Electronics > Beginners

Does a DSO scope sweep from left to right and how a trigger stabilizes a signal?

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james_s:
Who said anything about going out and buying one? Spending an hour playing around with one is fine, or pick up and old one for little or nothing. Why do you think an analog scope is likely to fail? I still have a few of them around that work fine, I still use my 465b now and then. I've given away two different analog scopes over the past few years, it's not that hard for a noob to find one for little or nothing and when they finish they can give it to some other beginner. A good usable CRO is literally cheaper than a lot of books and likely at least as educational.

hamster_nz:
I would caution taking some of the earlier advice to get an analog scope to heart - they are honest opinions and all, but a car analogy is in order.

Qn: Hi! I want to buy a car, but not too sure if I need one with Electronic ignition and Traction control or not. Actually I don't understand traction control. Does it apply brakes to each wheel, or does it control the throttle?

Answer: I suggest you buy a older second hand model, before they had all these computers aids. You need to learn how to drive a real car before you get one into one of these modern ones. You will understand so much more about how they work, and how drive them properly. You can even pick up a really nice second hand one, even some real classics, dirt cheap!.

Or maybe you like biking:

Qn: I'm thinking of buying a full suspension mountain bike. I really don't understand about four-pivot rear suspensions - what should I look for?

Answer: If you don't know what you want in a full suspension bike, then you are not ready to own one yet. You will appreciate it so much more if you use a fully rigid bike on the trails first. Once you are able to ride that properly you will know what to look for in your next bike. You can't buy this sort of bike any more, but you can even pick up what was a really nice one dirt cheap on eBay!.

I say:

If you have the budget to buy new, see if you can pick up a low-end DSO that stretches your budget a little higher than you would like to go. The budget models from reputable brands are exactly the same as budget models of cars and full suspension mountain bikes - not the nicest to use, they have modest specifications, but perfectly usable within their limitations. Premium brands are nice, but usually have premium prices - you get more for your $ from a second-tier brand.

Old analog scopes on auction sites are dirt cheap on auction sites for one reason -  because they are of little value. It hurts, but the market has speaks the truth - people who tell you otherwise have very different appreciation for the worth of these things from most, usually through nostalgia, passion,  or a "I learned so much using one of these, you can too!" kind of way.

If budget is a problem, buy a second-hand DSO. If you can't find one you can afford second hand it is because they have real utility and value above what you are willing to pay.

Sorry if I am typing cranky - it has been a really hot & trying day here!

Brumby:

--- Quote from: hamster_nz on January 10, 2019, 07:34:42 am ---I would caution taking some of the earlier advice to get an analog scope to heart - they are honest opinions and all, but a car analogy is in order.

--- End quote ---

I already gave one ...


--- Quote from: Brumby on January 10, 2019, 05:02:50 am ---Yeah - but we still like people to learn how to drive competently before we throw them into Nascar or F1.

... and they might be a little less freaked about it too.

--- End quote ---

... which was far more appropriate than "traction control".




--- Quote from: hamster_nz on January 10, 2019, 07:34:42 am ---Sorry if I am typing cranky - it has been a really hot & trying day here!

--- End quote ---

Yeah, I can understand that.  A few days ago I'd have been the same.

fsr:
Well, a DSO has more features, but shouldn't be a problem to learn to use one, without previous analog scope experience.
The DSO is a computer displaying a waveform in it's screen. So, the signal isn't drawn in the screen directly like in an analog scope, it's sampled to memory and then drawn in the screen. If the signal is really slow, it uses roll display (at least the gw-instek does that).
The signal is in memory, so that the trigger point is in the middle, you can move it, you can trigger once or manually and still explore the full captured signal on memory, etc (trigger has to be in manual mode for that, auto mode will trigger itself periodically after a timeout even if the signal doesn't trigger the scope).

rstofer:

--- Quote from: Brumby on January 10, 2019, 05:02:50 am ---
--- Quote from: rstofer on January 10, 2019, 03:38:58 am ---You know, we let people start with calculators these days, we don't force them to learn how to use a slide rule and then upgrade.  Times change!

--- End quote ---

Yeah - but we still like people to learn how to drive competently before we throw them into Nascar or F1.

... and they might be a little less freaked about it too.

--- End quote ---
NASCAR (at some levels) will allow drivers to be as young as 14 so there is no chance they have a driver's license.  Some leagues go as low as 12!

If the new driver has competence, it's because they got it on a track, not on the freeway.

Here's a young girl hitting 100 MPH on the straights and 80 MPH through the corners:
https://abcnews.go.com/WN/katie-brice-young-drive-nascar/story?id=10468298

The top 3 series for NASCAR (Trucks, Xfinity and Cup) have a minimum age requirement of 18 so presumably they have freeway experience.  Not that I think it would be useful sliding around Daytona at nearly 200 MPH.  There just isn't a lot of drift experience driving through town.

When I taught my grandson to drive, one of the very early lessons was entering a freeway at speed.  I taught him to use the "Punch It and Fry 'Em School of Driving" approach.  Just "Stand On It!"  The first entrance we ever made (unplanned) had us enter into the left lane.  Punch it!  Now!

I may be old but I still enjoy having the rear end step out from time to time.  My passengers?  Not so much!

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