wave,but "put it in the too hard basket".
Eventually,I gave it to a friend who collected 545s.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: BravoV on March 14, 2012, 01:14:13 am
- Yes, you can determine the distance to a short (only the first short!).  You can see this at the end of the video where I dialed the pot down to zero.  You can measure the width of the pulse that's shown, and that will be the roundtrip delay from the scope to the short and back.  Calculate the distance the same way as I did for the open.

For those that missed it, here is the video that WBB is referring to:

Use a scope to measure the length and impedance of coax

Great tutorial video as always W2aew, thank you Sir !

This video inspires me to learn & tinker with this poor man TDR thingy, and since you did mention high speed rise signal as a reference in that video, I assume I can also use my vintage Tek 2901 time mark generator that generates those really sharp spikes for this purpose too right ?

Example of the time mark signals generated by that 2901 at various speed at my Tek 2465B.

(https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/tektronix-2901-time-mark-generator-tear-down-inspection/?action=dlattach;attach=17237;image)

(https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=5574.0;attach=17055;image)
Title: Re: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: WBB on March 14, 2012, 01:24:18 am

Ideally, you'd want the risetime to be a few times faster than the propagation delay through the cable of interest, so that you get a clean "plateau" between the incident edge and the reflected edge.  For typical coax with a 0.66 velocity factor, the speed of a signal is 7.79 inches per nanosecond.  Thus, a 10ns rising edge of the pulse will be spread out over about 6.5 feet of cable (i.e. the voltage 6.5 feet from the generator is just starting to move at the same time that the rising edge has finished moving at the generator).  If the pulse's risetime is slower than the roundtrip delay, then the reflection will be seen during the edge, making it much harder to accurately measure the delay.

For basic coaxial work like was shown in the video - for 10, 20, 30 feet or more of cable, a 10ns risetime is good enough. 

You might check the risetime of calibrator signal on your scope - it might be fast enough to use for this application.

Thanks again! Normally if the problem is in the 1st 30' or so I'll find it by other means, usually when I'm not really looking!  It's those few hundred feet that follow that can be a royal pain.  Thanks for the tip about the Cal signal as well. A function gen was the next thing that I wanted to get anyway, but the Cal signal should give me a bit of a starting point to help determine what I should get. Again, much appreciated!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: sdscotto on March 14, 2012, 01:33:34 am
While I can't find it at the moment, I remember one of Jim Williams Application Notes on building a ~400ps pulse generator for testing oscilloscopes and probes.

IIRC is was AN47, but doesn't appear to be on the Linear web site anymore. 

I'm dumb as a stump compared to most of you real engineers, but still got a kick out of reading his stuff, much like Alan's recent tutorials.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: alm on March 14, 2012, 01:39:45 am
IIRC is was AN47, but doesn't appear to be on the Linear web site anymore. 
If I go to linear.com and search for AN47, the first link is a PDF of the correct appnote. The later circuit with a charge line, as described in LT AN79, 94 and 122, might be better, since it generates something approaching a step, as opposed to a semi-Dirac pulse.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: sdscotto on March 14, 2012, 01:40:26 am
I played with some old coax after watching Alan's latest video and used my 2901, too.   Here are the rise time measurements on mine:

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: sdscotto on March 14, 2012, 01:42:44 am
IIRC is was AN47, but doesn't appear to be on the Linear web site anymore. 
If I go to linear.com and search for AN47, the first link is a PDF of the correct appnote. The later circuit with a charge line, as described in LT AN79, 94 and 122, might be better, since it generates something approaching a step, as opposed to a semi-Dirac pulse.

Yeah, my bad, I just went to this link and saw it missing in the first section. 
http://www.linear.com/designtools/app_notes.php (http://www.linear.com/designtools/app_notes.php)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 14, 2012, 02:51:06 am
Those time mark generators are cool.  Wish I had one myself!  You can give one of them a try.  Since it isn't putting out a pulse, but rather an "impulse", you can measure the delay between the peak of the incident impulse to the reflected impulse (which might appear on the trailing edge of the incident impulse).  Just be sure to make the repetition interval of your marks much longer than the expected round trip delay so that you don't mix up a reflected impulse for a repeated incident one.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 14, 2012, 02:58:00 am

Great tutorial video as always W2aew, thank you Sir !

This video inspires me to learn & tinker with this poor man TDR thingy, and since you did mention high speed rise signal as a reference in that video, I assume I can also use my vintage Tek 2901 time mark generator that generates those really sharp spikes for this purpose too right ?

Example of the time mark signals generated by that 2901 at various speed at my Tek 2465B.


Wow - impressive photos!  You'll have to tell me how you get such nice photos of analog scope screens like that!  No reflections of the camera, etc.  Nice.  Are you using some sort of a hood like the old polaroid style scope cameras?

Now, go grab some coax and let's see what those TDR reflections look like!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: sdscotto on March 14, 2012, 04:01:32 am
Here's a little test with some cheap thin CCTV coax, probably 75?, both with open end, and 50? termination.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 14, 2012, 02:01:49 pm
That looks like a long length of coax!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: sdscotto on March 14, 2012, 03:31:29 pm
That looks like a long length of coax!

I'm guessing it's about 50'... 400ns / 7.79ns per foot = 51.3

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: WBB on March 14, 2012, 03:57:54 pm
Not nit picking here, just trying to be sure I understand the principle. In the above examples, using the really fast & small pulses. The first pulse is transmitted from the generator, and the second pulse is the reflection? So at 240ns between pulses the length would be about 80 feet?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: sdscotto on March 14, 2012, 04:12:31 pm
Aw heck!   I wrote down the 400ns in the above post from notes on another piece of Coax.

You're absolutely right, the return pulse is coming at 240ns.
Title: Re: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: WBB on March 14, 2012, 04:25:21 pm
Aw heck!   I wrote down the 400ns in the above post from notes on another piece of Coax.

You're absolutely right, the return pulse is coming at 240ns.

I was just going by the markers on the scope which look to be reasonably well placed.

I think your error was the 7.79ns/foot. Its more like 7.79"/ns.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: WBB on March 15, 2012, 12:14:53 am
Another question, not that I haven't already veered this far enough off topic from oscilloscopes to function generators, sorry.  Would it be possible to use the TTL signal for short distances and switch to the normal square wave type signal for longer distances?  I really like the older equipment (both for budget as well as nostalgia) but looking up the specs for the older models isn't the fastest thing in the world.  Better than it used to be though!  Anyway, it seems pretty common to find TTL rise times of <50ns but the square wave rise times seem to hover around the 100ns range.  So I thought the TTL signal would be decent for short distances and the normal square wave would work fine once cable length exceeded rise time delay.  Or am I completely off base?

Thanks again!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 15, 2012, 01:11:50 pm
That looks like a long length of coax!

I'm guessing it's about 50'... 400ns / 7.79ns per foot = 51.3

Oops - not quite!  For coax with a velocity factor of 0.66, the speed is 7.79 INCHES per nanosecond!   (7.79ns/ft would be faster than the speed of light!).

You measured about 240ns. Thus that would be 240ns * 7.79in/ns * 1ft/12in *1/2 = 78'
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 15, 2012, 01:16:21 pm
Another question, not that I haven't already veered this far enough off topic from oscilloscopes to function generators, sorry.  Would it be possible to use the TTL signal for short distances and switch to the normal square wave type signal for longer distances?  I really like the older equipment (both for budget as well as nostalgia) but looking up the specs for the older models isn't the fastest thing in the world.  Better than it used to be though!  Anyway, it seems pretty common to find TTL rise times of <50ns but the square wave rise times seem to hover around the 100ns range.  So I thought the TTL signal would be decent for short distances and the normal square wave would work fine once cable length exceeded rise time delay.  Or am I completely off base?

Thanks again!

Whatever gives you a fast enough risetime to discern the difference between the incident edge and the reflected edge would work.  It all depends on the typical lengths/distances that you need to measure.  10ns edges work pretty well for lengths greater than several feet.  for a 50ns edge, you'd probably have trouble measuring distances less than 30-40 feet or so.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: BravoV on March 16, 2012, 07:02:58 pm
Wow - impressive photos!  You'll have to tell me how you get such nice photos of analog scope screens like that!  No reflections of the camera, etc.  Nice.  Are you using some sort of a hood like the old polaroid style scope cameras?

Now, go grab some coax and let's see what those TDR reflections look like!
I will post my results on this poor man TDR once I did it, its just I don't have any long coax with me right now, most are only 1 to 2 meters max.


About those scope screen photos, thanks, actually its quite easy and no fancy hood at all.  ;)

I was using an entry level dslr with just stock lense, the secret is I used a camera remote that made it so easy to shoot in the dark, hence no reflections at all.  ;)

Also the handy part of using remote is, once the scope is ready with the camera placed and set properly like the focus & framing and etc, then all I need is just switch off my bench table light for few seconds while I pushed the remote in my other hand, and then turned the light on again.

About the reflection, usually I turned off any background light when I'm going to shoot scope's screen, and with only my bench table light which was the only light source in the room.

(https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/oscilloscope-training-class-(long)/?action=dlattach;attach=22215;image)


Actually even using a P&S camera is possible too, as long it has a self timer, but using remote is far more convenient, no need to rush in the dark accidentally bumping or knocking out things around.  ???


Now, the other part is altering the photos, for scope's screen shot, I altered it using program to make it better since this is just a scope's screen. And the procedures that I used are not complicated and pretty fast I'd say.

Example of the original photo straight from the camera, only cropping and resizing applied, nothing else.

(https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/oscilloscope-training-class-(long)/?action=dlattach;attach=22217;image)


Using the popular freeware PAINT.NET, you can get it here -> HERE (http://www.getpaint.net/) or other graphic editor like Photoshop if you have it, adjust the brightness level & contrast using the simple level menu.

This is the default setting when we opened this Levels Adjusment sub menu.

(https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/oscilloscope-training-class-(long)/?action=dlattach;attach=22219;image)


Just a few adjustments on the those levers, after few trials, you will get used it easily.

(https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/oscilloscope-training-class-(long)/?action=dlattach;attach=22221;image)


The result with just those few drags, no fuss nor complicated tasks, then save it, that's it.  ;)

(https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/oscilloscope-training-class-(long)/?action=dlattach;attach=22223;image)


Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 16, 2012, 09:49:08 pm
Nice - thanks for the tips.  I'd have to run across the room to hit a lightswitch!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: wolfrum on March 23, 2012, 04:09:56 pm
One of the best videos and very good explanations
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on April 25, 2012, 11:59:39 pm
I've posted a few videos in the recent weeks, the most recent was today where I discuss some of the auxiliary input/output connections on the rear panel of many old analog scopes.  Enjoy!
Analog Oscillocope's rear panel auxiliary inputs and outputs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyA-4Qv8RDs#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Tube_Dude on April 26, 2012, 01:46:08 am
I've posted a few videos in the recent weeks, the most recent was today...

Thank you! Very useful. I love analog scopes too...  8)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on April 30, 2012, 02:14:19 pm
I added another video over the weekend, showing how to use a pair of 555s and a pair of NPN transistors to create a "marker" on the trace(s) of an old analog scope by applying a sweep-synchronous, delay-adjustable pulse to the Z-axis input.
Use Oscilloscope Z-axis input to create "marker" on waveform (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCFBBiIm1h0#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: BravoV on April 30, 2012, 04:37:31 pm
Alan, thanks for this excellent tutorial, I've been looking for a good practical example using that extra Z axis input, yours is the best imo.

Did a quick circuit capture from that video to complete that video, hope you don't mind.

(https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/oscilloscope-training-class-(long)/?action=dlattach;attach=23798;image)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on May 06, 2012, 04:34:53 am
I added another "Back to Basics" video to my channel tonight - showing how to make a frequency measurement on an analog scope.  Enjoy...
Analog Oscilloscope Basics: Making a Frequency Measurement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQMnjaMSKn8#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Chris Wilson on May 17, 2012, 10:23:50 am
Re your circuit for checking modulation of amateur radio transmitters on a `scope. Someone who saw my effort at recreating this box of tricks has told me not to use it to monitor transmission on air, as diodes can cause frequency multiplication and cause me to transmit spurious harmonics. I am not sure if germanium diodes can cause this, what's the score with using it to monitor real time transmission on air please Alan? http://www.chriswilson.tv/RF/rf.html (http://www.chriswilson.tv/RF/rf.html) is my attempt. Forgive the rusty nuts, I built it at home at the weekend, with no access to my my normal boxes of hardware odds and sods at work (I am in the race car game). Cheers
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on May 17, 2012, 02:50:31 pm
Re your circuit for checking modulation of amateur radio transmitters on a `scope. Someone who saw my effort at recreating this box of tricks has told me not to use it to monitor transmission on air, as diodes can cause frequency multiplication and cause me to transmit spurious harmonics. I am not sure if germanium diodes can cause this, what's the score with using it to monitor real time transmission on air please Alan? http://www.chriswilson.tv/RF/rf.html (http://www.chriswilson.tv/RF/rf.html) is my attempt. Forgive the rusty nuts, I built it at home at the weekend, with no access to my my normal boxes of hardware odds and sods at work (I am in the race car game). Cheers

Yes, he is correct.  Any diode, germanium or not, is a non-linear device, and will generate harmonic distortion products as well as intermod products.  While these diodes are not "in" the RF path, they are tapped onto it.  Thus, there will be a small amount of harmonic components injected back into the RF line - both through the coupling cap as well as from simple stray pickup through the air.  The latter can be reduced by shielding the detector circuit from the main RF thru-path.  Lowering the load impedance seen by the detector will also help.  In my tests, these distortion products were 45-50dB down or more from the main signal.  So, technically, he is correct, and you should be careful regarding this.  You can check it yourself by listening for your third harmonic (3x your operating frequency), which will typically be the largest product generated.  Maybe have a buddy listen to your main signal, then listen for you at 3x that frequency.  It is likely that you will not be heard at 3x.  However, it is definitely worth checking out to be sure that you are being compliant with spurious emission levels.

The simple resistive divider used to monitor the RF envelope (the most useful thing anyway) will not introduce any distortion effects at all.

Note also that the demodulator circuit is typically used for linearity measurements of an amplifier.  Thus, the demodulator would be connected to the RF before the amp, and the resistive monitor connected after the amp.  The only reason that I have both of these circuits connected to the same RF line was to demonstrate the function of each circuit - they'd never be used simultaneously in this way.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Chris Wilson on May 17, 2012, 11:37:49 pm
OK, thanks, I'll be very careful with it, probably just use it into a dummy load for now. I can "borrow" a friend with a spectrum analyser at some point ;)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Bonati on June 08, 2012, 02:12:59 pm
Alan these videos are wonderful, thanks for doing them. Learning a bunch!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 09, 2012, 08:09:43 pm
Alan these videos are wonderful, thanks for doing them. Learning a bunch!

I'm very glad that you are enjoying them.  There are plenty more on my Channel that I haven't posted here.  And, I'm always up for suggestions for new video topics that you'd like to see.  I'm just trying to live up to the quality of Dave's videos!
https://www.youtube.com/w2aew (https://www.youtube.com/w2aew)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Devian on July 07, 2012, 12:20:58 pm
Thank you for this, it is really impressed and I will finish watching.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: kingjay1 on August 24, 2012, 01:40:25 am
So exciting and helpful.Compare to the book knowledge , these videos give me something more.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on August 25, 2012, 01:49:29 am
So exciting and helpful.Compare to the book knowledge , these videos give me something more.

I'm glad you enjoyed the video(s).  Please let me know if there are other topics that you'd like to see.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: kg4arn on August 25, 2012, 04:21:06 pm

[/quote]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video(s).  Please let me know if there are other topics that you'd like to see.

[/quote]

I would like to see your take on compensating the scope probes that have both the low and high frequency compensation trimmers.
And if you would explain why some probes have both and some only have the low frequency compensation.

I have Agilent N2863B probes.   There is a trimmer in the tip which is adjusted using the familiar 1KHz square wave output from the front of the scope.  There are 2 more trim adjustments for the high frequency at the base of the probe where the BNC connects to the scope.  It appears that a fast rise time step is used to make the adjustment.

I have seen some other manufacturer's probes with this set up as well.  Here's one from Pico Technology

TA049:  500 MHz  Oscilloscope Probe x10

The TA049 is a passive high–impedance oscilloscope probe designed and calibrated for use on instruments having an input impedance of 1 M?  shunted by 15 pF. However, it may be compensated for use with instruments having an input capacitance of 10 to 35 pF. The probe has a further three trimmers for high–frequency compensation adjustment
[/u]

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: BravoV on September 01, 2012, 04:20:35 pm
Re-posting a link here another w2aew's excellent video -> https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/new-tutorial-video-basics-of-plls/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/new-tutorial-video-basics-of-plls/)

Basics of Phase Locked Loop Circuits and Frequency Synthesis (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS7z8WsXPMk#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: cookie on September 05, 2012, 02:22:09 pm
Thumbs up!!I really like them,but dont got enough time to watch  all,could u recommend  some?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on September 06, 2012, 12:09:52 am
Thumbs up!!I really like them,but dont got enough time to watch  all,could u recommend  some?

Let me know what topics you want to learn about, and I'll recommend any of mine that might be of help.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Alana on September 11, 2012, 05:34:35 pm
I loved the main video and entire cycle of materials showed by w2aew.
For me this is kind of "back to school" and school lab.
Which reminds me, in our oscilloscope classes we had sort of practical exam on how to make oscilloscope draw a line, two lines, dot, two dots - all using function gen and xy mode. This may be a good idea for another video, or on checking if people in class understand the basics.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: arekm on September 11, 2012, 05:53:51 pm
I would like to see some info about using oscilloscope with high voltages (like 1-2kV) in inverters or power sources in analog oscilloscopes or analog tv.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Chris Wilson on September 25, 2012, 07:52:35 am
I too would like to see details on the safe viewing of high voltage DC power supply ripple. I am building a couple of supplies for big RF generators, one 3kV and one 5kV I also want to view the AC output of the transformers when they are under load. Thanks, it's a great resource Alan.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: awkhim on September 26, 2012, 07:35:36 am
where i can buy the cheaper price for digital oscilloscope my requirements is 100 MHz, dual channel and there's a data we can save
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on November 10, 2012, 06:38:57 pm
I added a few more videos over the last several weeks. The most recent is a basic tutorial on how to use the FFT function in a digital oscilloscope.
Basics of using FFT on an oscilloscope (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRf-IpG6XAw#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: MrQuan on November 26, 2012, 10:47:36 pm
Hi w2aew,

Just wanted to say I found your AC/DC coupling video on YouTube and it was very helpful. Big fan of all your oscilloscope videos. Cheers :)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on December 07, 2012, 03:43:57 am
I posted another video in the "scope basics" series tonight - this one talks about oscilloscope probe ground lead length, and it's affect on measured signal integrity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zodpCuxwn_o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zodpCuxwn_o#)

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: nadona on December 27, 2012, 09:10:59 am
@w2aew;
I have a question about my Hantek 200MHz. Why is the square wave Rise Time change when the FG frequency change?  For example; 10us@100Hz, 1us@1KHz, 200ns@10KHz, 80ns@100KHz, 76ns@1MHz.

Regards.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on December 28, 2012, 04:52:06 am
@w2aew;
I have a question about my Hantek 200MHz. Why is the square wave Rise Time change when the FG frequency change?  For example; 10us@100Hz, 1us@1KHz, 200ns@10KHz, 80ns@100KHz, 76ns@1MHz.

Regards.

Making the assumption that you are changing your horizontal time scale (sweep speed) at the same time that you are changing the FG frequency, I would say that the change in rise time is not real.  It is due to the fact that the at the slower horizontal time scale setting, the effective sample rate is decimated (lowered), reaching a point where very few if any samples actually land on the rising edge at all.  The scope interpolates between the waveform points.  At the lower effective sample rate, the interpolated waveform between these widely spaced points does not accurately reflect the true rise time. To test this hypothesis on your scope, setup the 100k or 1MHz square wave and make the rise time measurement.  Without changing the horizontal controls, simply change the square wave frequency on the FG down to 100Hz.  You should still have a rising edge on the screen, and it should still be reading the same fast rise time.  This is the true rise time.  If the rise time slows as you move the horizontal timescale to a slower setting, then the scope is lying to you at these lower speeds due to the sample rate decimation.

This is a fairly common problem, that measurements are made on only the displayed point or on severely decimated samples.  Some scopes give you the ability to control the sample rate and memory independent of the horizontal sweep settings so that this type of distortion due to under sampling can be avoided.

However, if the experiment above (changing FG frequency, leaving scope horizontal alone) results in slower rise time at slower FG frequencies, then it has nothing to do with the scope and is a property of the FG.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: nadona on December 28, 2012, 08:20:08 am
@w2aew;
"To test this hypothesis on your scope, setup the 100k or 1MHz square wave and make the rise time measurement. Without changing the horizontal controls, simply change the square wave frequency on the FG down to 100Hz.  You should still have a rising edge on the screen, and it should still be reading the same fast rise time.  This is the true rise time. "

Exactly! Same rising edge & same rise time.

As usual, thank you very much for your detailed explanation.

Regards.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on December 28, 2012, 04:04:22 pm
@w2aew;
"To test this hypothesis on your scope, setup the 100k or 1MHz square wave and make the rise time measurement. Without changing the horizontal controls, simply change the square wave frequency on the FG down to 100Hz.  You should still have a rising edge on the screen, and it should still be reading the same fast rise time.  This is the true rise time. "

Exactly! Same rising edge & same rise time.

As usual, thank you very much for your detailed explanation.

Regards.

It is very unfortunate that your scope LIES to you at the lower sweep speeds.  Better digital scopes will at LEAST tell you that they have "low resolution" or "insufficient sample rate" for a given measurement in these types of cases.  It's good that you now know about this characteristic of your scope.

By the way, I touch upon this topic of insufficient sampling a little bit near the beginning of this video that I did regarding risetime measurements:
How to make a rise-time measurement on an oscilloscope (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRA1Mx506fw#)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: tinhead on January 20, 2013, 11:13:28 pm
@w2aew;
"To test this hypothesis on your scope, setup the 100k or 1MHz square wave and make the rise time measurement. Without changing the horizontal controls, simply change the square wave frequency on the FG down to 100Hz.  You should still have a rising edge on the screen, and it should still be reading the same fast rise time.  This is the true rise time. "

Exactly! Same rising edge & same rise time.

As usual, thank you very much for your detailed explanation.

Regards.

It is very unfortunate that your scope LIES to you at the lower sweep speeds.  Better digital scopes will at LEAST tell you that they have "low resolution" or "insufficient sample rate" for a given measurement in these types of cases.  It's good that you now know about this characteristic of your scope.

as the manufacturer of his DSO designed their first model (2008), it was a 1:1 TDS2000 (A/B) series clone. I have here one,
and even with chinese firmware on it, knowing TEK, i can completly blind navigate through almost all menus. And gues what this DSO can, yes, it shows (a chinsese character) when measured values can not be properly calculated.

I have no idea why the "current" model, which was however designed already 3.5yrs ago, is not having such simple functionality.
Maybe simply lazy developer. I did reversed (partialy) their firmware and i know that they at least analyzing waveform risetime before they applying filters - so the data "valid, not valid, value" is there somewhere.

But this is exactly the "small" difference between some old known manufacturers and the rest of the world.
Or maybe simple question of price (diff between Hantek and Tek is already >500USD) ?

Maybe both, but this is what all the beginners out there should realize before they buy anything.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: FrozenHaxor on March 11, 2013, 01:41:34 pm
@w2aew
You have done such a great job on all of your Oscilloscope tutorials, it's amazing how certain things can be explained on completely another level by the right person.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: RjSa on March 11, 2013, 03:16:55 pm
This is excellent! I have been looking for videos like these for a long time.

Thanks
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: EExtrom on March 11, 2013, 04:19:40 pm
Thank you soo much, regardless of the sound!  :-+
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: RobB on March 12, 2013, 06:01:29 pm
Yep I have to agree. Some of the clearest and concise tut's on O'scopes and circuit theory around.  :-+ :-+ :-+ :-+ :-+
I have subscribed the the Youtube channel for some time.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: usreworkstationsMODS on May 22, 2013, 05:54:19 am
I helped teach a class on the basics of oscilloscopes to the New Jersey Antique Radio Club. This club is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of antique radios - mainly from the golden age of broadcasting. The class was geared entirely around analog scopes, since that's the type of scope that these guys would most likely come across or have access to for their radio restoration projects. We affectionately called the class "Scopes for Dopes", and it was a great success.


Fortunately, the session was videotaped. We had two projectors going - one with presentation slides, and one with a video camera feed that was focused on a few scopes on a table for demonstration.

NJARC Oscilloscope School a.k.a. "Scopes For Dopes" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZKMrzTGxLQ#ws)


To make it easier to navigate this long video - over 2 hours long, here is a list of time-stamps and the topics that begin at those timestamps. Using this "table of contents", you can easily move the youtube player location to the topic of interest.


0:00:00 Opening and Agenda
0:02:50 Brief History of Oscilloscopes – with Al Klase
0:15:00 Start of Basics of Oscilloscopes – with Alan Wolke
0:19:00 Basic Block Diagram of an Oscilloscope
0:19:50 Oscilloscope / Display Overview
0:23:00 Display Section Functions and Controls
0:28:10 Vertical Section Description
0:33:17 Vertical Scale / Coupling Controls, Input Impedance
0:38:04 Vertical Mode Controls
0:48:05 In-circuit Example of using two traces on the oscilloscope
0:52:41 Horizontal Section Description
0:53:48 Horizontal Sweep Types & Controls
1:10:15 Triggering (Synchronization) Section Description
1:13:19 Trigger Source, Mode and Coupling Controls
1:19:56 Trigger Level and Slope Controls
1:23:29 Introduction to Oscilloscope Probes
1:31:45 1X and 10X Passive Probes
1:34:00 10X Probe Compensation and Use Considerations
1:48:48 XY Mode of Operation
2:00:12 Front Panel Control Layout
2:02:20 Pop Quiz!
2:03:00 Wrap Up: Oscilloscope adds Intuitive Feel to circuit operation
2:04:45 Questions and Answers
2:13:35 Brief History of Oscilloscope Tubes

Also, if you are interested, I have a couple of other oscilloscope videos on my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/w2aew (https://www.youtube.com/w2aew)
...including a tutorial on 1X and 10X probes...

Awesome! Really really cool!I like your style of teaching. I am learning more about Oscilloscope as we are more interested in this market.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 22, 2013, 12:36:01 am
I recently added a video that discusses the waveform sampling process in typical digital oscilloscopes.

Tutorial on Digital Oscilloscope sample rate, record length and data processing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E09IjTzslA0#ws)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Branqazwsx on October 06, 2013, 11:30:51 pm
great info, I learned a lot
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: coreybus on October 06, 2013, 11:45:37 pm
Perfect. I have been searching everywhere for something like this to help me out with my electrical engineering degree. One word of advice. Do something with your youtube tags, because i searched 'Oscilloscope Tutorials' and the like on youtube and never did your video come up. But great none the less
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ttyz on October 07, 2013, 07:54:16 am
Great! that was very useful! Thanks!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: georgedone on October 07, 2013, 12:23:57 pm
Really nice ! Thanks for sharing !
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: deanriverson on October 07, 2013, 04:32:52 pm
Really great material, thanks for the pointers!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: shk1d29 on October 07, 2013, 08:17:42 pm
Great tutorials. I used them back in highschool, but its been over 20 years or so ago. I'm just relearning again as a hobby. This is fun stuff.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: kalobg on October 08, 2013, 05:25:19 am
Great video!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on October 08, 2013, 11:57:39 am
Great video!

Thanks! Which one?  There are over 100 on my channel now, most of them are tutorials of some sort.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Chris Wilson on October 08, 2013, 12:01:29 pm
IMO all of them! :) Yet to see a boring or bad one ;) Appreciated, great YouTube channel!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: roach969 on October 11, 2013, 04:22:42 am
Thank you for this.  I've been out of the electronics field for quite some time and am getting back into it.  As life goes, if you don't use it, you lose it!  So I'm a bit rusty and this is a great start.  Thanks again!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: npnlamp on October 12, 2013, 04:57:25 pm
Thanks really good tutorials! Also i found this online oscilloscope emulator: http://www.virtual-oscilloscope.com/simulation.html (http://www.virtual-oscilloscope.com/simulation.html)
Hope that helps someone :D
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: roach969 on October 21, 2013, 10:51:57 pm
Thanks really good tutorials! Also i found this online oscilloscope emulator: http://www.virtual-oscilloscope.com/simulation.html (http://www.virtual-oscilloscope.com/simulation.html)
Hope that helps someone :D

Great tool, thanks for posting!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: npnlamp on October 22, 2013, 05:29:30 pm
Thanks really good tutorials! Also i found this online oscilloscope emulator: http://www.virtual-oscilloscope.com/simulation.html (http://www.virtual-oscilloscope.com/simulation.html)
Hope that helps someone :D

Great tool, thanks for posting!

Glad it helped!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: leno on November 02, 2013, 10:17:15 am
thank to you all I have learnt a lot
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: BeerCannon on December 06, 2013, 02:40:30 am
Watching this has been on my 'to-do' list.  Finally put in the time today to watch the whole thing.  Very informative and enjoyable.  Thanks so much for posting the video!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on December 06, 2013, 04:06:06 am
Watching this has been on my 'to-do' list.  Finally put in the time today to watch the whole thing.  Very informative and enjoyable.  Thanks so much for posting the video!

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have many more (shorter) videos on my channel, dealing with everything from various scope and Test & Measurement topics, circuit tutorials, troubleshooting vids, and ham radio topics.
Http://www.youtube.com/w2aew (http://Http://www.youtube.com/w2aew)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Tallie on January 02, 2014, 07:54:54 pm
Thanks for posting this!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: NikWing on January 31, 2014, 08:05:51 pm
great :D

I have a question, I hope it wasn't asked yet and it's alright to ask here:

is it possible to measure the (real) power usage of any device with a DSO?

I ask because I must do something wrong here.
I've got a Rigol DS2xxx DSO and connected a current clamp and a differential probe to it
I try to find out how much power a PSU unit "eats".

I used a tRMS multimeter to compare the current clamp value and it's about the same.
Alright, I set the DSO to measure voltage RMS and current RMS values, then I used math to multiply both channels and also set it to show math RMS
(sorry, no screenshot atm)

of course, the current is no real sine, DSO shows 1.4 Arms, voltage is 241 Vrms. That multiplied should be 337 Wrms
but DSO shows 430 to 440 W ...

So I tried something else. I have a 3-phase power meter (UMG 503) installed in my house connection box (or whatever it's called).
I can monitor several values via serial connection, so I opened the rms current display and the current jumped up 1 A after I switched on my "PSU" with connected load.
The load consists of 4 LEDs running at around 42 W each, add to this 2 PSUs and 4 step-up converters, I estimate the total wattage at around 200 W, this should be 0.85A @ 240VAC
The 1 A measured by the power meter device are way closer to the estimated current/wattage.

Is there a way to display the real/true wattage on my DSO?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: GiskardReventlov on February 05, 2014, 09:27:03 pm
you might also want to check out a shorter video posted by some of the Tektronix factory guys, talking about the basics of using basic digital oscilloscope.

Ha!  They  didn't see your 1x,10x probe video!  Right? It looks to me like they have not adjusted the compensation on their probe. The capacitor was adjusted a little too big.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on February 06, 2014, 02:57:43 am
you might also want to check out a shorter video posted by some of the Tektronix factory guys, talking about the basics of using basic digital oscilloscope.

Ha!  They  didn't see your 1x,10x probe video!  Right? It looks to me like they have not adjusted the compensation on their probe. The capacitor was adjusted a little too big.

Yeah, I spoke to them about that! 
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: GiskardReventlov on February 06, 2014, 04:25:42 am
Yeah, I spoke to them about that!

Probably a lot easier to hear it from you then a novice like me. 

I've watched 3 of your videos, they are dense for me (as-in filled with info). The scopes for dopes was interesting but I will have to watch some parts again. The 1x10x was useful and I can apply that. The component tester will also be easily applicable someday soon. Do you have any video recommendations out of your playlist for a novice?  I've picked up a lot just watching Dave's videos on various topics where he uses a scope. I've also watched various videos on scopes, some that were a waste of time and some that offered practical and interesting bits.  Like the fact that the ground (or reference) probe is actually an earth ground.  Easy for a novice to get lulled into safety coming from using a handheld multimeter.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on February 06, 2014, 11:05:59 pm
Yeah, I spoke to them about that!

Probably a lot easier to hear it from you then a novice like me. 

I've watched 3 of your videos, they are dense for me (as-in filled with info). The scopes for dopes was interesting but I will have to watch some parts again. The 1x10x was useful and I can apply that. The component tester will also be easily applicable someday soon. Do you have any video recommendations out of your playlist for a novice?  I've picked up a lot just watching Dave's videos on various topics where he uses a scope. I've also watched various videos on scopes, some that were a waste of time and some that offered practical and interesting bits.  Like the fact that the ground (or reference) probe is actually an earth ground.  Easy for a novice to get lulled into safety coming from using a handheld multimeter.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

It really depends on what you feel you need to learn.  I've got about 130 videos on the channel now - ranging from entry level topics to some more advanced.  There are topics on various subject concerning oscilloscopes and their usage.  I'd recommend watching those on AC/DC coupling controls, triggering controls, vertical controls and basic measurements.  There are also videos on spectrum analyzer topics, and other test gear.  I also have videos on several op amp and transistor basics and circuit designs.  It all depends on where your interests lie.  It will only take you 5-10 minutes to skim the titles of all 130 videos, and make note of those that interest you. 

And of course, if there's a topic that you'd like to see - let me know!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: GiskardReventlov on February 07, 2014, 10:28:56 pm
And of course, if there's a topic that you'd like to see - let me know!

I will check the list, I have browsed it quickly.  I will look for "You just got your first scope, set it up like so before  turning it on." Then something like "here are some things to check right away to determine  if it's working properly". So if those are there I'm in luck, if not consider them suggestions. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: anvto on March 19, 2014, 08:43:28 am
Perfect founmental knowledges on oscilloscope.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: tiborsimon on April 14, 2014, 06:05:01 am
Good job!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: alexjordon27 on April 17, 2014, 11:35:57 am
Hello there,
I am new in this forum. I love to play with electricity. So i hope i will learn exciting thing about electricity here.

Thanks & Regards
Alex
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long) New session, with ham radio info
Post by: w2aew on July 13, 2014, 04:35:14 pm
This video is a recording of a 90 minute my presentation entitled "Basics of Oscilloscopes, and their use in the hamshack".  This was presented at one of the clubs I belong to - the Ocean Monmouth Amateur Radio Club, in Wall Township, NJ.  The presentation was recorded on 12 July 2014.  Audio quality isn't the best, so apologies for that up front.

Oscilloscope Basics, and how they can be used in the hamshack | tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=067W7h1BhxE#ws)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Electronics-Repairman on July 13, 2014, 09:52:42 pm
I watched this one very interesting video, I wondered if you put it on hear,  I Learned something straight off the AC/DC, I was convinced you had to use AC ,for ac, and DC for dc, I really did think, it was a simple as that, I like to learn something NEW everyday and I did.  :-+ :-+ for you Alan.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: V_King on August 30, 2014, 01:28:59 am
thanks for great oscilloscope tutorials w2aew  :-+

bought my first oscilloscope recently, and learning how to use it to the full potential  :)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on August 30, 2014, 01:35:55 am
thanks for great oscilloscope tutorials w2aew  :-+

bought my first oscilloscope recently, and learning how to use it to the full potential  :)

You're welcome! Be sure to let me know if there's a topics you'd like to see in a future video.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: jackhholmes on September 13, 2014, 04:47:08 am
So excited to watch this! I'm in basic electronic classes and I don't think we covered enough on how to use 'scopes. I keep having to get help when using one and its getting kinda embarrassing.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on September 16, 2014, 03:56:14 am
So excited to watch this! I'm in basic electronic classes and I don't think we covered enough on how to use 'scopes. I keep having to get help when using one and its getting kinda embarrassing.

In addition to the 2hr class at the beginning of this thread, I also posted a recording of another class I taught more recently. This second on is a little shorter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=067W7h1BhxE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=067W7h1BhxE)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Martin.M on September 28, 2014, 06:57:27 pm
when you come to germany I will invide you to make a video "how to work with a classic Tek" 

this was a meeting from one of the large antique radio forums here, I have build that glowing test place with parts of my collection. They are all in full working condition  :)
(http://www.wellenkino.de/bilder/1bbh.jpg)

greetings
Martin
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: warner on December 03, 2014, 08:21:47 pm
Hi there all, i have watched your oscilloscope tutorials and really enjoyed them, the biggest problem i have is working out the frequency, at the moment im experimenting with transmitters and receivers, purely for fun and to learn, yet, when i try to measure the signal i always seem to get 50Hz, i have watched alot of online videos, read books, but im interested in learning how to learn how to use it fully, i have only recently got myself an oscilloscope, but i have used on before at college.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on December 03, 2014, 11:51:59 pm
Hi there all, i have watched your oscilloscope tutorials and really enjoyed them, the biggest problem i have is working out the frequency, at the moment im experimenting with transmitters and receivers, purely for fun and to learn, yet, when i try to measure the signal i always seem to get 50Hz, i have watched alot of online videos, read books, but im interested in learning how to learn how to use it fully, i have only recently got myself an oscilloscope, but i have used on before at college.

Getting 50/60Hz on the scope is almost always caused by having an insufficient ground connection between the circuit and scope probe.  Either it is too long, or non-existent - thus picking up the mains out of the air.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Ecklar on December 18, 2014, 01:37:22 am
Alan,
First of all thank you for posting the scope educational video and also all the work you've provided to us on YouTube.  Very good and I've been through many of them.

My question has tondo with Tektronix analog scope longevity.  I see you using the Tek 465 and 2465 and these scopes are from the mid 80's or maybe earlier.  I guess maybe you're an expert in keeping these scopes within spec.  What about for us us more average yet enthusiastic hobbyists?   How long might these scopes faithfuly serve us before they reach the end of a useful life?

Do the CRTs eventually go bad and required replacement?   Are there unavoidable faults that the expert takes in stride but will sink the novice?  Since most of us might only have a good DVM and maybe an entry level DSO, could we reasonably keep these older Tek analogs running within acceptable limits.   They really are cool, and prices for ' refurbished and calibrated' coming in around $300 US, they look interesting.  Could you give a broad overview as to what to expect and the best ways to enjoy these scopes? Or, do they just keep running forever and can sit for a year and start up accurate and on cue?

Thanks.   Eck
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on December 18, 2014, 04:29:09 am
Alan,
First of all thank you for posting the scope educational video and also all the work you've provided to us on YouTube.  Very good and I've been through many of them.

My question has tondo with Tektronix analog scope longevity.  I see you using the Tek 465 and 2465 and these scopes are from the mid 80's or maybe earlier.  I guess maybe you're an expert in keeping these scopes within spec.  What about for us us more average yet enthusiastic hobbyists?   How long might these scopes faithfuly serve us before they reach the end of a useful life?

Do the CRTs eventually go bad and required replacement?   Are there unavoidable faults that the expert takes in stride but will sink the novice?  Since most of us might only have a good DVM and maybe an entry level DSO, could we reasonably keep these older Tek analogs running within acceptable limits.   They really are cool, and prices for ' refurbished and calibrated' coming in around $300 US, they look interesting.  Could you give a broad overview as to what to expect and the best ways to enjoy these scopes? Or, do they just keep running forever and can sit for a year and start up accurate and on cue?

Thanks.   Eck

In general, these older Tektronix analog scopes hold up very well.  My 465B has needed only one repair in the 25 years that I've owned it, and that was about 20 years ago.  Failures, when they happen, are usually not with the CRT.  Most common are capacitors going bad, similar to other electronics of the same vintage.  There are some models that have some well-known problems that come up,  but these are well documented.  I would say that if you find one in good working condition that you will most likely get many, many years of hobbyist use out of it.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: SeanB on December 18, 2014, 04:52:41 am
Storage tubes unfortunately do wear out in the storage mode, but the most common thing is burns on the phosphor from using with the brightness turned up to max. That makes it cosmetically flawed, but it still works albiet with a dim area where the burn is.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Martin.M on December 22, 2014, 07:41:10 am
the large Classic Tek Type 549 have only 500 hours storage mode, this is true.
Later models use a better technology to become a long live time of the storage mode of the CRT. Like the 564 and all later types from Tek.
All of them are greatful helpers on the table, also the glowing scopes of the 500 series what I love most bec. the amazing plugin system.
The storage mode is not oftenly used, only useful for very slowly operations and single shots. So this scopes have also many years of life time, I think more then a brand new DSO with its over heated smd parts.

greetings
Martin
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: RedOctobyr on January 01, 2015, 09:46:03 pm
Hi there all, i have watched your oscilloscope tutorials and really enjoyed them, the biggest problem i have is working out the frequency, at the moment im experimenting with transmitters and receivers, purely for fun and to learn, yet, when i try to measure the signal i always seem to get 50Hz

Are the transmitters and receivers for radio-control applications? Are you measuring the PWM outputs from the receiver pins, which would go to the servos?

These signal pulses are often at 50 Hz. So perhaps what you're seeing makes sense. It's the width of the pulses that changes, to vary the signal going to the servos.

My apologies if I misunderstood what you're doing. This just caught my eye.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: miguelvp on May 13, 2015, 02:04:27 am
Got today an email from tektronix with this link:

http://info.tek.com/www-xyzs-of-oscilloscopes-primer.html (http://info.tek.com/www-xyzs-of-oscilloscopes-primer.html)

XYZs of Oscilloscopes:
Quote
New to using oscilloscopes or just want a quick “refresher” on interpreting their specs? You’re in luck! We’ve condensed decades of oscilloscope expertise into a 60-page primer that includes:

Overviews of oscilloscope architecture, key controls, probe considerations, set-up and measurement techniques, and more
Clearly illustrated, easy-to-understand explanations to help you get up to speed quickly
Definitions of datasheet specifications to help you choose the best oscilloscope for your application
Quizzes and answer keys, so you can be confident you understand the material you’re reading
A glossary of oscilloscope terminology
Join the millions of students, engineers, and technicians who have gained confidence in their measurements by using this primer. For your free digital copy, just complete this short form.

Of course you have to fill in your info to be able to download it.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ez24 on May 13, 2015, 04:27:14 am
Quote
Of course you have to fill in your info to be able to download it.

another option (no info required):
http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/labs/XYZs_of_Scopes.pdf (http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/labs/XYZs_of_Scopes.pdf)

via this site
http://www.wisewarthog.com/electronics/tektronix-xyzs-of-oscilloscopes.html (http://www.wisewarthog.com/electronics/tektronix-xyzs-of-oscilloscopes.html)]

edit:corrected links
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: miguelvp on May 13, 2015, 05:14:20 am
Here, let me fix that link:

http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/labs/XYZs_of_Scopes.pdf (http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/labs/XYZs_of_Scopes.pdf)

Actually the course documentation is quite nice, although homework, exams and labs are not linked:

http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/ (http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/)


In any event, the one I linked is updated, maybe for better or for worse, some material seems to be gone but other material was added.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ez24 on May 13, 2015, 06:30:25 am
http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/ (http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/)

thanks I missed that

edit: corrected link
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: miguelvp on May 13, 2015, 06:42:26 am
Sorry to the rest for getting temporary OT.

@ez24,

Not sure what you are doing when inserting urls, you just need to type it and the forum will convert it to the right thing.

Your link is probably hand edited and is doing this:
Code: [Select]
[url=http://[url]http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/]
[url]http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/[/url][/url]

Instead of this:
Code: [Select]
[url=http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/]http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/[/url]

And they are not clickable the way you are doing it, just type the url like this:
Code: [Select]
http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee320/

And the forum software will format it right for you.


Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ez24 on May 13, 2015, 07:12:57 am
test:

http://www.tek.com/sites/tek.com/files/courseware/ST_Arduino_Labs_Combined.pdf (http://www.tek.com/sites/tek.com/files/courseware/ST_Arduino_Labs_Combined.pdf)


Edit: Works!  why is there a "link" button - 2nd from right 2nd row  -  looks like a page over the globe ??

thanks for the advice  (I thought it was because I used a 4 letter word once)

Another thing - in Preview my old links work - again thanks
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on July 08, 2015, 09:39:11 pm
This topics has been covered in a few different videos, but is requested so often by my channel subscribers that I put a dedicated video together.  It reviews and demonstrates why properly compensating your 10x probes to *your* scope is so important, and why a probe with a much higher BW than your scope might not be suitable (and can lead to a poorer frequency response than a lower BW probe).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxJQr4dKnys (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxJQr4dKnys)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: NeverDie on August 10, 2015, 06:39:58 am
Rather than generic o-scope tutorials (which have their place), where can I find a good Noob tutorial on the DS1054Z scope specifically?  You know, something which covers all about it, but from a noob perspective.  Is there such a thing?

Regardless, I *am* grateful to those who posted the more generic videos, as at the moment that may be all there is.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ez24 on August 10, 2015, 07:04:16 pm
Rather than generic o-scope tutorials (which have their place), where can I find a good Noob tutorial on the DS1054Z scope specifically?  You know, something which covers all about it, but from a noob perspective.  Is there such a thing?

Regardless, I *am* grateful to those who posted the more generic videos, as at the moment that may be all there is.

I second this.   In some of Dave's videos I cannot see his right hand (the controls).  Since this scope is so popular seems like a good Noob tutorial on the DS1054Z would be a hit.   I would like to see one that covers all the features.

So lets cross our fingers.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: miguelvp on August 10, 2015, 07:52:23 pm
Buy this Demo Trainer Board:

http://www.tequipment.net/Rigol/DS6000-DK/Analog-Demo-Board/?b=y&v=7906 (http://www.tequipment.net/Rigol/DS6000-DK/Analog-Demo-Board/?b=y&v=7906)

Or at least go through the manual:

http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DS6000DemoBoard_UserGuide_EN.pdf (http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DS6000DemoBoard_UserGuide_EN.pdf)

And/or the demo guide:

http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DSDemoGuide_022014.pdf (http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DSDemoGuide_022014.pdf)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ez24 on August 10, 2015, 10:38:09 pm
Buy this Demo Trainer Board:

http://www.tequipment.net/Rigol/DS6000-DK/Analog-Demo-Board/?b=y&v=7906 (http://www.tequipment.net/Rigol/DS6000-DK/Analog-Demo-Board/?b=y&v=7906)

Or at least go through the manual:

http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DS6000DemoBoard_UserGuide_EN.pdf (http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DS6000DemoBoard_UserGuide_EN.pdf)

And/or the demo guide:

http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DSDemoGuide_022014.pdf (http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DSDemoGuide_022014.pdf)



I think for those that make YT money - this would be a good idea to use on YT videos using the DS1054Z
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: cdev on January 29, 2016, 01:04:46 am
Thank you so much for all your videos which are extremely informative. Your choices of what things to cover are really good.

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on January 29, 2016, 02:35:41 am
Thank you so much for all your videos which are extremely informative. Your choices of what things to cover are really good.

Thank you! Usually the best suggestions for topics come from viewers like you.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: guitarmike000 on April 15, 2016, 03:23:02 am
i will be taking these classes as iam retired an have the time as i work on alot of different equiptment. and have alot more to learn,thanks for the oportunity. thanks mike
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Michaelbradford on April 18, 2016, 12:23:13 am
Is there any one in the uk that has an old scope they might donate to me I could probably stretch to spending about 50 pound depending where it is at I would be so grateful I am a welder fabricator by trade so if any swaps could be done would nice pls contact me
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Michaelbradford on April 18, 2016, 12:27:43 am
Has any one got an old scope they would donate or sell I could afford around 50 pounds I'm in as Dave says the old dart England I would be so grateful I'm a welder by trade so pos I could do a trade if you want anything making
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on July 11, 2016, 01:16:01 pm
I recently delivered a presentation to the NJ Antique Radio Club that reviewed how to use an analog oscilloscope, and then showed how to use the scope to view the signals inside a classic "all american five" type of tube/valve AM radio.  Please note that the audio is not perfect - there is a "demonstrator" radio playing in the background, but it isn't too obtrusive.  The first 50 minutes is the "short version" of the class that led off this thread, and the last 30 minutes is looking at signals inside the demonstrator radio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niBGkqlh2XY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niBGkqlh2XY)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ChrisG on July 11, 2016, 04:34:02 pm
HI w2aew,

I tried to apply your video on 2 different frequency signal measurement on a DSO but "failed". https://youtu.be/LonFeZh2WL4
I'm using a Rigol SDG-2042x to create the 15Mhz and 1.5Khz signal to a Rigol DS1054Z. Whatever acquisition I choose from it's either displaying the correct frequency of the lower one or the higher one when adjusting time-base of course. Can it be that this Rigol just calculates the frequency based upon the screen result and not the memory?

ChrisG
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on July 11, 2016, 05:59:34 pm
It certainly sounds like the sample rate of the waveform data isn't sufficient for both input frequencies simultaneously.  This is either because the measurements are made on the displayed points and not the acquired points, or that the acquired points don't have sufficient sample rate at the slow timescale settings.  I don't know if the memory/acquisition settings in the Rigol give you the ability to change this or not, I've never used one before.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ChrisG on July 14, 2016, 03:18:19 pm
Hey, I understand your comment and remote observations. I did try to tweak the settings on the scope but without any resolve. I can change the acquisition settings but the on-screen frequency display just is not correct... hmmm

Aha.... I found there is a Frequency Counter, not a soft-menu item from the whole selection, which you can switch on and then reveals the frequency on the top-left hand corner. This is then Spot-On!!!  :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: ManishJoshi on July 20, 2016, 09:47:00 am
Very helpful video ... Got to learn many new things regarding oscilloscope
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on December 12, 2016, 05:04:54 pm
WOW!  Over 100,000 views of this thread!  I hope that it has helped folks to learn more about how to use an oscilloscope.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: saturation on December 12, 2016, 06:44:48 pm
Kudos.  You make great teaching videos.  Straight to the point, short, and snappy. 

WOW!  Over 100,000 views of this thread!  I hope that it has helped folks to learn more about how to use an oscilloscope.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: hopski on December 16, 2016, 04:28:53 pm
WOW!  Over 100,000 views of this thread!  I hope that it has helped folks to learn more about how to use an oscilloscope.
Thanks for the great video's heliping me to brush up on my very rusty "scopemanship"    :-+
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: capsicum on March 03, 2017, 01:06:37 am
Very nice, I like the alternate take though. (at the other club, easier to see and hear, though the guy mumbling near the mic was off-putting[just a personal annoyance])
Now I need some digital scope education, like how much storage should i look for for practical use cases, and what to do with bus-interpreter features(I2C, can, etc)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 03, 2017, 02:42:07 am
Deep memory mainly becomes an issue when you need long term captures of high frequency signals, where you need both long waveform times and high sample rate. How often do you need that? Depends on what you do. The scope on my bench has 20M record length. Most of the time I have it set to 10k record length. Occasionally I'll dial it up to 100k or 1M, but this is rare.

As for bus decode and triggering, this depends on what you're working with, and if you need to see the decode on your scope or have a need to trigger on a specific command. Note that there are inexpensive digital logic analyzers that can do decode on these various busses too.

The good news is that the luxuries of deep memory and bus decode/triggering are available in scopes and instruments that won't completely break the bank anymore.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: phliar on March 24, 2017, 07:26:59 pm
Another thank you note from someone who has (I think...) watched every video you've made -- thanks Alan!

I'm in the software biz, but (a long time ago) they did teach me electronics as an undergrad -- including using a 20 MHz single-trace scope with all lettering in cyrillic. I wish I'd paid more attention back then... youth is wasted on the young!

Anyway I found your channel with your excellent video on I-Q signals and mixing. Another great video -- all of your videos are excellent, not just the scope ones. Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on March 24, 2017, 07:52:16 pm
Another thank you note from someone who has (I think...) watched every video you've made -- thanks Alan!

I'm in the software biz, but (a long time ago) they did teach me electronics as an undergrad -- including using a 20 MHz single-trace scope with all lettering in cyrillic. I wish I'd paid more attention back then... youth is wasted on the young!

Anyway I found your channel with your excellent video on I-Q signals and mixing. Another great video -- all of your videos are excellent, not just the scope ones. Keep up the good work!

Thank you for the nice comments - much appreciated.  To make it easier to peruse my videos, I maintain a complete hyperlinked index file, arranged numerically and by topic.  It's a PDF file, so easily searchable for the keywords you're interested in.  The latest copy can always be found here:
http://www.dorkage.com/youtube/W2AEW_video_index.pdf (http://www.dorkage.com/youtube/W2AEW_video_index.pdf)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: PCBEnthusiast on April 08, 2017, 11:47:03 am
Hi,

I am pretty new to electronics and just wondering if it is a worth while investment to purchase a oscilloscope? I don't need anything too fancy but if anyone can give me any links or personal recommendations on some cheap oscilloscopes that would be great!

Thanks,
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Keysight DanielBogdanoff on April 12, 2017, 10:35:01 pm
I am pretty new to electronics and just wondering if it is a worth while investment to purchase a oscilloscope? I don't need anything too fancy but if anyone can give me any links or personal recommendations on some cheap oscilloscopes that would be great!

It depends on what you are planning on working with. If you ever need to see more than just "high" or "low" with a DMM, it's generally worth investing in an oscilloscope. You could also look at potential local maker spaces to see if they have one.

As for cheap oscilloscope recommendations, I'm (obviously) partial to the 1000 X-Series we just released: http://bit.ly/1000X-Series (http://bit.ly/1000X-Series)

But, if you browse this forum, you're certain to find tons of good advice on which oscilloscope is best for you. Good luck!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: nad007007 on July 03, 2017, 05:44:45 am
Very nice video for using an oscilloscope

Thanks
Conrad
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on July 05, 2017, 12:56:51 pm
Very nice video for using an oscilloscope

Thanks
Conrad

Thank you.  Check out my channel for dozens more videos (hundreds actually).  ;-)

Alan

Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: CaptainJinx on July 14, 2017, 05:07:17 am
Your delay time position video helped me out a ton with my 465! Thanks!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on July 14, 2017, 01:53:53 pm
Your delay time position video helped me out a ton with my 465! Thanks!

Thanks for the nice comment - glad it was helpful!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Purduephotog on October 21, 2017, 01:43:27 am
Is there anyway or anywhere this is offline- that I can download and take with me on the plane for 6 hours?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: bolovan on December 19, 2017, 12:52:09 pm
Hello,
I read the topic...but I can't find the answer (I miss?) for one question
I am very n00b in electronics...so I have a short question about osciloscopes:
I just both Rigol DS1054Z.
I set my probe to 1x and I set my zoom to 10mv/Division...thare are any damages to osciloscop if I have pulsesc of 10V?
I know that older oscilloscopes they have a mecanical zoom (swich circuits)...and if you put the horizonta/amplitute etc to 10mV/div and have a pulses of 10V...they will damage the input of the oscilloscope
A kind of situation: I probed a audio amplifier...and I wanted to see how is behaving at low signal output (around 2-3mV)...so I put zoom to 1mV/div. But I found that the amplifier had a 10V pules (due some malfunction of pream...). They can damage internal circuit of the oscilloscope?

Thanks for help
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: vk6zgo on December 20, 2017, 12:03:07 am
Hello,
I read the topic...but I can't find the answer (I miss?) for one question
I am very n00b in electronics...so I have a short question about osciloscopes:
I just both Rigol DS1054Z.
I set my probe to 1x and I set my zoom to 10mv/Division...thare are any damages to osciloscop if I have pulsesc of 10V?
I know that older oscilloscopes they have a mecanical zoom (swich circuits)...and if you put the horizonta/amplitute etc to 10mV/div and have a pulses of 10V...they will damage the input of the oscilloscope
A kind of situation: I probed a audio amplifier...and I wanted to see how is behaving at low signal output (around 2-3mV)...so I put zoom to 1mV/div. But I found that the amplifier had a 10V pules (due some malfunction of pream...). They can damage internal circuit of the oscilloscope?

Thanks for help

Highly unlikely to do any harm to the 'scope with voltages around 10v, certainly with an old analog instrument, & I'm fairly certain with the DS 1054z.
Mostly, you will just get a display which goes over-scale in the vertical direction.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: bolovan on December 20, 2017, 06:05:53 am
Thanks for info.
One of my problem was that I traced some singnals on old PLC with odd power source (48V)...and I had the probe on 1x...and the power stabilizer (a liniar one)  ...I pobed some circuits...and I went to smoke a cigar (bad habit)...in the time...the power stabiizier has broken and I had 48V in board...and also in oscilloscope (way off the scale). And something similar has happen 20 years (yea, I know...I am very very old...I still have whizzing in my years from big bang) a go to one of my friends...and the oscilloscope has broken.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: BergRD on January 19, 2018, 04:49:02 pm
Thank you for this video!

As someone, now aging and hasn't used a scope in a few decades; it helps a great deal!

A great video and start for someone just starting or trying to gain back what time has taken.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: CharlieEcho on January 25, 2018, 03:48:30 pm
Really appreciate all of W2AEW's videos! At least the twenty or so I've watched so far.  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on January 27, 2018, 03:01:54 pm
Really appreciate all of W2AEW's videos! At least the twenty or so I've watched so far.  :popcorn:

Well, you only have about 257 to go!  I hope you like the rest!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: bolovan on January 29, 2018, 09:07:53 am
@w2aew it will like the rest of the videos...trust me :D
P.S. By the way (and sorry for my terrible english and offtopic) ...I am n00b even between n00bs...but your videos are very well made (and even I was able to understand)...and there are incredible useful..please don't stop...and big big thanks
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: JorgeRamos1 on March 06, 2018, 01:40:27 pm
awesome tutorial  :-+
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Francesco Gozzo on June 16, 2018, 07:37:06 am
Hi W2aew and you guys all, I just so this posts and I will watch those videos. I was wandering but actually don’t know if it is necessary, if it could be possible to make a post dedicated to a complete list of things that should absolutely not be done with an oscilloscope and that could damage it. I saw an eevblog video on grounding vs oscilloscopes an found it very useful but would like to find out all the other risks if there are.  Let me know if it is useful and I will open a discussion here. Have a good day!


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Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 19, 2018, 02:27:35 am
Hi W2aew and you guys all, I just so this posts and I will watch those videos. I was wandering but actually don’t know if it is necessary, if it could be possible to make a post dedicated to a complete list of things that should absolutely not be done with an oscilloscope and that could damage it. I saw an eevblog video on grounding vs oscilloscopes an found it very useful but would like to find out all the other risks if there are.  Let me know if it is useful and I will open a discussion here. Have a good day!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There are really just two or three things to be careful of to prevent damage to your oscilloscope. 

Being cognizant of your scope's ground and your circuit's ground is one of them, and the topic is fully covered by Dave's video on the topic. 

Another is to be careful about overdriving the input of the scope.  Take notice of the maximum input signal levels (usually printed on the front panel next to the connectors).  Remember that using a 10x probe will allow you to measure larger voltages, but then you need to take a look at the maximum voltage ratings for the probe.  Also beware that there are different maximum voltage ratings for the scope's 50 ohm termination (if it has one) vs. the 1Mohm input termination.

If you have an analog/CRT type scope, you want to be careful not to burn the phosphor on the CRT via excessive brightness, or using XY mode and leaving a single "dot" in one spot for a long period of time.

Oscilloscopes are generally more physically fragile than something like a DMM, so care should be taken not to drop them of have them get battered about.

These are probably the most common things to be aware of.  Other than that, scopes are pretty robust instruments.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on June 21, 2018, 03:28:16 pm
Here's another take at this talk.  This recording was done at a local ham radio club meeting.  It is slightly updated from the original video that started this thread in that it also includes basic information about digital scopes as well.  The presentation is entitled "Basics of Oscilloscope and their Use in the Hamshack".  However, this video is only "Part 1", covering the basics of oscilloscopes. 

The club used several cameras during the recording, so I think the final product came out quite well.  Video is a little over an hour long:

http://youtu.be/Xqz63nmXf84 (http://youtu.be/Xqz63nmXf84)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: 0xff7 on June 25, 2018, 01:42:21 am
Thank you so much for uploading and sharing this!!! As a noob that is teaching myself through various online resources and experimentation I very much look forward to watching this


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Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Discotech on August 19, 2018, 01:08:39 pm
However, this video is only "Part 1", covering the basics of oscilloscopes. 

Is there going to be a "part 2" or did they not film resuming from their break where the video ends ?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on August 20, 2018, 03:57:34 pm
However, this video is only "Part 1", covering the basics of oscilloscopes. 

Is there going to be a "part 2" or did they not film resuming from their break where the video ends ?

There will be a part 2, showing a few examples of oscilloscope usage in the ham radio shack.  This part talks about using a scope as a RF station monitor (transmit rf envelope), as a TDR to measure coax length, impedance, etc., and measuring unknown inductors and capacitors.  These are all topics that I've covered more extensively in previous videos on my channel.  They are still editing the meeting video recordings.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: timber23 on February 18, 2019, 08:23:22 pm
Thank you very much for your tutorials. Its a nice overview and nice explenation  :-+
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Km on February 21, 2019, 10:17:15 am
very detailed imformation  8)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: mohammed al jamal on March 05, 2019, 08:43:28 am
thanx informative
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: DSE_Kid on May 06, 2020, 10:23:43 am
Brilliant stuff!  :-+
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: K5_489 on August 23, 2020, 03:25:26 am
Wow...I'm 40 years old now, have been on the internet for over 20 years, and this is, seriously, the very first time I've signed up for a forum with a specific question/need in mind which was actually answered by an easily found sticky post.  Well, at least I assume it will be..just registered a few minutes ago, and haven't yet watched the video, but based on the contents list, I believe it either will be or will at least get me much closer to an answer.  Specifically questioning what a large impedance mismatch between 'scope probe and 'scope input will mean.  I have a Tek 222PS 'scope with a 333.3K input impedance, the proper probes have long since become unobtanium, but I have a bunch of 1M impedance probes on the bench. 

I'm definitely looking forward to finding some time to watch the video here :) 
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: L/C/R Putzer on September 07, 2020, 03:56:48 am
I read that Tektronix probes have a designed center conductor that is not a straight wire, but may have twists and bends for probe compensation. Besides the compensation adjustment.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Figaro on October 25, 2020, 12:33:40 pm
w2aew Alan Wolke, best teacher ever, professtional video's, Detailed , Every word to the point (all being said in short time)
Clear langauge (important for those whom English is not thier mother language), Nice pleasend quite voice, No ego ! Please if you meet him at the club, tell him this.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: casterle on December 20, 2020, 06:10:08 pm
Armin - if you are interested in analog troubleshooting, I would highly recommend the "Troubleshooting Analog Circuits" book by Robert A. Pease.  Bob Pease just recently was killed, a tremendous loss to the Analog Design community.  Thankfully, he was a prolific writer, with a regular column (Pease Porridge) in the Electronic Design magazine.
I'm an old guy just getting started in analog - I hadn't heard of Mr. Pease before, so thank you for the introduction to this remarkable man.

Here's a link to a large collection of his writings:http://doc.xdevs.com/doc/_Lab/ (http://doc.xdevs.com/doc/_Lab/)
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Mace_Hacker on March 04, 2021, 04:42:37 pm
Thank you!!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: rpiloverbd on February 12, 2022, 12:27:22 pm
Wish it was available during my University days....
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: furnacemike on May 16, 2022, 03:26:47 am
Very cool! I have to watch this video! I'm kind of new in electronics and Oscilloscopes are a little intimidating. I actually bought a Hantek DSO5072P last year but I still haven't gotten to try it out yet.
Mike
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: armandine2 on July 30, 2022, 10:41:38 am
I have just dipped my toe in today with some practical scope training, by the arrival of my first digital bench oscilloscope.

A bit of queasy purchase, as getting the right price point,  brand, and model as a beginner is not without risk of disappointment.

At the moment though I'm happy enough with my decision of GW Instek MDO-2302A.

picture shows a ringing trace from my Keysight AWG at 4V pk-pk 2kHz square wave input.


Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on August 02, 2022, 03:26:43 pm
Congrats!  Ringing mostly due to the test lead inductance and unterminated output.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: armandine2 on August 02, 2022, 04:35:12 pm
Thanks for the pointer

How much is a measurement artefact and how much is the signal must be a recurring issue with analogue, I guess.

Ed.
Have just checked the original photo - 50ns per division

looks like a good excuse to do a calculation

Ed.
and of course ringing goes away with a bnc-to-bnc cable
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: w2aew on August 03, 2022, 02:50:56 pm
...and you've learned a valuable lesson on the detrimental effects of test lead (and ground lead) inductance. 

This video has some additional detail and examples:
https://youtu.be/zodpCuxwn_o
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: armandine2 on August 03, 2022, 04:25:09 pm
yes, I kinda knew the good  and poor probe techniques before and I kinda knew that equipment doesn't always produce great square waves. Definitely a learning point in the degree of those two, for me.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: LOTO instruments on February 01, 2023, 01:49:09 am
Thumbs up!
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Sunnysingh241 on April 27, 2023, 12:52:39 pm
Hello everyone,
I am into robotics and electronics from quiet a while and I am going to buy an oscilloscope. I have a question that is I do mostly robotics using arduino and raspberry Pi and electronics project like fm and some other projects and I am also intersed in making my own microcontroller board so which scope should I buy.
A two channel Or a four channel. I have one model in my mind. The siglent sds1052dl+(500msps). Will this be enough for me.
And in general what's the lifespan of an dso
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Grandchuck on April 27, 2023, 04:35:00 pm
The Siglent is a good choice and you should go for the 4-channel model if you can afford to.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: LogicalDave on April 28, 2023, 01:31:16 pm
Adding my email response to this thread so others can view/comment:

The SDS1052DL+ (USD$289) doesn't seem competitive (price or features) with several Rigol scopes including:
The Rigol scopes seem to offer superior features in every area including bandwidth, time-base accuracy, serial bus analysis (something you will probably appreciate in your application), memory depth, etc.  I simply don't see any advantage to the Siglent scope you are considering.  I have nothing against Siglent and have several pieces of their equipment including a SA/VNA and SG...I just don't see the particular scope you are considering as offering a good value when compared with the Rigol scopes.  I have had good experiences with Rigol, Siglent, and Owon; you have a wealth of good choices.

Also, the vendor I linked to above (TEquipment) sometimes offers a small discount to EEVblog members; it's worth asking if you're going to buy from them; I have purchased from them before and had good experiences.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: armandine2 on June 05, 2023, 07:47:03 am
space was at a premium - yesterday - testing my perf-board common emitter stabilized transistor amplifier

so I had to face the Hantek 2C42 user interface , eventually getting a good setup.

My low voltage gain (I now realise) was probably down to not soldering the 100uf emitter cap in circuit  :palm:
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: armandine2 on November 23, 2023, 07:30:12 am
... a long night with Hantek to get Lissajous theory and practice to agree, as we know they must.

... it turns out triggering the Hantek for X-Y mode was a pita. And the frequency generator must be in internal sync to get a circle.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: lieinking on December 17, 2023, 10:44:26 pm
I was going to post another thread but think this is okay here. I'm just starting electronics. I've been messing with capacitors and output signals from an arduino and would like to see the wave forms. That's pretty much all I would want an oscilloscope for right now. I don't know how long I'll continue the hobby so don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on equipment until I'm invested. Is there anyway around buying an oscilloscope or paying so much?
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: Grandchuck on December 18, 2023, 01:08:46 pm
You do not have to spend hundreds of pounds.  Look around and you will find many, many inexpensive offerings.  Also, used scopes can be great buys.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: xrunner on December 18, 2023, 01:31:05 pm
You do not have to spend hundreds of pounds.  Look around and you will find many, many inexpensive offerings.  Also, used scopes can be great buys.

 :-+

Is there anyway around buying an oscilloscope or paying so much?

The term "paying so much" is very subjective. What is the budget you are allowing yourself? You can get a used 20 MHz analog scope for under $150.

If "paying so much" means $25 to you, then you will have a hard time getting one.  :-//
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: radiohomebrewer2000 on March 24, 2024, 03:26:06 pm
Is there a tutorial video out there of someone showing how to do a stable measure of a AC waveform on an oscilloscope?

Really, a radio frequency wave - say about 2 MHz, 5 MHz, or 7 MHz.

I am interested in the numerical frequency and voltage. 

More specifically, I would like to measure a VFO or oscillator of a transceiver like a NorCal 40B CW Transceiver Kit.  There are various test points already on the PCB you can use to test.  However, using my old HP scope or my new Siglent scope, the measurements bounce around.

Here is a topic on EEVBlog already. 
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/how-to-get-a-stable-measure-of-v-and-freq-using-an-oscilloscope-on-a-vfo/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/how-to-get-a-stable-measure-of-v-and-freq-using-an-oscilloscope-on-a-vfo/)

I was just wondering if someone has a video or tutorial already of this scenario.

My old scope is a HP 54600B 100 MHz 2-channel digital scope from the early 1990s.
My new scope is a Siglent SDS814X HD 100 MHz 4-channel digital scope - this scope has a hardware frequency counter; however, it still requires a few seconds to display a stable measurement for the frequency.

In the link above, there was some good suggestions like using the average to get a stable reading.  Or add more periods.  Or create an inductor that has a few turns.   I do not think just getting the probe near the test point will work.   I have to touch the test point with the probe to get a reading.   If I want a stable frequency reading, I can hook it up to my old HP frequency counter.  But I just rather do it all in my scope.

There are "trigger" options in an oscilloscope, but I am clueless about them.   Besides, the wave form seems to display OK - stable.  It is the numerical readings I am interested in here.

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Oscilloscope training class (long)
Post by: shabaz on March 24, 2024, 04:08:03 pm
Connecting anything to the output of the VFO will load it slightly, so it's not possible to precisely set it to a frequency using that method. However, you can use the scope to trim any adjustments in your circuit to see when the 'scope shows a signal that isn't weak and collapsing (such circuits will oscillate well in a range, and the output may collapse at extremes).
It probably won't look like an ideal sine-wave, this is OK. If you really want a voltage measurement, then even a peak-to-peak measurement (using cursors or automated measurements, either will be fine, there's no need for accuracy) is sufficient (I've not checked your documentation to see if p-p is what is being asked). If (say) the documentation says to adjust to 500mV p-p, then if it is 450mV or 550mV makes little difference.
If the measurement is very low, it may well collapse and produce unstable results. But there's a very good chance the unstable results are from a triggering issue. A screenshot/capture from your 'scope will help to narrow that down.

Once you're in the ballpark frequency based on what you've measured on the 'scope (automated measurements, but do a sanity check using cursors too, or with calculator and eyeballing it), and once the amplitude is in the ballpark you are expecting, then you could remove the 'scope, and then try to tune in your receiver to a known frequency transmission, and then fine-tune based on what you hear.

The screenshots below show two example 'scope traces for a particular VFO (different to your design, i.e. not related to that attached schematic) set to a center frequency, and to an extreme frequency.

Notice how the right-side screenshot looks more like a sinewave. However, that right-side screenshot actually shows a lower amplitude (see the volts per div setting on the screenshot), and and it is unstable (see the fuzziness on the trace).
The left side screenshot is actually the better setting. There, the amplitude is higher, and the signal is stable. The actual shape of it is less important, because it is normal for there to be harmonics that will cause that misshapeness.