Electronics > Beginners

Best oscilloscope for beginer

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tggzzz:

--- Quote from: rstofer on December 26, 2018, 11:57:58 pm ---
--- Quote from: tggzzz on December 26, 2018, 10:00:21 pm ---The OP doesn't have a scope.

It is worth him considering whether a big expensive hammer is the best tool for inserting screws, or whether a cheap and nasty screwdriver would be sufficient.

Fleabay has USB logic analysers for £5 upwards; some might be suitable for the job - and would certainly be a useful (and cheap) learning tool.

--- End quote ---

Logic analyzers can do exactly one job - monitor digital signals.  In fact, depending on the sampling rate, they may not do a good job of that either.  I want to know the setup time between the falling edge of CS' and the first clock - for SPI.  Given a fast SPI and a relatively slow LA, both signals will show up simultaneously and this just isn't a fact.

Scopes do the setup time measurement with ease.  In fact, they also do a lot of things outside the digital domain, like monitor an ADC input for noise and value.  It's a lot easier to see a PWM pulse change width on a scope than it is on a LA.  It's pretty much real-time.

Both have their uses but the scope is a lot more useful.  I do use a LA from time to time on FPGA projects where things are going pretty fast and there's a lot of signals to view but I use it about 1/1000 as often as my scope(s).

--- End quote ---

Well yes, but... for the sake of argument I will make these counter-points - with my tongue slightly (but not firmly) in my cheek.

Scopes can do exactly one job - monitor a very few analogue signals.  In fact, depending on the signal bandwidth and number of signals, they may not do a good job of that either.  I want to know the setup time and hold times for signals relative to their clock. Scopes can do that, but given modern logic and a relatively slow scope, both will will show up simultaneously and this just isn't a fact. And with modern logic, a suitable scope will be more expensive than a logic analyser.

A logic analyser can observe many dozen signals, not demanding my attention when nothing interesting is happening (i.e. most of the time). Then, when an interesting and complex event has happened, it captures and displays only the interesting information leading up to and following on from the event.

Both have their uses but the LA is a lot more useful. I do use a scope from time to time on digital projects to measure signal integrity. Once that's assured, I use the logic analyser to filter out the boring crap in the dozens of digital signals that are important. Scopes can do a bit of that, but the triggering and filtering are primitive compared to a logic analyser, so overall I use a scope 1/1000 of the time that I use a logic analyser and printf statements.

But seriously, it is "horses for courses" - choose the best available tool for the particular job.

tggzzz:

--- Quote from: jazper on December 27, 2018, 12:49:55 am ---I apologise if I offended anyone, I did not mean to throw stones. I don't profess to be an expert in this field, just a somewhat seasoned amateur.

--- End quote ---

You certainly have not offended me :)

You have done some research and made some thoughtful comments. There may be a difference of opinion or a different bias, but that is life!

james_s:
Siglent and Rigol both have their rabid fans and haters, either one will likely meet your needs though. Look at the features they offer, read reviews, think about what your needs are and then choose one, chances are you'll be happy with whichever one you choose. Spend the time to learn to use it properly.

BravoV:

--- Quote from: james_s on December 27, 2018, 06:08:29 am ---Siglent and Rigol both have their rabid fans and haters, either one will likely meet your needs though.

--- End quote ---

+1 , when you are confused and also have two camps constantly in fight, just toss a coin and pick side, you will rarely wrong.  >:D

beanflying:
This thread made me get the first scope I owned out and put it up for sale. I used scopes at Secondary School and Uni and then 'made do' without one for 20+ years. If I really needed to use one I dropped around to a mates to use his.

Enter the Hantek6022BL (scope/logic) into my life better than nothing but limited in a lot of ways and I still found myself heading to my mates from time to time. What it gave me was an easy way to flick it on and confirm what I thought was happening actually was (sanity checker) If you only want to have a go and do some learning along the way these are a cheap way in. Or as you are most likely not in Greenland  ::) a decent secondhand analogue 2 channel would be similar money 20 or preferably 60-100mHz.

Then when you sort out if you really need one and what you need you can buy the right one with a good idea of features.

As to Siglent vs Rigol don't! Buy a Micsig  ;D

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