Rigol 1054Z (or any DSO) Training for the Non-Engineer

[HopWorks]

Greets All!

I watched a number of Dave's videos about the Rigol 1054Z, and am reading the manual and experimenting. Does anybody have any links or recommendations for books on using a DSO?

As I stated in the thread topic, I am not an engineer at all but I have worked with numerous MCU's and software languages on a few IDE's. I bought this cost-effective beast of an entry-level scope to help me diagnosing signal issues with protocols SPI, I2C, One-Wire, and RS232. I have had some luck with the scope but would like to progress through either videos or a book on how to use it for so much more, and to make more use of it.

Experimentation has taught me much, but I would like my hand held by someone more experienced. Google searches on the Rigol 1054z mostly turn up how to hack it, how it compares to other scopes, and is it a good scope for the buck. It's an exhausting search I perform daily. I am hoping someone here can help me find what I am looking for.

Then I can post questions about noisy signals, etc. I do not want to until I have some idea what I am talking about or how I can fix that on my own.

Thank you sincerely for your time! EEVBLOG IS AWESOME! Many of my hurdles have been breached watching videos and reading your posts!! THANKS!

[metrologist]

There has been mention of a tektronix course involving an arduino to create test signals. You will have to search or someone will post better info.

[rstofer]

There's a sticky at the top to an Oscilloscope training class.

Here's the Tek course:
http://www.tek.com/lab-course/learn-digital-oscilloscope-operations-using-arduino-board-dut-signal-generator

[HopWorks]

Actually found a great post here about using oscilloscopes and in the same category. Of course, I see this only after I post for guidance. I will go through it to further my knowledge.

In the meantime, if any engineers have any suggestions about where they once went to learn about digital sampling oscilloscopes, I would appreciate you sharing!

And, don't need or want it to forward a career, but seeking a higher education and considering Electrical Engineering. Just to gain the knowledge and push forward with embedded technology. I wish a college education today was as cheap as when I was a kid though. Another hurdle to breach.

[rstofer]

You can get a good start on EE at a community college.  It's not free but it is a lot cheaper than a state college or university.

[tautech]

Does anybody have any links or recommendations for books on using a DSO?

Yep, EEVblog.

It's an exhausting search I perform daily. I am hoping someone here can help me find what I am looking for.

You've nearly found it yourself:
www.eevblog.com/episodes/

Actually found a great post here about using oscilloscopes and in the same category. Of course, I see this only after I post for guidance. I will go through it to further my knowledge.

In the meantime, if any engineers have any suggestions about where they once went to learn about digital sampling oscilloscopes, I would appreciate you sharing!

Storage, not sampling: Digital Storage Oscilloscope.

I wish a college education today was as cheap as when I was a kid though. Another hurdle to breach.

Not required for correct scope use.

So you know where the 1054Z vids are but really why don't you think these vids aren't VERY relevant to the knowledge that you seek ? 
https://www.eevblog.com/2016/09/25/eevblog-926-introduction-to-the-oscilloscope/
https://www.eevblog.com/2016/05/10/eevblog-878-oscilloscope-high-res-vs-average-modes/
https://www.eevblog.com/2015/08/10/eevblog-778-oscilloscope-vertical-confusion/
https://www.eevblog.com/2014/04/10/eevblog-601-why-digital-oscilloscopes-appear-noisy/
https://www.eevblog.com/2014/04/27/eevblog-610-why-digital-scopes-appear-noisy-part-2/
https://www.eevblog.com/2013/03/23/eevblog-442-analog-vs-digital-oscilloscope-noise/
https://www.eevblog.com/2012/11/19/eevblog-387-how-to-stop-oscilloscope-trigger-jitter/
https://www.eevblog.com/2012/05/18/eevblog-279-how-not-to-blow-up-your-oscilloscope/

These by any means aren't all you need to watch but they will make you ask more questions......all good. 

[danadak]

Here are some ap notes, some older, non DSO, but many principles the
same and applicable to DSOs.


https://1drv.ms/f/s!Al2JgiX7_qf0hyat9OFh-03NUodi


Regards, Dana.

[HoracioDos]

I'm not an EE too and I had some issues using a DSO. I still have one related to probes and these replies have been very helpful to me. I'm very grateful for the help I've received.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/very-basic-oscilloscope-questions/msg1121679/#msg1121679

[HopWorks]

Thank you everyone for the replies! That filled up my next week for reading and experimenting. The suggestion about community college for EE was solid and I am exploring that. It is a fascinating field of study and I am excited about the "Oh yeah, I didn't think of that" doors it will unlock for me. Most of my expertise is in coding but I am not satisfied with just understanding the ones and zeroes. I want to know and understand about the heart of electricity at the core of my designs.

This is where embedded systems enthusiasts like me fail all the time. Where a MCU fails or acts erratically because a decoupling capacitor was not used on supplied power, or the high capacitance of a bread board affects communications, analog measurements, etc. Understanding of electricity and ohms law is in my opinion paramount when designing these multi-system prototypes, locating device placement, etc.

I got my Rigol to show me what I needed. Again thank you all for your time and replies! I plan to try to learn something new using it each day.

Thank you tautech for clarifying DSO for me. I just assumed that "S' was sampling. This will prevent me looking more like an idiot in future posts. 

[ez24]

From this list:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/other-blog-specific/dd/msg1093983/#msg1093983

Is this link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/KeysightOscilloscope

[mikeys]

w2aew's "Scopes for Dopes" might be worth a watch, I haven't seen it myself but his other videos are good

[Brumby]

This is very good direction...

So you know where the 1054Z vids are but really why don't you think these vids aren't VERY relevant to the knowledge that you seek ? 
https://www.eevblog.com/2016/09/25/eevblog-926-introduction-to-the-oscilloscope/
https://www.eevblog.com/2016/05/10/eevblog-878-oscilloscope-high-res-vs-average-modes/
https://www.eevblog.com/2015/08/10/eevblog-778-oscilloscope-vertical-confusion/
https://www.eevblog.com/2014/04/10/eevblog-601-why-digital-oscilloscopes-appear-noisy/
https://www.eevblog.com/2014/04/27/eevblog-610-why-digital-scopes-appear-noisy-part-2/
https://www.eevblog.com/2013/03/23/eevblog-442-analog-vs-digital-oscilloscope-noise/
https://www.eevblog.com/2012/11/19/eevblog-387-how-to-stop-oscilloscope-trigger-jitter/
https://www.eevblog.com/2012/05/18/eevblog-279-how-not-to-blow-up-your-oscilloscope/

These by any means aren't all you need to watch but they will make you ask more questions......all good. 

This will guide you through what sort of things you can do with scopes - in general.  This is an essential part of the learning process.  You then take these lessons and find out how to use them on your scope - or find out that your scope does not have that functionality.  Very useful for your next scope purchase.

It's like learning how to drive.  Your objective is to learn how to drive a motor vehicle.  Getting the best out of your Toyota Camry comes after that.