Electronics > Beginners
When to buy an oscilloscope ?
tggzzz:
--- Quote from: beanflying on January 15, 2019, 11:07:55 pm ---From the time I left Uni until I got my own scope was well over 20 years. At times not having one was a PITA and needed some educated guesses to fix a fault or drop around to a mates place to borrow his a few times a year.
Now I have had one on the bench I wouldn't not have one again but if it broke today Electronics wouldn't cease because of it (or maybe I should buy a second just in case ;) ). They are a great tool used properly but not essential to all people playing with electronics depending on where they play.
Recommendations to 'Buy Now' A over B but forget C from incomplete questions without knowing 'what' or if they really 'need' a product isn't an answer it is a sales pitch.
--- End quote ---
I agree with all of that; very sane.
But I question your TEA/GAS credentials if you only have one scope :)
beanflying:
I should have added a word 'buy a second 'working' one' I do have two waiting for some loving ::) ::)
tggzzz:
--- Quote from: beanflying on January 15, 2019, 11:40:24 pm ---I should have added a word 'buy a second 'working' one' I do have two waiting for some loving ::) ::)
--- End quote ---
You are forgiven :) Currently I only have a 465 in that queue.
rstofer:
I still think the decision is pretty easy. If a project has signals that wiggle, it's nice to be able to see them on a scope. Up until then, a DMM will do the job just fine.
It would be simple if we could just say DC circuits -> DMM, AC circuits -> Scope but there is that pesky experiment of a capacitor charging. It is taught in DC Circuits. It's not until AC Circuits that we worry about the frequency response, phase shift and roll-off. Assuming some kind of square wave input (astable 555?), watching the charge and discharge curves gives a lot of intuition to how timing circuits work.
beanflying:
No one has said not to buy an Oscilloscope. What I question is that you MUST have one and buy one NOW or ASAP no matter what it is.
Time and again the question of Brand A over B comes up from people not knowing what they need or want, they just 'know' from reading here or watching YouTube they need Item 'X' (Scope, DMM, Power Supply, Iron, widget....) because 'everyone' has one.
Sometimes WE need to ask WHAT the OP wants to do with Item X and is likely to do with it Long before giving a specific recommendation.
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