"N-in-1" what does it mean for a scope? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Sylvi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 05:34:14 pm
content: HiJust like the subject line:What does "N-in-1" mean on a scope?I've been looking at all kinds of DSOs, mostly interested in 2-ch, no need for digital inputs or protocol decoding. None of the data sheets or product information I've read says what the N-in-1 means. The only thing that comes close to an answer is that they consider the EXT trigger input as a "third input"?Thanks

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 06:08:12 pm
content: Do you have a link to the specific scope?There is no generic meaning behind this.

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 06:19:55 pm
content: If I google it I find some OWON product:http://www.owon.com.hk/products_owon_xds_series_n-in-1_digital_oscilloscopeQuote

author: ArthurDent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 06:53:40 pm
content: Besides being what you think of as a regular scope, it can be a DMM, a datalogger, function generator, etc., making it a 'n-in-one device. More a marketing point than anything else.It's like considering a voltmeter that also reads current and resistance as AVO, VOM, or 3-in-one.

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 06:59:49 pm
content: Quote from: ArthurDent on September 17, 2018, 06:53:40 pmA meter that can measure multiple things:A multimeasurer.

author: ArthurDent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 07:08:12 pm
content: "A meter that can measure multiple things:A multimeasurer."That's how I like to view myself!

author: dmills
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 07:18:38 pm
content: It means you are reading the stuff written by the marketing departments fluffer and not the proper datasheet.The correct solution is the go and find a real datasheet(From a different vendor if necessary).Regards, Dan.

author: Sylvi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 07:31:43 pm
content: HiYes, it was OWON XDS3102A that says it is N-in1 and it has a multimeter with jacks on the rear, a wave generator and a frequency counter in addition to doing scope things.I had a look at the other N-in1 models I saw earlier and they all have the meter etc.OWON's description does not really clarify the N-in-1 term, which I thought they might do since they have a whole range with this designation. Their data sheets don't clarify it either.Thanks

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 07:40:47 pm
content: @SylviIt's called feature creep.The modern DSO can do many things further than just being a scope.While many inbuilt features aren't as good as dedicated instruments there are indeed useful to some degree.What you need to evaluate is what additional inbuilt features will be useful for you, not just now but what you may have a need for in the future.Some examples:FFT = poor mans spectrum analyserMSO/LA = Logic analyserFG = inbuilt or optional AWGBode plot/FRA capabilitiesDecodeAnd so on and on.

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 10:21:23 pm
content: Quote from: Sylvi on September 17, 2018, 07:31:43 pmn is just short for 'number' or, in this case, 'multiple'.So a oscilloscope-functiongenerator combination would be 2-in-1.Add a multimeter and you have 3-in-1.Add something else, well, you get it.Quote from: tautech on September 17, 2018, 07:40:47 pmOr jack off all trades, master of none.I think this isn't really feature creep but done on purpose.Having several devices in one box will appeal both to people who want something compact and people who want to save money.

author: Sylvi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 01:54:17 pm
content: Thanks for all the responses!I don't need the extra stuff since I have multimeters and a generator, so got the simpler scope that's just a scope.

author: KissAnalog.com
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 16, 2018, 08:51:13 am
content: I think all scopes have FFT now and a frequency counter so you are going to get a 3in 1 anyway;). I agree about getting the multimeter and function generator.I’d recommend taking a close look at Siglent.