I have a rather low end need for a PC scope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 08:49:29 pm
content: I'm looking for an inexpensive low end FOUR-CHANNEL PC based scope. Key word here is 4 channel and cheap. Can someone help me out?Requirements:4 channel20 to 25MHz bandwidthPC interface via USBIt has to be cheap.I am not going to use this to measure anything. It's going to be just an indicator.Anyone know a product like this?

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 09:31:33 pm
content: Unfortunately you ask for unobtainium4-channelcheap USB scope which I am afraid - do not exist. Default answer in case of 2-channels is obviously Owon VDS1022I - one of low cost USB scopes that actually works.In case you are ready to reconsider, good place to start your search for low cost scope or logic analyzer:https://sigrok.org/wiki/Supported_hardware

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 09:50:42 pm
content: Quote from: tkamiya on June 01, 2019, 08:49:29 pma) 4 channelb) CheapPickone...

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 10:30:55 pm
content: How about TWO dual channel PC scopes with some form of isolated mutual triggering? =I wonder if any EEVites have given it a go ?It's been on my 'try it one rainy day' list for years, but because I still use boxed scopes I haven't needed or bought a USB scope..yeteven though I've cheated a few times with buffered downsacrificialPC soundcards with poor mans 'isolation'

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2019, 03:07:10 am
content: I already have a Owon VDS1022I.I wonder why cheap 4 channel doesn't exist? It's not like I'm asking for 100MHz bandwidth. 20MHz is enough. External trigger is a good idea though. Owon 1022i does have a port called MULTI and it is exactly that - external triggering. I may have it a go with this.Thank you.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2019, 03:30:31 am
content: Do you really need 4 analog channels?Are you perhaps wanting 4 channels to do serial decode?Would 2 analog and 8 digital fit the bill?

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2019, 04:02:34 am
content: If the bandwidth was a bit lower you'd probably be able to find a multichannel digitizer that would be suitable, but I think that's usually going to max out around a few MS/s per channel. There do seem to be some quad/octa channel digitizers around for mainframe systems, but I don't know of many for USB stuff.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2019, 06:33:13 am
content: Actually, more analog channel the better....I have a rack mounted lab time standard. I wanted a way to look at every wave form and do so relative to each other. I have a DSA602 (12 channel scope) but it will heat up the room to uncomfortable temperature. I can't afford the mainframe system. So I was looking for PC based ones. Price jump from 2 to 4 channel is huge.I'm trying to slowly reduce the number of real big and old ones.

author: zomehi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 02, 2019, 08:38:19 am
content: How about an old 4 channel scope from eBay?

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2019, 10:15:05 am
content: "Cheap" is a very fluid word. You can get a Picoscope 2405A for a list price of about $450.https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/2000/picoscope-2000-overviewIf you need the oscilloscope only as an indicator, why not buy four ultra-cheap toys from China? Things such as the DSO138, etc?https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/best-oscilloscope-for-complete-beginner/msg2351916/#msg2351916