what do you think about a Pen style Digital Oscilloscope? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: alyque
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2012, 08:22:40 am
content: Hello,We have a series of pen style digital oscilloscopes on sale, just as its name implies, it looks like a pen. And the specification will not disappointed you.here is a coupon code for 10usd off, Just can be used on this series products, the coupon code isRPS2K_P_10USD_OFF, This coupon will be out of date on 2012.5.18.The following are these details:You can find these amazing products here:SP40:http://www.diyertool.com/rps2k-series-pen-type-digital-oscilloscope-sp40.htmlRPS2005:http://www.diyertool.com/rps2k-series-pen-type-digital-oscilloscope-rps2005.htmlRPS2010:http://www.diyertool.com/rps2k-series-pen-type-digital-oscilloscope-rps2010.htmlRPS2025:http://www.diyertool.com/rps2k-series-pen-type-digital-oscilloscope-rps2025.htmlRPS2050:http://www.diyertool.com/rps2k-series-pen-type-digital-oscilloscope-rps2050.htmlIf you have any question about this topic, just contact me at cs@diyertool.comThank you very much!alyque

author: ml-eng
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 06:42:00 pm
content: if you need audio bandwith testing, otherwise it is a toy

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 06:54:48 pm
content: sigh... another toy.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 08:01:17 pm
content: If the price it right such a device can be quite usefull. But unfortunately you can almost buy a Rigol scope for the same price and most certainly something more capable from Ebay if portability is not a big issue.

author: TriodeTiger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 08:14:23 pm
content: The sheer lack of quality itself in the specifications turns me off, why design something with passion (?) to spit out this kind of garbage? I've seen many poor clones of devices have better grammar.MHzSa/s? Cycles per second*samples per second? Meaused? Rising Edger? Fire the guy who write this!

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 08:53:32 pm
content: While I am a fan of "prodding sticks" (multimeters, logic probes, signal injectors, etc.) I don't see the point in this "oscilloscopes".BTW, I think Mike tried to get one in the past, but his seller couldn't deliver, so he cancelled the order.

author: caroper
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 09:53:41 pm
content: Quote from: Xander on May 24, 2012, 08:14:23 pmNice touchI did LOL

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 10:39:59 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on May 24, 2012, 08:53:32 pmDon't recall if it was this one or something similar, but specs look in the same ballpark. The specs are certainly less toy-like than other similar devices, but the small display is probably a major limitation - it doesn't really need to be quite this small.There may be some niche uses for something like this, in particular field service/debugging where you can't or don't want to take a real scope, and need a basic go/nogo type indication to track down faults.There are certainly times when a DMM doesn't quite tell you enough, but a scope is overkill.Issues like display resolution, trigger flexibility and fiddly UI typically limit the usefulness of this sort of thing.In terms of overall test equipment inventory, it would always be an 'as well as' rather than 'instead of' a proper scope.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 10:54:50 pm
content: OK, the "Order Mike a new Toy" button has been pushed - watch this space....

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 11:20:00 pm
content: Unless it comes with an 800x400 pixel full color display .. useless.Come on . it's 2012. we got cellphones with quad core processors and 800x480 resolution displays... and we are mucking about with a half inch 128x64 pixel display ? even the simples wing-pang-pong scope is qvga and many move to full vga.Here's an idea to make it even crappier:Just use an 8 bit flash a/d converter with 8 led's on the output and tell the user to wave it around (persistence fo vision method like on those propeller clocks )- triggering system ? don't need it. you 'trigger' the moment you start waving- timebase ? don't need it. just wave faster or slower

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2012, 11:53:43 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on May 24, 2012, 11:20:00 pmHD Screen on a 4.7" and Quad core processors

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 12:04:25 am
content: QuoteThat's missing the point - it is not a substitute for a real scope and is not trying to be.There are however situations where you need more info than a DMM will give, and where a small lightweight tool could be useful. How useful it is depends a lot on the user interface, responsiveness and trigger functionality.I do however predict that the screen will be a little too small compared to the size it could be on a device of this sort of size. We'll see.....

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 12:30:26 am
content: Is it just me? I look at that pen oscilloscope and I cannot help thinking "That could be really useful". Never as a replacement for a bench oscilloscope, but if the quality is good enough, it is not bad. I would be more convinced if it had a 10MOhm/10pF input at 0.1V/div.As a first line diagnostic device in the field, I like the idea. Are the controls badly designed and low quality so they drive you nuts after 5 minutes of use? - that is another question.Screen is no use for serious work, but if it is a good waveform capture device, then it can be used to capture gate waveforms on high side mosfets. If it can do that one job, that alone can justify it for a power supply designer. Potentially much better for a job like that then multimeter-type oscilloscopes, as long as the pen oscilloscope has a good shield inside the case.So the idea is good. Is the design quality any good? Perhaps not, but a review would be interesting. I definitely would prefer a design with a better ground connection near the tip.Richard.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 01:04:44 am
content: Quote from: amspire on May 25, 2012, 12:30:26 amSpecified for 500Vpp, but no handguard, no CAT rating (yes, I know, easy to fake), and how good do you think is the USB port isolated? This is one of those things I would not want to have out in the field.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 01:24:05 am
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on May 25, 2012, 01:04:44 amFor personal use, I could not care less about CAT ratings if I know I will only use the device for low voltage work. Whenever I have had to probe dangerous voltages in something like a switching power supply design, I have never had a problem connecting instruments before switching on the power.I have had lots of non-CAT rated meters over the last 35 years. I have never had a safety problem yet and I have never blown a meter up. The rule is only use the right tool for the right job. I just do not use the $10 multimeters for mains and high voltage work, but I am more then happy to use them on my bench connected to a low voltage circuit.If I was buying tools for a company to use - then yes, CAT ratings are important.Richard.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 08:28:31 am
content: QuoteIs every screwdriver you own HV insulated?If you don't know what sort of tool to use in what situation you shouldn't be around anything remotely hazardous.Obviously the USB port will not be isolated.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 10:19:29 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on May 25, 2012, 08:28:31 am+1Hell, I believed everybody once in a while must used their finger nail to turn loose/tighten a flat/slot type screw head.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 12:33:26 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on May 25, 2012, 08:28:31 amMany are.QuoteI am not much concerned about me, I know where to stick what tool in. And because of that I wouldn't take such a toy with me where I work. I am concerned about the doofus' that show up here, believing everything they read on a Chinese spec sheet. The kind of people that try to measure mains amps, best with a cheap DT830.For that "oscilloscope" the spec says 500Vpp but that looks pretty much like typical Chinese lies.QuoteGreat when some doofus sticks it into mains while trying to read something with the PC software.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2012, 02:43:08 am
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on May 25, 2012, 12:33:26 pm*See!I knew you were a kindly,concerned person ,under that forbidding exterior!But seriously,what is it with these people?The moment they get something,they want to go & stick it in the mains!OK,there are a lot more switchmode supplies around,plus averyfew other people may need to look at the raw mains as part of their job,but this doesn't explain the lemming-like urge to go and hang everything across the nearest mains outlet!Those of us who have been around a while know a few basic tricks to avoid becoming burnt offerings,& have used non CAT rated stuff in the past,but then again,most of that stuff was designed by Engineers who at least had seen a high voltage circuit!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2012, 09:22:44 am
content: Pen-scope has just arrived! Expect review and tearing-downs very soon!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2012, 11:23:17 am
content: First impressions - exactly what you would expect from China - OK-ish hardware, piss-poor user interface.Details soon.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2012, 03:26:33 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on June 04, 2012, 11:23:17 amThat was my fear. When I saw the poor earth lead arrangement, it just didn't look like it was brilliantly engineered. I will be very interested to see the oscilloscope performance.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2012, 10:10:56 am
content: Review posted in reviews sectionhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/rps2050-pen-style-sope-review-teardown/msg118055/#msg118055