Products > Test Equipment
Idiot-proof Beginner Oscilloscope for Audio and TV repair and fun
achugh:
Hi,
I am new and have no idea how to properly use scopes. My Samsung Plasma TV from 12 years ago finally stopped working. I bought a new TV as this one is quiet old and gave good value for its money.
Before I really throw this into dumpster, I thought it will be a really cool fun experiment to see if I can make it work again by taking some help from the community here.
I have read and seen beginners like me make a fool of connecting the ground part of the probe incorrectly followed by blown scope. Is there any scope out there which is idiot-proof, budget friendly, is popular with this community so someone like me can get help learning it from your experience? To avoid this grounding mistake, I have read to use either an isolation transformer; these are big and bit expensive; or use differential probes. Not every model comes with these differential probes and these probes when factored into any decent scope makes the whole kit an investment.
So do you have any recommendation for someone like me? For audio, video (mainly TV) repair which scope do you recommend and what features I should be looking into? Like, do I need UART decoder or MSO type unit with some signal generators in them, 100 MHz or 200 MHz frequency, ability to save data on USB drive or card or connect to computer etc.
As the sticky post says, there must have been lots of similar posts like this already. I hope the community can help one more time to share their experience as technology evolves and hence the pricing which changes the recommendations all the time.
Thanks in advance for your help.
tatel:
This one is dirty cheap, it would be enough to begin fooling around, after that you'll know quite a bit more and could make a much more informed purchase of a better model:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-toy()-scope-dso154pro-1ch-claimed-40mss/msg4531274/#msg4531274
Here you have a list of cheap portable oscilloscopes:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/portable-oscilloscopes-list/msg5194335/#msg5194335
You could also get one of these Owon HDS devices, these are quite a bit more serious:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/owon-hds-200-handheld-oscilloscope-w-builtin-dmmawg/msg3451228/#msg3451228
But if you just have too much money, one of the new siglent HD models would be the way to go:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sds800x-hd-review-demonstration-thread/msg5293741/#msg5293741
ebastler:
You don't write explicitly about your level of electronics knowledge in general. But given the fact that you have no experience with oscilloscopes, I will assume that the same applies to electronics design and repair overall.
If that is the case, learning how to use the oscilloscope is only a small part of the task ahead. And trying to repair a plasma TV is probably not the best starting point, given that it is not only mains-powered but uses even higher voltages inside, and that it uses highly integrated, complex and somewhat uncommon digital ICs.
If you are really interested in digging into this, one of the current 4-channel, 12-bit-ADC scopes would be a good choice. The 12 bit input section lets you look at analog signals in detail; the four channels and built-in decoders let you check serial buses like I²C and SPI. (Which are very commonly used, not only in consumer devices like TVs but also in beginner-friendly projects built around Arduinos and the like.)
The Rigol DHO804 is probably a bit more beginner-friendly than its counterpart from Siglent (SDS804X HD) due to its UI. But still, be prepared for an extended learning curve!
Edit: Oh -- and do not buy a battery-powered scope as a way to avoid the grounding "problem"!! Measuring on mains-powered devices with a scope that is not properly grounded can be very dangerous, especially for a beginner.
Edit²: Your earlier posts show that you have dabbled in electronics repairs a bit, know about the basic components, and have sustained the interest in electronics for at least the two years you have been on this forum, probably longer before that. That's great! Makes me feel better about the 12-bit/4-channel recommendation. As indicated by tatel, there are cheaper scopes. But given your sustained interest, I think starting with a "real" scope from Siglent or Rigol is warranted (if they fit your budget).
axantas:
Regarding the proper grounding and not to blow up your oscilloscope or other equipment, there is an excellent video from Dave here:
Aldo22:
I don't believe that there is an "idiot-proof" scope.
It's like bicycles: If you hit the wall, it hurts, no matter what bike you have. ;)
There are simply cheap scopes with a manageable range of functions.
As a first scope, this is quite OK and mistakes are not that expensive.
For example, the ZEEWEII DSO1C81
Once you have understood the basics, you can buy a "real" scope (Siglent, Rigol), a model that meets your needs (which you obviously don't know yet).
I wouldn't buy a "half-good" scope as a first scope.
Start with a really cheap one and then buy a good one.
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