Bying advice: oscilloscope, funtion generator & voltage supply - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: NemoVanHelden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2012, 11:06:47 pm
content: Hi!I`m looking to buy an oscilloscope, a function generator and a voltage supply that can all be controlled from matlab (or labview if not). My budget is about $1000 for all three instruments. If i need to i can probably use a little more, but this is mainly for hobby use so i prefer not stretching my budget too far.I`ve been reading this forum, and different reviews, but I`m having a hard time finding out which instruments will work with matlab.From what i can tell there are many very knowledgeable people in this forum, so I`m certain this is the right place to ask for help.Any suggestions?If my budget is way to low to get matlab functionality I`m happy with suggestions to good instruments i can buy without it but within by budget. I don`t know much about what to look for in those instruments, so any advice is highly appreciated.Thanks in advance!

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2012, 02:33:43 am
content: The biggest cost might be the Instrument Control Toolbox that you'll likely need for MATLAB. This is what will give you the VISA/GPIB extensions needed to have MATLAB talk to the instrumentation. On the instrumentation side, you'll need to look for units that have a programmable interface (an API) and some connectivity such as USB Device port, Ethernet, or GPIB.

author: NemoVanHelden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2012, 11:42:10 am
content: Thanks for the info. I`ve found one scope - Agilent DSO1002A - that at least supports Labview. But its pretty expensive considering my budget, so I will look some more and hopefully get some inputs here. I know that Agilent makes good scopes, but I`m not sure if the DSO1002A is good value for money if we look away from the remote programming and consider the other specs.I`m a student, so the Instrument Control Toolbox is very cheap for me.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2012, 01:28:15 pm
content: What's worrying is that the DSO1002A is actually a Rigol product ... made in rigol of course.I think Rigol's all of products support labview? With the higher end models (like the extreme DMMs the DM3058 and 3068) they have LAN for LXI

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2012, 02:27:36 pm
content: Quote from: NemoVanHelden on November 23, 2012, 11:42:10 amKeep in mind that as long as the instrument has some type of API and a LAN, GPIB, or USBDeviceport, it will be able to work with MATLAB/ICT, LabView, Viual Basic, Python, etc., even if it doesn't explicitly say so. When they say that they work with one of these packages, it usually means that they have a driver available. However, you generally don't *need* a driver to make it all work.As for your budget, be sure to consider used equipment - much cheaper than new.

author: NEDM64
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2012, 02:37:30 pm
content: Get a Agilent DSOX2002A, until the end of the year, you'll get a free 20MHZ function generator built in! Agilent is offering it!For the power supply, no biggie, get a transformer, one or two LM317, LM337 and some other bits, and you can build youself one...

author: NemoVanHelden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2012, 11:41:10 pm
content: That sounds like a great offer! It`s a bit over my budget, but i think I`ll get the Agilent anyway.I watched a video showing a VNC connection to the scope through the LAN interface. Is there a similar virtual front panel through the USB connection? Or any available (free) software that will do the same?