(N.B. two responses crossed in the æther!)
The test scenario drives the tool selection, not the other way around.
Can you give me an example?
That would be a neat comment, if there was a smiley afterwards
You need to supply the "use-case" examples, and only thereafter is it sensible to derive the tool selection.
The alternative is to find a way to use whatever is available. That's a valuable skill, but irrelevant to your question.
Touche! So how does a green horn get started then. There must be a multitude or infinite number of "use case examples" in which case it would seem to necessitate a university degree and/or substantial experience in the electronic industry to have the necessary mentoring & acquire the necessary skills. So where does that leave the ardent hobbyist!
Ask the right question. Giving the right answer is easy. Asking the right
question is more difficult – but is more interesting and rewarding. The answer to the right question will either cause you to go this way or that way, or will illuminate aspects that you didn’t even realise you needed to know.
Tell us your problem/goal, as well your solution. In most walks of life, technical or non-technical, if we know the reason for the question you will probably get a better answer. Either the answer will be more pertinent to your needs, or perhaps it can suggest a better alternative that you haven’t even considered. Don’t ask “Can you give me a lift into town?” Do ask “Can you give me a lift into town, so I can replace my broken frobnitz?”. The answer might be “There’s a spare frobnitz in the attic”, thus saving time, money, the environment – as well as making some space in the attic.
My hardware is a Siglent function generator (SDG1020) & Siglent digital oscilloscope (SDS1102CML). I also have a Keysight oscilloscope (EDUX1052G) on the way that utilizes training kits, so I am serious about learning but I may have bitten off more than I can chew given the sparse resources available at my beginner level..
No, you (probably!) haven't bitten off more than you can chew
I'm not familiar with precisely those pieces of equipment, but the generic principles will apply.
Set up the function generator to give a waveform.
Attach the scope and fiddle with the controls until you see a waveform [old CRT scope: use the beamfinder. modern digitising scope: cheat with the autosetup button]
Use eyeball to measure various parameters, to check they match what you are expecting. Use scope's automated measurement facilities for the same purpose.
Where there are differences between expected values and measured values: read equipment's specs, think, ask specific question.
Possible points of contention: amplitude (sig gen voltage assumes correct termination (50ohms), square wave risetime and overshoot.
Change waveform, rinse and repeat.
When you start to look at real UUTs:
- don't try to measure any mains-related values (e.g. SMPS inputs) without appropriate types of probe, lest there be a loud noise and smoke
- do understand how scope probes change measurements, both by affecting the UUT and because of their inherent characteristics
- never disconnect the scope's earth, since that is connected directly to the scope's case and the probes' shields
FFI, have a look at the references at
https://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/library-2/scope-probe-reference-material/Finally: have fun, safely.