DIY Oscilloscope Kit - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: bumba000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2015, 10:36:44 pm
content: Hey All,I've built a project I found through youtube for a sound card based oscilloscope. I've used it several times over the past week or so and it works. I guess pretty well for what it is and my skill level. Now, I've been eyeballing up this DIY kit from ebay for a week or so and would like your opinions. I understand it's 200kHZ limitation, but aside from that, what do you think?http://www.ebay.com/itm/SainSmart-DSO138-2-4-TFT-Digital-Oscilloscope-Kit-DIY-Parts-Kits-1Msps-Probe-/121657211184?hash=item1c5355b930:g:~AIAAOSw-vlVi8OLThanks, John

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2015, 11:10:31 pm
content: It worth the money even if just for the soldering practice.

author: Daniel_Reyes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2015, 11:24:03 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on October 17, 2015, 11:10:31 pmAgreed, i learned a lot skill wise putting the 0805's on.Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

author: daybyter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2015, 11:35:22 pm
content: I guess just the parts are worth the price.What irritates me is the 1 M sample. I'm playing with the 10$ scope project from here atm:http://stm32duino.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=107and it seems they got 2 M samples just by clever coding?

author: bumba000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2015, 11:41:56 pm
content: See, that's why I'm asking you guys/gals about this. What does that mean - 1M sampling - ?Thank you, John

author: tec5c
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2015, 12:39:57 am
content: IMO, waste of money if you're serious about electronics.Quote from: bumba000 on October 17, 2015, 11:41:56 pmWhat do you think it means?

author: Aodhan145
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2015, 01:03:53 am
content: Quote from: bumba000 on October 17, 2015, 11:41:56 pmIts how frequently the sample the waveform voltages. The diagram should explain it. So for 1M sampling it should sample every 0.000001s or 1µs.

author: bumba000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2015, 05:46:23 am
content: Oh I see. So I guess I'll be looking for more of an actual pro oscope then. =0) Thanks for that!

author: SteveLy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2015, 06:36:45 am
content: 1Msa/s is enough for 200kHz bandwidth if the analog input is bandwidth limited and the digital output is being processed properly for display. Probably not. Worst thing about these is not the BW or sample rate but the slow display update, response, the controls and UI in general. They are not at all practical. But if you don't expect too much from it, you could have a bit of fun with it. Treat it as a ~100kHz BW toy scope. For <$30, it's a pretty cool toy.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2015, 07:15:36 am
content: if you want something really cheap and want the experience then go for it. But if you want to move onto more exiting stuff then get a proper oscilloscope and save the money for that. Making your own test gear only works if it's for a very bespoke application.

author: bumba000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2015, 07:56:07 am
content: Quote from: Simon on October 18, 2015, 07:15:36 amYes, again thank you. My last post I had said that I would steer away from the DIY and I would start looking for a pro scope. Thanks...

author: daybyter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 12:08:34 am
content: I think building a (very simple) scope on your own furthers the understanding of the concept of a scope. So the benefit is in the learning experience. Not money saving, or so.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 05:55:17 am
content: The user has decided to leave.

author: nowlan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 07:07:22 am
content: why leave?

author: nbritton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 09:04:11 am
content: For $10 more sainsmart offers another kit (link below) with 1MHz analog bandwidth and 20MSa/s sampling rate. If your goal is to learn how to solder these would be good to get, however, if your goal is to get a scope then I would not waste your money. Save up your money until you can afford a Rigol DS1054Z. If you're a student I alternatively recommend Digilent's Analog Discovery:http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?Prod=ANALOG-DISCOVERYhttp://www.sainsmart.com/mini-1mhz-analog-bandwidth-20msa-s-oscilloscope-diy-kits.html

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 09:18:36 am
content: I'm planning on getting one of these (even if it's just for soldering practice), so following!Quote from: nowlan on October 19, 2015, 07:07:22 amhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/hello-world/msg780489/#msg780489

author: SteveLy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 02:03:30 pm
content: Given that it's "very easy to weld" I might get one as well and while I wait I'll dust off them welding goggles. I've never done any surface mount welding before so this could be valuable practice. Better order two.$US19 for a red PCB version:http://www.gearbest.com/development-boards/pp_208067.htmlAnd it's not just a scope!:"... it can be changed to Millivoltmeter, data loggers, and so on (we don't supply any technical support about that)."Honestly, for what this thing costs, it does seem amazing. I'm getting one to see what they're like. If it works even only up to <100kHz, it could make a good present for kids with Knack. I would have died and gone to heaven if I got something like this as a kid.Quote from: crispy_tofu on October 19, 2015, 09:18:36 amWhat's to plan? Just get one! We can compare notes. It'll be fun!

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 02:35:54 pm
content: Quote from: nbritton on October 19, 2015, 09:04:11 amThat looks interesting. ATMega64 based, with an ICSP header, firmware source code, and a logic level serial port and some spare I/Os on another header. For that price, its obviously not the best 20 megasample/s scope in the world, but if you need something scope-like to embed, it could be a good place to start from.

author: Fat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 09:56:36 pm
content: What the heck! They took all the fun out of it. The main IC is pre-soldered on the kit's board.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2015, 10:34:46 pm
content: Quote from: SteveLy on October 19, 2015, 02:03:30 pmAlright! Now to save up...

author: Daniel_Reyes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2015, 10:08:28 am
content: Quote from: crispy_tofu on October 20, 2015, 08:53:58 amNo, i made it up..........Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2015, 10:24:06 am
content: Quote from: Daniel_Reyes on October 20, 2015, 10:08:28 amWelp, looking closer at the photos there are SMD components. I stand corrected, sorry.(but they look presoldered, and on some boards they're missing altogether and not in the included components either)maybe someone that has the actual kit can clear this up, I'm still confuzzled

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2015, 10:32:53 am
content: Been reading up a bit more on this kit, looks like there are fakes being sold:Source:http://www.jyetech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=497QuoteInterestingly, SainSmart is on that list, which is the link that the OP provided. So it's fake?

author: Daniel_Reyes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2015, 10:39:07 am
content: Quote from: crispy_tofu on October 20, 2015, 10:32:53 amI have this kit....Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 20, 2015, 11:09:20 am
content: I'm in. Low cost and likely helps out SMD soldering skills. Julian Ilett has 4 well recorded YT video's:

author: Daniel_Reyes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2015, 11:12:41 am
content: This is mine. After using my rework station to get it all together, I had some cold solder joints on the op amp so I wasn't getting a trace. Had to use the block diagram to figure out what I needed to reflow and got the trace to show up. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun doing it. Highly recommend.Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk