Electronics > Beginners
Best Oscilloscope for complete beginner?
David Cutcher CEG:
I am developing an online course, for the complete beginner.
In the second module, as I introduce digital, I also introduce an oscillating circuit and oscilloscopes to visualize what's happening. In my book, Electronic Circuits for the Evil Genius 2nd ed 2010 - I use an online freeware and we build our own probe.
BUT . . . prices and size have plummeted. Now some scopes are less expensive than an adequate soldering station.
What can this audience recommend - for beginners, introducing concepts, ideally 2 channel. Inexpensive.
Discussion ended up with GYRO referring me to this EEVBLAB
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/owon-vds1022i-quick-teardown-(versus-the-hantek-6022be)/
all about the OWON VDS1022i. Looks good.
And I've ordered one.
David Cutcher "Certified Evil Genius"
rstofer:
This is debated every week, give or take a couple of days. Here in the Beginner's forum and also in the Test Equipment forum.
The Rigol DS1054Z usually heads the list as it is more mature but the Siglent 1104X-E is gaining ground. Personally, I would look at the 200 MHz version, the 1204X-E but it is expensive. The 1104X-E can be unlocked to get 200 MHz bandwidth, details elsewhere.
I have the Rigol and it works fine for me. There are complaints about the speed of the UI (and they're valid) but I don't spend all that much time twiddling knobs compared to watching the display. So what if I save 50% time on a 1% operation?
The Siglent is supposed to be much more responsive but I don't have one.
However...
I think a better solution for a newcomer is the Digilent Analog Discovery 2 because it has 2 AWG channels, 2 differential scope channels, a dual power supply (very limited current) plus 16 digital IO pins that can be used as a logic analyzer with protocol decoding. Digilent has a course (Real Analog) based on this gadget.
The AD2 is an electronics lab in a small package and, no matter what, a 27" display is bigger than a 7" display.
A newcomer can get a lot farther into electronics with a much smaller investment if they consider the AD2.
Check the specs:
https://store.digilentinc.com/analog-discovery-2-100msps-usb-oscilloscope-logic-analyzer-and-variable-power-supply/
rsjsouza:
Whatever rstofer mentioned, with an addendum:
If the target audience is severely cash strapped and you are working with audio, you can also check one of the toy oscilloscopes on the web:
* The JyeTech DSO138 is dirt cheap and comes both assembled and in kit form. May be a great path to also introduce soldering. :)
* The JyeTech DSO150 has more or less the same characteristics as above but in a more compact form.
* The Daniu DSO188 with 1MHz and 5MSPS is a much upgraded version of the previous one. I couldn't find a kit form, but it is still quite cheap.
What do you lose when using one of these? Apart from the performance features themselves, you lose the look and feel of using a real tool. On the other hand, assembling your own tool gives some extra reward points (for the DSO138).
Gyro:
In that case, I'm going to throw the VDS1022 into the mix - you get two channel, 25MHz, 100Msps, low cost and the 27" (pc) screen. :)
P.S. If you're introducing digital then don't forget the $10 ebay 8 channel USB logic analyser.
David Cutcher CEG:
Thank you for this,but for my audience, these tools would be like giving them a Fluke DMM and then showing them how to do continuity.
My expectation is that they will get better tools if they choose to progress.
David Cutcher "Certified Evil Genius"
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