Oscilloscope

2009-01-16T03:30:38Z

220.255.7.213: /* some low-cost oscilloscopes */

An '''oscilloscope''' (often abbreviated '''o'scope''' or '''scope''') displays signal voltages as a 2-D graph, usually as voltage (vertical axis) as a function of time (horizontal axis).

The ''probe'' of a o'scope is held against, or is clipped to, the metal wire carrying the signal of interest.

A '''dual-trace''' o'scope has 2 probes, so 2 different signals can be seen -- so not only the shape of the signal can be seen, but also the exact time from events on one signal to events on the other signal.

== techniques ==

Sometimes one wants to look at a 8-bit data bus -- typically one uses a "logic analyzer" to look at lots of time-aligned digital signals.
For a given number of signals to look at, oscilloscopes (which show the true analog waveform) are much more expensive than logic analyzers (which only show if a digital waveform is hi or low, above or below the logic threshold).
Many people buy both a (dual-trace) o'scope and a 16-trace logic analyzer, which together have a total cost less than one true 8-trace o'scope.

''... more techniques ...''

== open source oscilloscopes ==

Of course, you have to already have a working o'scope in order to build and test another o'scope, making this the same sort of chicken-and-egg problem as the [[Projects#RepRap | RepRap]] project, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Compiler_Collection GCC project], and other projects David Cary finds interesting.

=== open source oscilloscope: BitScope ===

* $550 BS100U: 2 analog inputs + 8 digital inputs, optically isolated, from BitScope Designs (MetaChip Pty. Ltd.) [http://bitscope.com/]. ("Scopal" third-party software is available[http://scopal.com/]). (open hardware).

=== open source oscilloscope: the MultiAnalyser ===

Some people on the PIClist have been discussing designing an open-source oscilloscope.

* I think initial discussions occured on the [http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=thread&id=%5BEE%5D+scope+project+anyone%3F&tgt=browse "[EE] scope project anyone?"] thread [http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=time&id=piclist\2004\09\17\111014a.txt] at PIClist.
* Later discussion moved to the [http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MultiAnalyser/ "MultiAnalyser" group at Yahoo]

=== are these open-source? ===

''(FIXME: get sampling rate and resolution)''
* K3PTO http://www.qsl.net/k3pto/ 8 bit
* [http://massmind.org/techref/scenix/sxoscope/index.htm Massmind: "SX based O’Scope"] by Alberto Geraci of BTX Sistemas
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/xoscope/ Sourceforge: xoscope] is a digital oscilloscope using input from a sound card or EsounD and/or a ProbeScope/osziFOX and will soon support Bitscope hardware.
* [http://www.baudline.com/what_is_baudline.html Baudline]is a signal analyzer designed for scientific visualization, using input from recorded data files or from a sound card.
* [http://www.semifluid.com/?p=9 "PIC12F675 Oscilloscope"]
* [http://zedomax.com/blog/2006/12/28/diy-hack-make-your-own-oscilloscope/ "DIY HACK - Make your own Oscilloscope"]

== some low-cost oscilloscopes ==

some low-cost oscilloscopes, in no particular order.
''... it would be nice to mention # of analog input channels, # of digital input channels, whether it can be used under Linux, does it have output channels ... price should (?) include 2 analog probes, ... is it open hardware? ... anything else?''

* price name comments
* $250 VT DSO-2810F,2x100MHz, with a Multi-Instrument Standard software license, which converts a PC into oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, multimeter, signal generator, data logger...it also supports sound card (both MME driver and ASIO driver), NI DAQmx cards, etc. [http://www.multi-instrument.com/] The software can be downloaded for 21-day fully functional trial with at least sound card at [http://www.multi-instrument.com/MIsetup.zip]
*$150 Poscope basic 2 from PoLabs [http://poscope.com/ PoLabs], 2 analog channels, 16/8 digital channels, PC USB oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, chart recorder, pattern generator, logic analyzer, PWM/ square generator
* $420 PicoScope 2202 from [http://picotech.com/ Pico Technology]([http://www.picotech.com/picoscope-2202.html ])([http://www.interwld.com/pico/pico-3000.htm ])([http://www.pc-oscilloscopes.com/3000.htm])
* $200 Hantek DSO-2090 USB PC Oscilloscope [http://www.beigly.com/catalog/hantek-dso2090-oscilloscope-p-96.html]
* $380.00 DSO2250 100MHz PC-SCOPE 250MS/s [http://world-educational-services.net/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=56&products_id=134&zenid=68c155f8ccc626c8d316e8417b32dc5d]
* CAN 219.99 Syscomp Electronic Design DSO-101 [http://syscompdesign.com/] (Syscomp supports the "[https://sourceforge.net/projects/oip The Open Instrumentation Project]" [http://syscompdesign.com/oip.htm])
* EUR 427 ETC s.r.o. M520 Oscilloscope [http://etcsk.com/]
* $222 ANT8 : 8 Channel Logic Analyzer (EasySync)[http://easysync-ltd.com/]
* $200 PS40M10 : Swordfish Hand-Held Instrument (1 channel) USB (EasySync)
* $220 DS1M12 : Stingray Multi-Function Instrument (2 channel) USB (EasySync)
* under $600 : [[Jameco]] has some actual stand-alone oscilloscopes for under $600.
* under $200 : Carl's Electronics has some stand-alone and PC-hosted (parallel port?) oscilloscopes for under $200.[http://www.electronickits.com/gold/gold.htm]
* $170 HobbyLab USB oscilloscope [http://hobbylab.us/USBOscilloscope/Home.htm]
* $500 DS1022C : 2 Channel, 25 MHz Rigol Technologies Inc.[http://rigolna.com/]
* $999 CS320A Cleverscope [http://cleverscope.com/] (has a discussion forum[http://cleverscope.com/forum/])
* $167 DrDAQ "data logger" (parallel port) from Pico Technology [http://www.drdaq.com/]
* $970 NI USB-5132 : USB digitizer from National Instruments [http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/203719]
* $139 Parallax USB Oscilloscope 2 analog inputs + trigger; 1 MS/s [http://parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/txtSearch/28014/List/1/ProductID/46/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName]
* $170 PC USB Oscilloscope DiSco (HobbyLab, LLC). 2 analog inputs ( 200 KHz ) + 16 digital inputs (or 8 digital inputs + 8 digital outputs). [http://hobbylab.us/]
* $150 ST16B 10 MHz stand-alone oscilloscope, 2 analog inputs [http://www.electronickits.com/gold/gold.htm]
* $190 VEPCS100 ( PCS100 ) - PC Based Oscilloscope; 1 analog input ( 12 MHz ); optically isolated from PC [http://www.electronickits.com/gold/gold.htm]
* $950 DSO-8502 USB Oscilloscope, 2 analog inputs (250MSa/s) + external trigger; 1 digital output (trigger out); buffer: 512K points/ch.[http://www.linkinstruments.com/oscilloscope85.htm]
* $799 DSO-8202 USB Oscilloscope, 2 analog inputs (200MSa/s) + external trigger; 1 digital output (trigger out); buffer: 128K points/ch.[http://www.linkinstruments.com/oscilloscope85.htm]
* $108 LabJack U3 USB data acquisition and control device, 16 analog inputs ( 12 bit, 2.5 KSa/s at 12 bit resolution, 50 KSa/s at 8 bit resolution), buffer: 984 samples, 2 analog outputs, digital outputs [http://www.labjack.com/labjack_u3.php]

''FIXME: [http://measurementcomputing.com/cbicatalog/directory.asp?dept_id=403 Measurement Computing] has some wireless and USB analog DAQ instruments -- add to the above list.''

''FIXME: [http://www.dataq.com/ DATAQ Instruments, Inc.] has some USB and Ethernet analog DAQ instruments -- add to the above list.''

''FIXME: [http://www.designnotes.com/ DesignNotes.com, Inc.] has some USB and handheld LCD o'scopes from [http://www.velleman.be/ Velleman]: [http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/product/list/?id=347914 Velleman oscilloscopes] -- add to the above list.''

EasySync[http://easysync-ltd.com/] is a distributor of RockyLogic's ANT8/etc products.

Test Equipment Solutions Today, Inc.[http://testsolu.com/] is a distributor of Rigol's DVM and oscilloscope products.

When you [http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?satitle=oscilloscope search eBay for oscilloscope], you might find some good deals.

== further reading ==

* other [[good equiptment to buy when getting started]]

== external links ==

* Keith has made a list of [http://www.techtravels.org/amiga/amigablog/?p=167 "PC USB logic analyzers that cost under $1000."][http://www.techtravels.org/tech/logicanalyzer.html], some of which can be used as an o'scope. ''Should I use the same $1000 price cut-off for the above list? Or perhaps double or halve it?''
* Brooke Clarke has posted a list of [http://prc68.com/I/PCO.html "PC based Oscilloscopes"]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscilloscope Wikipedia: oscilloscope]
* Other discussions of [http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?13,5086 "Cheap digital storage oscilloscope"]
* [http://www.ganssle.com/microscopes.htm The Ganssle Group reviews Inexpensive USB Scopes and Logic Analyzers]
* [http://massmind.org/techref/tools.htm Massmind: Tools] lists a few sources for a variety of tools used in electronics: o'scopes, logic analyzers, meters, waveform generators, etc.
* [http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/04/02/28/0041233.shtml Slashdot: "Cheap PC Oscilloscopes - Any Recommendations?"]
* [http://slashdot.org/askslashdot/01/12/07/191220.shtml Slashdot: "Building a Cheap Oscilloscope Using Your PC?"]
* [http://www.epanorama.net/links/measuring.html#pcmeasuring ePanorama.net: "Using PC as a measurement instrument"] ''(FIXME: anything we should add to the above list?)''

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[[Category:Techniques]]

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Oscilloscope