This post is related to the selection of a 4 channel 100 MHz oscilloscope for my EE-STEM-Seeds project.
The attached spreadsheet compares about 40 Oscilloscope, most of which are 4 channel, 100 MHz bandwidth.
It includes most of the important specifications, and prices in US dollars as of June 2026.
There is an introduction here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/ee-stem-seeds-introduction/msg6279610/#msg6279610My goal is to select an oscilloscope with the following parameters:
- 100 MHz bandwidth
- 4 channels
- Supports SCPI control over USB or LAN
- Supports data export, either to a USB drive, or via USB or LAN connection
- Supports decoded display of at least UART, I2C, and SPI
- Supports triggering of these decoded protocols
- Available through well recognized distributors of Electronic test equipment or directly from the manufacturer
- Under $1000 USD, prefer about $600 to $700
- Bench style packaging, so no screen-less products, or boards that plug into a computer or require a computer connection
My personal bias is that combo instruments make trade-offs such that each function is not the best
performance for the price. Simple things like Digital Frequency Meter (and or counter) just require
some extra logic in the FPGA that the instrument already has. Digital Volt Meter requires analog
circuitry, but this is a solved design, and is typically just one chip. Where the added functionality
requires more effort, the trade-offs of the primary specs of the oscilloscope may be traded for
the added functionality, such as Logic Analyzer and Signal Generator (or usually an Arbitrary Function
generator). You end up with the vendors decision about which specs are most important. With separate
instruments, you can select the specifications for each.
As explained in my Introduction post, my initial plan is that 30 units will be purchased and
donated to high school students that are very active electronics enthusiasts, and this (and the rest
of the donated kit) will help give them the tools to enhance their learning, projects, and portfolio
of projects that precede their career in electronics. I would hope that the equipment provided would
be used for many years by the recipient.
I have a few requests for people reading this post. If you own one of the oscilloscopes in
the spreadsheet, could you please post a reply to this thread with the following information:
Manufacturer
Model
Length of time you have owned it
Average hours per week that you use it
A paragraph or two that describes the following:
- Overall ease of use
- Quality of the User manual
- If you use remote control software (SCPI), and typical use of this capability
- Ease of exporting screen images and waveform data
- Ease of use of measurement functions
- Do you use protocol decoders and triggers. Your overall impression of this functionality
- Responsiveness to changes in control settings (turning knobs)
- Does your instrument have other functions: Signal generation, Logic Analyzer, etc...
- Reliability (how many times has it needed repair over some number of years
- Support from the manufacturer, if needed
- Anything else you think would be helpful in my selection process
I plan to start separate threads for each of the topics (instruments) listed in my introduction
post, as well as exploring how to select students.
If you feel I have left something out of my kit contents, or have non-oscilloscope input
for me, please add it to the Introduction thread.
I look forward to all input and constructive criticism.
Philip Freidin
Oscilloscope Selection Research June 2026.xlsx (22.73 kB - downloaded 27 times.)
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