Products > Test Equipment
Picoscope- yay or nay?
RoGeorge:
I don't know about Picoscope, but if the beta software for Mac is the only problem, then install Ubuntu, or openSUSE, or maybe Windows, whatever you prefer, as a virtual machine (created with VirtualBox, or maybe with WMware, both free and both doing the same thing, don't know which one would be better for Mac).
Then, install and run the Picoscope software inside the Linux virtual machine you have just created.
Another advantage for using a virtual machine is that you can isolate the VM from Internet, so no risk for broken software caused by unwanted updates. Virtual machines can also be moved or duplicated on a different computer even with a different OS, offers snapshots for the case you want to mess with the VM OS, etc.
VMs are the best choice for something that is needed to just run, today or in 10 years from now, without messing with updates and without messing your current Mac install. Unless you run them, VMs are just files. When you run a VM, you have simultaneously your Mac and the VM running in the same time, as you would have two totally different PCs connected at the same display. And you can make as many VMs as you need.
You can try virtual machine before ordering the hardware, and see if it feats your needs.
Later Edit:
I was told neither VMware or VirtualBox work on M1 Mac.
adam4521:
I recently bought a used picoscope, mainly for extra protocol decoding and portability, and screen share scenarios, but also because the one on sale happened to be an MSO version. I think the v7 software when it is finished will work better across platform — I think they’ve built using .net, the Linux package downloaded some mono libraries and seems to work the same as the windows version. I find it comparatively clunky on the regular oscilloscope controls, but the ability to drag around the trigger position on the screen and zoom with the mouse wheel or drawing a box is actually quite nice. Also found nice options to choose linear or log axes on the FFT, and ‘window’ the protocol decode with the cursors (or rulers as picoscope call it). I discovered it was convenient to load up a test serial stream into the AWG, just by pasting 1s and 0s into the editor that I copied from the output of a python generator program.
In all, I agree there are pros and cons, not best for general purpose scope but ‘it can do stuff’.
Picoscope V7 can’t do XY mode yet. But for this to work at all well I imagine the scope has to be in ‘streaming mode’, which means comparatively slow sample speeds (mine maxes at 8.9MSa/s — edit, that’s for one channel, it will be slower for two). Can it keep the display going while streaming? Sounds difficult, maybe that’s why it’s not working yet!
Clever idea to use XY oscilloscope to overcome the broken display. But won’t you need to use an oscilloscope with ‘Z’ axis for blanking? Might be job for analogue oscilloscope.
Fungus:
--- Quote from: adam4521 on May 07, 2022, 07:27:47 am ---I find it comparatively clunky on the regular oscilloscope controls, but the ability to drag around the trigger position on the screen and zoom with the mouse wheel is actually quite nice.
--- End quote ---
Somebody needs to try a Micsig. :)
2N3055:
Yeah, Picos are controversial theme...
Instead of replying to individual things said, just a few answers in no particular order ..
1. Version 7 is on the way... It is missing X-Y mode and fast persistence mode at this time. Most of the other stuff is already at the level of old v6 software..
2. Many manufacturers simply ignore Mac, and some ignore Linux... It is not a political statement but a fact that those users are not the majority of buyers. Up until some years ago, there was no simple way to make cross compiled app with high performance graphics that is not a game.... That being said, Pico underwent huge project to rewrite their software from the scratch to make it that they have functional software for all 3 platforms, that will have full functional parity on all of them..
3. None of the digital scopes I ever tried had X-Y mode that was as fast and could completely replace CRT scope X-Y mode. For curve tracer stuff they are excellent, but for watching live video not really.. I also guess not many people use it for that nowadays..
4. Picoscopes are used a lot in an industry with custom code. Their API is well defined and well documented. Throughputs are orders of magnitude faster than usual SCPI transfers on any other standalone scope.
5. They support 30+ protocols decoders at this time..
6. Products are good quality and software upgrades are free.. I still have 12 bit parallel port ADC212. It still works and it was supported by software for 15+years. When I bought it there was not protocols decoding any many other functions..
With years it gained all these functions it didn't have at the purchase time...
7. Like somebody said, if you need 8 ch scope for power applications, there is nothing out there with as good a price..
etc..
Picoscopes are specific product. Some of them are not cheapest and some of them are very good price for the specific functionality. They are good, quality, product with great support. But they might not be what some people need..
voltsandjolts:
Portable USB scopes are the marmite (love it or hate it) of test equipment, and the picoscopes are the best of the bunch IMO.
I have the variable resolution 5000 series mso and find it to be a very versatile tool. I only use it on Windows.
I've tried V7 but went back to V6. The V7 interface is very washed out, like everything is baby blue or white. Looks like their programmer did the UI and I think it would benefit from a pro UI designer.
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