Idea for a blog... how to use the functions on the scope so many of us own :) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 11, 2010, 08:50:30 pm
content: I was reading the posting on the $100 multimeter shootout and someone asked if there was a 150 dollar one on the horizon, I started typing this there but decided this might be betterI would like to see a good tutorial on how to use some piece of equipment, such as a newbie explanation on the meanings/uses of the various functions on the rigol DS1052E since it seems to be a tool that a good majority of the people here actually own. Or a good tutorial on soldering such as temperatures (why a low temp iron can form a bad cold join, or why an iron that is too hot can also form a bad joint). I see SO many devices that come into my shop that have failed due to cold joints it isn't even funny. Laptops are the worst, some of them (HP DV series) get so hot they can actually melt the solder off the bottom of the CPU socket. Alaska is unique in the USA in that many of the people here still get electronics repaired rather than just purchase a new one and toss the old one into a landfill like the rest of America. Much better for keeping our beautiful state looking greatAnd just for fun, a random picture of my home

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2010, 11:29:12 pm
content: Hey, nice idea. There must be some secret or not so obvious functions that I've never used on my DS1052. That would be a great vlog.And your home is so nice. It wouldn't matter the cold, I would like to live there anyways.

author: ElektroQuark
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 12, 2010, 07:57:23 am
content: I second that!Dave, have you run out of ideas about future vblogs? Here you have a very nice one

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2010, 02:36:44 pm
content: Yeah, the 100th vlog must be a special one.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 12, 2010, 10:00:48 pm
content: Quote from: migsantiago on July 12, 2010, 02:36:44 pmSorry, just a recap of the first 100!Dave.

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2010, 12:19:53 am
content: OK, OK... the 150th will have to be a special one then

author: DJPhil
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2010, 04:34:21 am
content: Quote from: migsantiago on July 13, 2010, 12:19:53 amThe first thing I thought was, "Ok, but we'll have to party on the 128th!"

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 13, 2010, 05:11:22 am
content: Quote from: DJPhil on July 13, 2010, 04:34:21 amNobody could understand why I made a big deal of my 32nd birthday.The next one isn't till I'm 64.Dave.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2010, 01:43:22 am
content: A friend of mine made a big deal of "sweet 16", although I'm willing to bet that she's not looking forward to 32 and especially not 64...

author: sigxcpu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2010, 08:13:21 pm
content: 101 will be fine, then

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 14, 2010, 09:08:56 pm
content: Quote from: sigxcpu on July 14, 2010, 08:13:21 pmno pressure

author: terabyte
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2010, 04:53:11 am
content: 1st post ... i agree this would be a great onea beginners guide to using a Scope would be even more welcome

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2010, 12:31:27 pm
content: The XYZs of Oscilloscopes (not specific to any brand or model)

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2010, 06:02:18 pm
content: The Rigol is popular so it probably makes a good benchmark I'm sure it is not too different from other models, I fathomed most of mine but would sure like to hear all about the more obscure functions

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2010, 08:54:58 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on July 31, 2010, 06:02:18 pmYeah, the DS1052E must have some easter egg hidden somewhereMaybe if you press a sequence of buttons...

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2010, 09:03:11 pm
content: Quote from: migsantiago on July 31, 2010, 08:54:58 pmThe hacked DS1102E's will revert to DS1052E's

author: jahonen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2010, 09:48:09 pm
content: Quote from: migsantiago on July 31, 2010, 08:54:58 pmHP 54645D has a space invaders game as an easter egg, too bad that the newer 6000-series has only names of software authors(?), the color LCD would have been nicer display for a gameRegards,Janne

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2010, 10:34:58 pm
content: If you get a higher-end Windows based model, you can even play minesweeper or solitaire. I'm sure that's why it's a desirable feature.A guide to the nifty, not so obvious features (like delayed timebase, if the Rigol supports that) is quite different from a beginners guide in my opinion. The latter would start with 'what does the scope screen display', as opposed to how to measure the frequency accurately with the trigger counter or what do the different FFT windows mean.

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2010, 03:43:56 am
content: Quote from: migsantiago on July 31, 2010, 08:54:58 pmup up down down left right left right B A start!Seriously, I asked for this just because I happened to see people on here buying scopes and not knowing how to use them. Sure there are countless tutorials on the net if you want to read, the XYZ one put out by tek is great, but honestly to many newbies it is intimidating. Sometimes it is better to be shown. Also, the video lessons I have seen on the net are sort of lacking in explanation. I think this is a great hobby and profession, and the more people who learn to love it the betterThat being said, it was just a suggestion like anything else. BTW, Dave, I love the gear reviews... I am looking forward to the LCR onesThanks!

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2010, 07:32:34 am
content: Quote from: ThunderSqueak on August 01, 2010, 03:43:56 amYea I know of one senile engineer where I work that has been running around with his sons old hameg 30MHz scope but not knowing how to use it - the worrying thing is this including taking it to a customer. Now it is safely in my care under my bench. If we need a scope these days I take my Rigol in

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2010, 09:15:35 pm
content: Quote from: ThunderSqueak on August 01, 2010, 03:43:56 amI don't think that theKonami Codeis going to work

author: nyo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2010, 01:59:12 pm
content: Yeah, I agree, I think tutorials on oscilloscopes would be awesome, maybe a basic one and an advanced one, that would also generate a lot of hits for you Dave.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2010, 02:44:25 pm
content: Quote from: ThunderSqueak on August 01, 2010, 03:43:56 amI have not much sympathy for them. You find this type of people in all ways of life. They buy something they can't handle, e.g. fast cars, to show off and play the cool kid on the block or they buy because it looks like a bargain.If they want to waste their money with an oscilloscope or by buying 10 multimeters because Dave says they are cool, let them do it. The clever ones will learn, some might even figure out how to use an oscilloscope (there is more than enough information on the web), the others will continue to pay the idiot tax to show off.

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2010, 03:46:07 pm
content: QuoteWow, that's a pretty nasty reply.You can't learn to play a tuba until you own a tuba.My only requirement to help or teach someone is that they show the interest and ask the question. I think a couple of scope use tutorials (in Dave's cool style) would be a good idea. When I got my first scope ( an Eico 5MHz single channel job) I didn't have a clue how to run it. The old ham radio guy that gave it to me spent quite a few hours teaching me how it worked and how to use it. Ten years later when I gave it to an interested 14 year old kid, I did the same. These days kids are likely to get their first gear off eBay or new, so they don't have the benefit of a crusty old mentor to show them the ropes.The tutorial should be pretty general. A lot of viewers will be trying to sort out new digital scopes, and a bunch of them will be trying to learn how to use their hand-me-down 20MHz analog Tek. I would think the bulk of it will be about triggering anyway.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2010, 04:13:16 am
content: The first real oscilloscope I used was an old analog/digital HP in ECEN 248 class. It took only a few minutes for me to figure out what the controls did and how to get a usable image. No "instant view" button, of course. (Actually, I have never used the "instant view" button on any oscilloscope I have used. Probably has something to do with my experience in using graphing calculators...)If you remember that a basic oscilloscope just plots voltage with respect to time, it's very easy to understand what the settings do. Of course, the fact that modern oscilloscopes do a lot more than just graph voltages (just like how modern phones do a lot more than make phone calls) add complexity that might confuse the beginner.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2010, 05:49:17 am
content: Quote from: JohnS_AZ on September 05, 2010, 03:46:07 pmNo, that was a realistic reply. You don't buy a tuba until you know that it is an instrument to make music. And even them you arrange for lessons and typically rent or borrow a tuba first.And there is one big difference, electricity kills you much easier than music. So let me repeat, I have not much sympathy with people buying an oscilloscope and having no clue what to do with it, not capable of reading the tons of material on the web explaining how to use it, but wanting to play the cool kid on the block.