Post by thread:ocscilloscope

I'm looking at replacing my ancient (really, really ancient) Heathkit scope, and would like to try to get one of the new PC-based 'scope units. Any recommendations, or ones you know to be worthwhile or not? -- Steve Willoughby | "It is our choices... that show what we truly <spam_OUTsteveTakeThisOuTalchemy.com> | are, far more than our abilities." | --Albus Dumbledore, in Harry Potter and the | Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Up until recently I had a "really, really ancient" heathkit oscilloscope and it died. I looked on eBay and got an HP 1220A dual channel 20MHZ scope for $80 incl shipping. It was very much worth it. You didn't specify how much you wanted to spend, so I'm just letting you know what I did for cheap. I also looked at the PC scopes and they were considerably more expensive. -- -- Martin Klingensmith http://infoarchive.net/ http://nnytech.net/ Steve Willoughby wrote: {Quote hidden}> I'm looking at replacing my ancient (really, really ancient) Heathkit > scope, and would like to try to get one of the new PC-based 'scope > units. Any recommendations, or ones you know to be worthwhile or not? > -- > Steve Willoughby | "It is our choices... that show what we truly > <.....steveKILLspam@spam@alchemy.com> | are, far more than our abilities." > | --Albus Dumbledore, in Harry Potter and the > | Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

On Wed, 2 Jun 2004 08:50:00 -0700 Steve Willoughby <steveKILLspamALCHEMY.COM> wrote: > I'm looking at replacing my ancient (really, really ancient) Heathkit > scope, and would like to try to get one of the new PC-based 'scope > units. Any recommendations, or ones you know to be worthwhile or not? Although I have no other PC scope to compare with, the one I've been using from Link Instruments works fine. I think it is the DSO-2100 and is probably 5 years old or more. I use it when I need storage as my "real" Tektronics scope is analog, without persistence. Regards, David Koski .....david.nosphamKILLspam.....KosmosIsland.com !.nospham -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

The Velleman site seems to have broken links. BTW, for Link Instruments: http://linkinstruments.com/ David On Wed, 2 Jun 2004 17:11:14 +0100 Darren Logan <EraseMEdazza.loganspam_OUTTakeThisOuTNTLWORLD.COM> wrote: > Here's a some reasonably priced PC scopes: > > http://www.esep.net/Products/velleman.htm > > (Velleman Instruments) > > {Original Message removed}

Here's another opinion on necessary scope bandwidth. For beginners with PICs, *any* speed should work fine *99%* of the time. Why? Because the typical use for scopes are far more often "is there any signal present at all" rather than "are the rise times of this pulse less than 10nS?" Yes, there *are* applications for high speed scopes but PIC beginners seldom encounter them. Especially those who also are electronic beginners. A 10MHz scope will tell you: a) do I have 5 volts on the pins where it should be? b) is my crystal oscillating? c) is my port pin toggling? d) is there any data coming in on the serial port line? e) what baud rate is that signal? f) etc. A 1GHz scope will tell you all the same things for a lot more money. Just my opinion... Good luck! Tom -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

{Quote hidden}> > Here's another opinion on necessary scope bandwidth. > > For beginners with PICs, *any* speed should work fine *99%* of the time. Why? > > Because the typical use for scopes are far more often "is there any signal > present at all" rather than "are the rise times of this pulse less than 10nS?" > > Yes, there *are* applications for high speed scopes but PIC beginners > seldom encounter them. Especially those who also are electronic beginners. > > A 10MHz scope will tell you: > a) do I have 5 volts on the pins where it should be? > b) is my crystal oscillating? > c) is my port pin toggling? > d) is there any data coming in on the serial port line? > e) what baud rate is that signal? > f) etc. > > A 1GHz scope will tell you all the same things for a lot more money. > Any suggestions on resources I can use for learning how to use my scope "better"? I have a Tek 465B that I picked up cheap ( REALLY cheap! ) off of ebay. I can do basic voltage, frequency, etc measurements. But I'd like to find out just what exactly I can do with all those fancy triggering options. :-) Particularly in regards to PIC's, and digital circuits. - Rich -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> a) do I have 5 volts on the pins where it should be? > b) is my crystal oscillating? > c) is my port pin toggling? > d) is there any data coming in on the serial port line? If you're really only interested in only that level of data, a simple, cheap logic probe may suffice. Mine has high/low pitch beeping for logic 1/0, so I don't even have to look at it while poking it around the pins on a board, and you can get to where you know what some typical waveforms (like serial I/O or ICSP data) "sound like" as they pulse back and forth. -- Steve Willoughby | "It is our choices... that show what we truly <stevespam_OUTalchemy.com> | are, far more than our abilities." | --Albus Dumbledore, in Harry Potter and the | Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

On Wed, 2 Jun 2004 09:28:13 -0700 Tom <@spam@kristKILLspamTHEGRID.NET> wrote: >Yes, there *are* applications for high speed scopes but PIC beginners >seldom encounter them. Especially those who also are electronic beginners. > >A 10MHz scope will tell you: > a) do I have 5 volts on the pins where it should be? > b) is my crystal oscillating? > c) is my port pin toggling? > d) is there any data coming in on the serial port line? > e) what baud rate is that signal? > f) etc. > >A 1GHz scope will tell you all the same things for a lot more money. A $20 logic probe from Radio Shack will do the same. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Steve Willoughby wrote: > I'm looking at replacing my ancient (really, really ancient) Heathkit > scope, and would like to try to get one of the new PC-based 'scope > units. Any recommendations, or ones you know to be worthwhile or not? I have purchased the Bitscope BS300U. - 2 Analog input + 8 Logic Analyzer input - Sampling up to 40MS/s - Refresh rate up to 40Hz with USB link - Includes Windows and Linux DSO software, with spectrum analyzer. - The hardware also includes a WaveForm Generator which may be programmed with arbitrary wave form. (not supported yet in the version 1.1 of DSO software but coming in beta version 1.2) - Communication protocol with the Bitscope is available so you can make your own DSO software if you wish to do so. A lot more can be found on their site. http://www.bitscope.com/ Gaston Gagnon (No affiliation with them. Only a happy customer) -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> > e) what baud rate is that signal? > > A $20 logic probe from Radio Shack will do the same. It will tell you the baudrate of serial signal?? Tell me all about that magic probe! Wouter van Ooijen -- ------------------------------------------- Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: http://www.voti.nl consultancy, development, PICmicro products -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Sorry Try http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/ and type in PC OSCILLOSCOPE in the search box on the left. NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY The information contained in this e-mail message and in the documents attached herewith (hereinafter "the message") is intended only for the individual or the entity named above and is intended to be confidential. The reading of the message or any retention, copying, dissemination, distribution, disclosure of the existence of the message or of its contents, or any other use of the message or any part thereof, by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. Although this e-mail and its attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other defect, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that they are virus-free, and no responsibility is accepted by myself for any loss or damage arising from receipt or use thereof. {Original Message removed}

> [KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Steve Willoughby > > a) do I have 5 volts on the pins where it should be? > > b) is my crystal oscillating? > > c) is my port pin toggling? > > d) is there any data coming in on the serial port line? > > If you're really only interested in only that level of data, a simple, > cheap logic probe may suffice. Mine has high/low pitch beeping for logic > 1/0, so I don't even have to look at it while poking it around the pins > on a board, and you can get to where you know what some typical waveforms > (like serial I/O or ICSP data) "sound like" as they pulse back and forth. > > Yes, I agree. Actually I bought a logic probe as one of my first tools, and it has been very useful. Since they are so cheap, its great value. Bruce Partridge http://www.rebreather.ca --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.686 / Virus Database: 447 - Release Date: 5/14/2004 -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

On Wed, 2 Jun 2004 12:30:52 -0400, Richard Mulvey wrote: > Any suggestions on resources I can use for learning how to use > my scope "better"? Tektronix and Agilent both have excellent 'scope tutorials available on their websites. Find, download and study them -- excellent information available for free! Matt Pobursky Maximum Performance Systems -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Steve Willoughby wrote: >I'm looking at replacing my ancient (really, really ancient) Heathkit >scope, and would like to try to get one of the new PC-based 'scope >units. Any recommendations, or ones you know to be worthwhile or not? >-- >Steve Willoughby | "It is our choices... that show what we truly ><RemoveMEsteveTakeThisOuTalchemy.com> | are, far more than our abilities." > | --Albus Dumbledore, in Harry Potter and the > | Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different >ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > > I recommend the BitScope 300U. http://www.bitscope.com/ I got one a week ago and have been quite happy with it. Open hardware, open protocol, and they are making an access library to easy incorporating it into your own software. You can easily trigger on a logic or scope events allowing you to watch for signals that should trigger events, or look for noise, sagging voltages, or other analog nastyness around the point of failure. My only wish is that they made a DLA 16 channel version of the 300U. -- Mike Olson -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Michael Olson wrote: <...> I recommend the BitScope 300U. http://www.bitscope.com/ ..., and they are making an access library <...> I have purchased the exact same unit BS300U. I have the list of commands to communicate with the unit but I would be very interested in a library. Where can I find this access library? Could you give more specific reference? Gaston Gagnon -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Gaston Gagnon wrote: > Michael Olson wrote: > > and they are making an access library <...> > --- > I have purchased the exact same unit BS300U. I have the list of commands > to communicate with the unit but I would be very interested in a library. > Where can I find this access library? Could you give more specific > reference? Bruce Tulloch (spamBeGonebrucespamBeGonebitscope.com) at BitScope mentioned it to me after I placed my order. It's called BitLink, I don't think it's been publically released yet. Send him an e-mail and I bet he wouldn't mind keeping you updated. -- Mike Olson -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Michael Olson wrote: > Gaston Gagnon wrote: > >> Michael Olson wrote: >> >> and they are making an access library <...> >> --- >> I have purchased the exact same unit BS300U. I have the list of commands >> to communicate with the unit but I would be very interested in a library. >> Where can I find this access library? Could you give more specific >> reference? > > Bruce Tulloch (TakeThisOuTbruceEraseMEspam_OUTbitscope.com) at BitScope mentioned it to me after > I placed my order. > It's called BitLink, I don't think it's been publically released yet. > Send him an e-mail and I bet > he wouldn't mind keeping you updated. I will. Thank you for the tip. Gaston Gaston -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email RemoveMElistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body